HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 132 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 22-132
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 6, 2022
Page 1 of 4
SUBJECT: WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
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The City of Fort Worth has served residents with single-family home and multiple-family home
weatherization services for over 30 years. The Weatherization Assistance Program ("the Program")
improves the energy efficiency of the housing units owned or rented by income-eligible households both
within the City and throughout Tarrant County. The Program is designed to reduce the costs associated
with home energy bills by making weatherization and energy-related home repairs. Weatherization
assistance substantially reduces household costs and directly improves the household incomes of low-
income families.
Examples of weatherization assistance provided include: HVAC repairs and replacements; attic,wall, and
floor insulation; air sealing measures including weather stripping and caulking; duct sealing measures; solar
screens; window repair and replacements; door repairs and replacement; and replacement of appliances
producing elevated carbon monoxide levels. Prior to work being completed by City contractors, City
Weatherization Techs perform a complex energy assessment of each home to determine which energy
saving repair or service will be the most appropriate and provide the most cost savings. Weatherization
assistance averages $8,000.00 per household and provides 30-50% average savings to households on
annual energy bills.
The program is funded by a combination of sources, as outlined in the table below:
Figure 1: Weatherization Funding Sources
Funding Source Most Recent Contract Amount
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs—Low
Income Home EnergyAssistance Program
$ 765,104.00
Texas Association of Community Action Agencies $ 685,000.00
United States Department of Energy $349,028.00
Total Funding $ 1,799,132.00
The Weatherization Assistance Program is based in the Neighborhood Service Department's Home
Improvement& Repair Division, located at Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods. The Program
employs six full-time City employees and one City contractor. The Program accepts applications year-
around and serves as many as 200 households per year. Over the last 3'/2 years,between January 2019 and
July 2022, the Program has served almost 665 households.Note that the decline in the number of
households served in both 2020 and 2021 were due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Figure 2: Households Receiving Weatherization by Year
Year #Households
2019 207
2020 156
2021 159
2022 to date 143
Total 665
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 22-132
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 6, 2022
Page 2 of 4
SUBJECT: WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
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The Program does have limitations and eligibility requirements due to the funding sources. Eligibility
requirements include:
• Must be a resident of Tarrant County
• Must be within a specific level of household income,based on unique program guidelines
• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship and picture identification
• Must provide proof of household income for all adults 18 or older
• Must provide a current utility bill
• Must provide proof of residence (lease, deed, etc.)
Based on two years of weatherization files, the Program has the following demographic characteristics:
The majority of clients are racially Black/African American followed closely by White. 22% of clients are
Hispanic with 66%non-Hispanic/non-Latino and 10%preferring not to say.
Race of Weatherization Clients Area Median Income of Weatherization Clients
' 60%AMI
American
Our client files indicate that the majority of weatherization clients are considered to be "moderate income,"
meaning at or above 80%AML The reason that weatherization clients tend to have more income than other
clients served in Neighborhood Services is because the program primarily serves individuals who are
homeowners. Additionally, regulations for the Program allow household incomes up to 200% of federal
poverty guidelines, as outlined in the chart below:
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 22-132
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 6, 2022
Page 3 of 4
SUBJECT: WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
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Y673
Program Year 2022 Income Limits for Weatherization Assistance Program
(effective January 28, 2022)
Persons in Family/Household 100% of Federal Poverty 150% of Federal Poverty 200% of Federal Poverty
Guidelines Guidelines Guidelines
1 $13,590 $20,385 $27,180
2 $18,310 $27,465 $36,620
3 $23,030 $34,545 $46,060
4 $27,750 $41,625 $55,500
5 $32,470 $48,705 $64,940
6 $37,190 $55,785 $74,380
7 $41,910 $62,865 $82,380
8 $46,630 $69,945 $93,260
Families with more than 8 Add $4,720 for each additional Add $7,080 for each additional Add $9,440 for each additional
persons person person person
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The location of weatherization assistance homes is scattered throughout the City of Fort Worth and Tarrant
County, as shown below. However, assistance is very unevenly distributed throughout the City's council
districts,which we attribute to the actual location of low-income households in Fort Worth and the location
of multiple-family units.
Weatherization Households Served January 2019-July 2022
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 22-132
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 6, 2022
Page 4 of 4
SUBJECT: WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
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Y673
Figure 3: Completed Weatherization Units January 2019 through July 2022 by Council District
Council District #Weatherization Household Units
2 22
3 91
4 94
5 54
6 21
7 5
8 53
9 279
Outside City—In County 46
Total 665
More information about the Program and the Weatherization Program application can be found on the
City's Website at htlps://www.fortworthtexas._og v/departments/neighborhoods/weatherization or by calling
(817) 392-7554 (Nosotras hablamos espanol). Application assistance is also available.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Victor Turner, Neighborhood Services
Director, at x7556.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS