Staff Mail

Neighborhood Revitalization

Neighborhood Revitalization is ComLinks’ weatherization and property maintenance program. The program’s objectives include addressing the challenges of the condition and availability of low-income housing in Franklin County. Utilizing state and federal grants as well as partnerships with local utility companies, ComLinks improves housing conditions for homeowners and renters who cannot afford needed repairs and maintenance. The result is safer, more energy-efficient and more comfortable homes.

Weatherization

ComLinks’ Weatherization projects assist income-eligible households to reduce their energy burdens. Energy audits determine the current amount of energy used to heat a home and develop an action plan to reduce energy consumption and costs.

Services provided include: weather-stripping and caulking doors and windows; cleaning, testing, repairing and/or replacing heating systems; replacing or repairing damaged windows/doors; insulating walls and/or ceilings, installing smoke alarms/carbon dioxide detectors and replacing hot water heaters and refrigerators. These and other minor repairs reduce energy use and therefore costs.

Emergency Home Repairs

RESTORE grants provide emergency aid specifically for Franklin County residents age 60 and over who own their homes. These funds enable emergency repair of water, sewer, electrical, heating and structural systems.

Looking Ahead in 2003

ComLinks has been awarded $30,000 in new RESTORE funding and $88,000 in Special Project funding to weatherize 58 low-income housing units. Work in also underway on an initative with NYS Energy and Research Development Agency that will provide energy-saving services to families whose income is within the 60% to 80% state median income range.

All work carried out by the Neighborhood Revitalization Department is performed by competent and certified personnel. Staff members have been certified by the EPA to work in a lead-paint environment and several have been certified by the Building Performance Institute as Building Shell Auditors and Heating Specialists.

Making Lives Better - Every Day!

In 2002:

• 63 families received emergency cooling assistance
   

• 24 homes received Emergency Home Repair
   

• 118 homes were weatherized (total of 295 people with warmer and more energy-efficient homes; expenditure of $77,834, averaging $660 improvement per household)
   

• 130 homes received new furnaces
   

• 45 homes received new stoves, refrigerators, and water heaters in partnership with local utilities (Power Partners)
   

• 24 homes received moderate housing renovations including septic system, electrical and roofing improvements
   

• 58 units benefited from special projects including water heaters and insulation