Weatherization, Rehab, and Asset Preservation Program: Preliminary Evaluation

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Weatherization, Rehab, and Asset Preservation
Program Preliminary Evaluation

• Dr. Spencer M. Cowan
• The Center for Urban and Regional StudiesThe
  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• prepared for
• Knowledgeplex Seminar
• July 10, 2008

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Topics

• Thank our sponsors
• Ford Foundation
• William Penn Foundation
• Energy Programs Consortium
• Need for programs to support lower-income
  homeowners
• WRAP Program
• Lessons Learned

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Need for the WRAP Program

• Emphasis on promoting ownership
• less on sustaining ownership
• Owners face costs rising faster than incomes
• Programs to help sustain ownership
• rehabilitation
• weatherization
• post-purchase counseling
• Lack of coordination

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The WRAP Program Description

• Goal help low-income homeowners
• maintain properties, lower energy costs, reduce
  safety hazards, build asset values
• Approach coordinate weatherization and rehab
  funding and work with social services
• holistic approach to assisting homeowners
• Participants 11 lead agencies
• 5 CDCs, 4 CAAs, 1 Weatherization, 1 Housing
• Target 150 homes over 3 years
• Geography limited area for impact

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Program Model Program Model Program Model Program Model
Type of Lead Organization Self-contained Partnership, Informal Relationship Partnership, Formal Relationship
CDC/NHS Freeport Anchorage Camden Chattanooga Staten Island
CAA Milwaukee Rio Grande City Gloucester Hartford Gloucester Hartford
Weatherization Philadelphia
Housing Dorchester Dorchester
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As of 11/30/07 Intakes Inspections Completions
Anchorage 44 26 22
Camden 53 49 2
Dorchester 47 44 38
Freeport 126 118 113
Gloucester 70 70 70
Milwaukee 138 123 85
Philadelphia 160 146 140
Rio Grande City 155 149 110
Others 134 89 24
TOTALS 927 814 604
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Data as of 11/7/07 Rehab Rehab Weatherization Weatherization
Grants Loans Grants Loans TOTALS
Anchorage 92,541 0 0 0 92,541
Camden 8,000 0 1,300 0 9,300
Dorchester 139,168 283,028 159,245 0 581,441
Freeport 48,295 1,519,323 748,113 0 2,315,731
Gloucester 28,977 1,694,909 273,754 25,680 2,023,320
Milwaukee 463,437 82,280 568,011 0 1,113,728
Philadelphia 400,041 202,200 335,617 0 937,858
Rio Grande 636,783 161,390 252,072 0 1,050,245
Others 16,445 385,194 11,067 11,380 424,086
TOTALS 1,833,687 4,328,324 2,349,179 37,060 8,548,250
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Do you close rooms because they are too cold to use in the winter? Do you close rooms because they are too cold to use in the winter? Do you close rooms because they are too cold to use in the winter? Do you close rooms because they are too cold to use in the winter? Do you close rooms because they are too cold to use in the winter? Do you close rooms because they are too cold to use in the winter? Do you close rooms because they are too cold to use in the winter?
Before Before After After Change Pct. Change
Yes 55 41.0 31 22.8 -24 -43.6
No 79 59.0 105 77.2
Do you have rooms that are too cold to use comfortably in the winter? Do you have rooms that are too cold to use comfortably in the winter? Do you have rooms that are too cold to use comfortably in the winter? Do you have rooms that are too cold to use comfortably in the winter? Do you have rooms that are too cold to use comfortably in the winter? Do you have rooms that are too cold to use comfortably in the winter? Do you have rooms that are too cold to use comfortably in the winter?
Before Before After After Change Pct. Change
Yes 61 46.2 47 35.1 -14 -23.0
No 71 53.8 87 64.9
Do you close rooms because they are too hot to use in the summer? Do you close rooms because they are too hot to use in the summer? Do you close rooms because they are too hot to use in the summer? Do you close rooms because they are too hot to use in the summer? Do you close rooms because they are too hot to use in the summer? Do you close rooms because they are too hot to use in the summer? Do you close rooms because they are too hot to use in the summer?
Before Before After After Change Pct. Change
Yes 26 19.7 17 12.7 -9 -34.6
No 106 80.3 117 87.3
