Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By IAN MINIELLY
Bessemer — Paul Janczak, weatherization director for Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency in Bessemer, said a weatherization program is available for many area residents.
It’s based on income level, with the goal to bring houses into better condition for the elements, which saves money and resources all around.
Income eligibility guidelines for weatherization help are based on the recipient being within 150 to 200 percent of the 2017 federal poverty guidelines, Janczak said Tuesday.
For example, a family of three can have a household income from $30,000 to $40,000 and still qualify. Once the family of three earns more than $40,320 in a year, they fall out of the range.
An available feature, according to Janczak, is a free household audit to identify problem areas that the program can address. He said they will seal the house and suck the air out to find locations that can be addressed.
Other features of the weatherization program include energy saving measures, attic and wall insulation, caulking, door and window weather stripping replacement, air sealing, band joist insulation, smoke and CO detector installation, and furnace or water heater replacements.
According to Janczak, if the house was upgraded since 1994, the program likely cannot help because of federal guidelines, but the house can be added to the list.
The government can change the guidelines anytime.
Much of the weatherization program is done by volunteers, so if they have helped in the past with someone’s home, they would appreciate it if people would pay it forward through donations, cash or otherwise.
For more information, contact Janczak at 906-667-0283.
