Families that cannot take advantage of the Delaware Weatherization Assistance Program because their home is not sound enough to qualify will now be helped through a partnership between Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility [DESEU] and Catholic Charities, Inc.
The DESEU will provide $700,000 in funding for the Pre-Weatherization Assistance Program. Catholic Charities will administer the program statewide. “Catholic Charities is excited to take part in this partnership that will enhance the quality of life for Delaware’s low-income families struggling to keep their homes comfortable during weather extremes,” said Richelle A. Vible, Catholic Charities’ executive director. “We thank DESEU for reaching out to Catholic Charities to help in this important work.”
“The DESEU is grateful for Catholic Charities’ willingness to partner with us on this program,” said Tony DePrima, DESEU’s executive director.
The Pre-Weatherization Assistance Program will help previously ineligible low-income families prepare their homes to meet the requirements for the weatherization program. Participating families will receive financing to help with structural repairs such as leaky roofs, broken windows and doors, moisture in crawlspaces, or other minor problems which would negate the benefits of weatherization. The program will remedy issues that caused homes to be deferred from participating in the Weatherization Assistance Program, at no cost to the client.
Candidates for the pre-weatherization program will come from the existing pool of deferred Weatherization clients. Clients qualify for weatherization through the Delaware Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program [LIHEAP]. LIHEAP provides supplemental assistance for low-income families who need help paying winter energy bills. Both programs are administered statewide by Catholic Charities.
The Pre-Weatherization Assistance Program will inspect homes, hire contractors, schedule repair work, and perform a quality assurance post-inspection, then readmit the units into the Weatherization Assistance Program.
