Click here to download the THRHA Weatherization Client Application
What are we all about?
THRHA provides FREE Weatherization services to eligible households in many Southeast Alaska communities under the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s Weatherization Assistance Program. The program is available FREE to households up to 100 % median family income (MFI) levels for their community. The program is available to both Native and non-Native households. Priority is given to seniors over age 55, families with children under the age of 6, and persons with disabilities. THRHA has specially trained weatherization crews and assessors to conduct the energy audits and perform the weatherization repairs to make your home more energy efficient, safe and comfortable.
The purpose of the Weatherization Program is to increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by qualified individuals or families, reduce their total residential expenditures, and improve their health and safety. This is an Investment in your property. Most multi-dwelling buildings have a huge potential for energy savings. Even buildings that were built in the 70s typically demonstrate considerable savings just from efficiency upgrades. Gas and electric prices are not getting any cheaper, energy consumption is not going down, and the equipment operating in your building is losing efficiency with each passing year.
Weatherization improvements can include:
- Energy Audit
- Insulation in Attics and Walls
- Furnace Safety Testing
- Sealing Air Leaks
- Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL)
- Energy Conservation Information
THRHA has contracted with the State of Alaska to provide home weatherization and energy efficiency evaluation and repairs for individuals or families in Southeast Alaska communities. Visit www.ahfc.us for communities that THRHA does not serve. THRHA crews will travel to each community and conduct energy audits and repairs for all eligible homes in Southeast Alaska. THRHA Homes that have been conveyed, and all Southeast Alaska homeowners that meet income guidelines, may qualify.
Program Features
- Free Weatherization repairs for eligible households with incomes under 100% MFI for their community
- Seniors, disabled, and households with small children will have a higher priority.
- THRHA homebuyers and tenants are still required to apply.
To Qualify, You Must
Meet income guidelines as stated above.
Please note that the income guidelines are one of two qualifiers governing the current Wx Program and have changed since recent past so even if you are a returning applicant who did not qualify before, please download and fill out a new application. Do not qualify yourself out of eligibility by not filling out this application. The second qualifier is that your current dwelling location has not received an AHFC Home Energy Rebate after May 1, 2008 (or) Weatherization Assistance Program Services after April 14, 2008.
FAQ
These are the top commonly asked questions:
1. How does the THRHA Weatherization Program work?
The THRHA Weatherization Program provides free weatherization services to Southeast Alaska residents. Qualified homeowners or renters can apply for these services by contacting THRHA. Once you contact THRHA, you will need to follow a few simple steps to receive weatherization services:
- Complete an application. THRHA will provide an application and assist you with completing it.
- Once your application is approved, THRHA will schedule a free home energy audit. The home energy audit will identify the most appropriate and cost-effective improvements to be applied to your home.
- After your home’s appropriate measures are identified, THRHA will schedule the service appointment. A qualified crew of weatherization technicians will install the appropriate improvements in your home.
- Once the work has been completed, an inspector will return to your home to assess the work for quality and completion.
- You’ll save energy, cut your utility bills and enjoy a more comfortable home.
2. What are the benefits of weatherizing my home?
There are numerous reasons for homeowners or renters to participate in the Weatherization Program. Whether you are looking to save money, improve the comfort of your home, or help protect our environment, weatherization can help. Here are some benefits to weatherizing your home:
- Lower your monthly energy costs
- Save money
- Reduce your greenhouse gas emissions
- Do your part to slow climate change
- Help preserve our natural resources
- Keep your home cool in the summer
- Keep your home warm in the winter
3. Do I qualify?
Income eligibility is determined by the annual household unit gross taxable income for the 12 months preceding the month in which an application is completed.
A household unit that meets one of the following conditions during the income review period automatically meets income eligibility requirements for state funds only.
AQ-A: The household unit:
- lives in an owner-occupied, single-family Mutual Help Housing unit constructed and/or operated by a Grantee, which has not been conveyed; and
- already undergoes an annual income review by the Grantee or the Grantee conducts an AHFC-authorized income review.
AQ-B: An occupant has received ATAP, TANF, SSI, Food Stamps, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), or SeniorCare benefits at least once during the 12 months preceding application approval.
AQ-C: The household unit is comprised of one person who has received APA/IA at least once during the 12 months preceding application approval.
AQ-D: The household unit:
- lives in a multi-family rental unit not owned by the Grantee, which is restricted by an affordable housing program that uses the 24 CFR Part 5 Definition of income to qualify tenants; and
- already has undergone an annual income review by the landlord 12 months prior to making application for Weatherization Assistance.
Household units that have not received an AQ during the income review period must undergo a full income review.
Households can be eligible if they meet required income guidelines. You can use the chart below to see if you qualify:
(Download 2015 Median Family Income Limits here)
4. How do I apply?
Before you fill out an application, you should contact THRHA to see if your home has been previously weatherized. If a home was weatherized prior to May 14, 2008, it will be eligible to be re-weatherized in the Weatherization program for those individuals meeting income guidelines. However, these previously weatherized homes will not be as high a priority as those never weatherized. Once your local weatherization agency confirms that your home is eligible for weatherization, you can fill out and return an application.
5. What if I rent my home or apartment?
If the landlord agrees, renters in single-family, multi-family and mobile home residences can qualify for the free Weatherization Program. Contact THRHA for details.
6. What if I live in a mobile home?
Mobile homes are also be eligible for the program..
7. How does the client ensure that the work completed by THRHA is high quality?
Once the weatherization work is completed, an inspector will return to your home to assess the work done and make sure no work was missed.
Apply
Let’s get started…
The THRHA Weatherization Program is really about you! The steps are simple… let’s find out if you qualify for the Weatherization Program and you can start right now by downloading and filling out this application. If you don’t, it’s not a problem, we can refer you to AHFC’s Home Energy Rebate Program. If you do qualify, then the next step will be to work with us at THRHA to establish a time for conducting an energy audit of your home.
Basic Weatherization Training
This five day course is designed to introduce the individual to weatherization job readiness and material installation techniques by the use of both classroom instruction and “hands-on” laboratory experience. This course is primarily for new weatherization employees, but is open to anyone who would benefit from a basic understanding of typical weatherization retrofit measures. Topics covered include: Buildings as a system theory, appropriate air sealing materials and installation techniques, insulation types and applications, and basic blower door use. Building Performance Institute Building Analyst Certification components are included in this class.
Currently no training is scheduled. Check back soon!