The St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP) spotlighted the half-century-old Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) on Wednesday, May 13, as part of Community Action Network Month.
“Each May, during Community Action Month, we reflect on the impact nonprofits such as the St. Johns Housing Partnership and the Community Action Network has had on families,” said SJHP Executive Director Bill Lazar. “Last year alone, the network served over 15 million households across the country with services like job training, financial education and small business support, helping families build skills to achieve long-term financial freedom.”
The Housing Partnership is considered a leader in the Weatherization Assistance Program, ensuring low-income homes have reasonable energy use, allowing more utility customers to keep up with their bills.
The program efficiently retrofits low-income homes, greatly improving residents’ utility costs and health outcomes. Weatherization maintains and improves home safety, comfort and value for the disabled and seniors and helps preserve the local stock of affordable housing.
The Community Action Network is a robust state and local force that helps empower hardworking families to achieve economic independence rather than keeping them reliant on government assistance. There are nearly 1,000 agencies across the country working every day to create economic opportunity, strengthen local communities and help families find pathways to prosperity.
Recognizing 50 years of Weatherization was a prelude to a big celebration in October for Weatherization Day. The Energy Partnerships Project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to offer training and assistance for WAP network organizations to design partnerships and programs that leverage the WAP.