Do you have rooms that are too hot to use comfortably in the summer? Do you have rooms that are too hot to use comfortably in the summer? Do you have rooms that are too hot to use comfortably in the summer? Do you have rooms that are too hot to use comfortably in the summer? Do you have rooms that are too hot to use comfortably in the summer? Do you have rooms that are too hot to use comfortably in the summer? Do you have rooms that are too hot to use comfortably in the summer?
Before Before After After Change Pct. Change
Yes 31 24.4 19 14.5 -12 -38.7
No 96 75.6 112 85.5
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Rate the Exterior Condition of your house Rate the Exterior Condition of your house Rate the Exterior Condition of your house Rate the Exterior Condition of your house Rate the Exterior Condition of your house Rate the Exterior Condition of your house Rate the Exterior Condition of your house
Before Before After After Change Pct. Change
Excellent/Good 41 32.0 75 58.6 34 82.9
Fair 50 39.1 34 26.6 -16 -32.0
Poor/Very Poor 37 28.9 19 14.8 -18 -48.6
Rate the HVAC Systems for your house Rate the HVAC Systems for your house Rate the HVAC Systems for your house Rate the HVAC Systems for your house Rate the HVAC Systems for your house Rate the HVAC Systems for your house Rate the HVAC Systems for your house
Before Before After After Change Pct. Change
Excellent/Good 49 40.8 71 59.2 22 44.9
Fair 34 28.3 38 31.7 4 11.8
Poor/Very Poor 37 30.8 11 9.2 -26 -70.3
Rate the Electrical System for your house Rate the Electrical System for your house Rate the Electrical System for your house Rate the Electrical System for your house Rate the Electrical System for your house Rate the Electrical System for your house Rate the Electrical System for your house
Before Before After After Change Pct. Change
Excellent/Good 65 50.8 74 57.8 9 13.8
Fair 46 35.9 39 30.5 -7 -15.2
Poor/Very Poor 17 13.3 15 11.7 -2 -11.8
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How do you set your thermostat in winter, now that you have completed the WRAP program? How do you set your thermostat in winter, now that you have completed the WRAP program? How do you set your thermostat in winter, now that you have completed the WRAP program? How do you set your thermostat in winter, now that you have completed the WRAP program? How do you set your thermostat in winter, now that you have completed the WRAP program? How do you set your thermostat in winter, now that you have completed the WRAP program? How do you set your thermostat in winter, now that you have completed the WRAP program? How do you set your thermostat in winter, now that you have completed the WRAP program?
Lower than before Lower than before About the same About the same Higher than before Higher than before I do not have central heat I do not have central heat
18 14.0 57 44.2 5 3.9 49 38.0
Use Space Heaters Use Space Heaters Use Space Heaters Use Space Heaters Use Space Heaters Use Space Heaters Use Space Heaters
Before Before After After Change Pct. Change
Yes 61 46.2 35 26.5 -26 -42.6
No 71 53.8 97 73.5
Use Room Air Conditioners Use Room Air Conditioners Use Room Air Conditioners Use Room Air Conditioners Use Room Air Conditioners Use Room Air Conditioners Use Room Air Conditioners
Before Before After After Change Pct. Change
Yes 87 70.7 88 71.5 1 1.1
No 36 29.3 35 28.5
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Organizational Impacts

• Site Visits and Key Informant Interviews
• changes in the organization
• broader approach to serving clients
• better understanding of resources
• need and ability to work around obstacles
• Continuation and Expansion

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Client Lessons Learned

• Income
• income high enough to qualify for loans
• income low enough to qualify for program
• use local/state funds to bridge gap at high end
• use BMIR loans/grant at low end
• Attitude
• legitimate concern over ability to repay
• unwilling to encumber property
• free money syndrome

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Program Lessons Learned

• Inconsistent eligibility criteria
• different income levels
• different measures of income
• Inconsistent inspection criteria
• looking at separate systems
• different certification
• different software
• Timing
• for approval of funding
• different deadlines for expending funds

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Questions or Comments