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On Tuesday, I attended Tacoma-Pierce County Habitat for Humanity\u2019s \u201cChanging Lives Lunch-IN\u201d virtual fundraiser.\u00a0 One of their engagement activities displayed an image of a house with the words \u201cHome is my _______.\u201d\u00a0 COVID has certainly expanded the answers to that question. For most of us, our homes became a refuge, a remote office, a classroom, a gym, and a safe place to isolate.<\/p>\n
At the same time, COVID-induced job losses have put incredible stresses on household budgets.\u00a0 Far too many residents are seeing their rent or mortgage payments piling up.\u00a0 The prospect of losing their home is looming, and terrifying.<\/p>\n
That is why I am so proud of Heather Moss and our Human Services team.\u00a0 In 2020, they used federal CARES Act funding to provide rental and mortgage assistance to 7,000 families who were at risk of losing their homes.\u00a0 And more help is on the way.\u00a0 We already have received another $20M in federal rental assistance and expect to receive much more in the coming months.\u00a0 Unlike some of the money we received last year, the new funding allows people to not only pay rent but also pay utility bills and other obligations related to housing.\u00a0 Our Human Services colleagues will have another very busy year helping our residents who need it the most!<\/p>\n
Speaking of utility bills, I had a chance to see one of my favorite County programs in action recently.\u00a0 The Weatherization Program, also managed by Human Services, allows qualified low-income residents to have their homes tested for energy efficiency and covers the cost to implement smart improvements to lower their energy use and bills.\u00a0 The demand for this program has expanded significantly due to COVID-caused job losses.<\/p>\n
The program is funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Energy.\u00a0 According to the Department, low-income households carry a larger burden for energy costs, typically spending 16.3% of their total annual income versus 3.5% for other households. Often, they must cut back on healthcare, medicine, groceries, and childcare to pay their energy bills.<\/p>\n
I was impressed to learn that clients can lower their post-weatherization utility bills by 20% or more, thanks to the updates and renovations done by our team. Those cost savings are even more important in the face of the pandemic – they can be key to keeping people in their homes.<\/p>\n
This program saves energy, reduces utility costs, and helps keep houses affordable.\u00a0 A Win-Win-Win!<\/p>\n
You can see the program in action in this video: (Listen carefully for the expected savings to Ethan\u2019s heating bill!)<\/p>\n