Schuylkill County receives $471,622 grant to fund weatherization deferral program
By Kaylee Lindenmuth
POTTSVILLE – Announced today by State Senator David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks) was a $471,622 HOME grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, set to be used to create a Weatherization Deferral Program.
The program, according to a press release, is a pilot program to provide financial assistance to homeowners who don’t meet the requirements for the weatherization program. It will “provide needed housing repairs and energy efficient measures to low income households.”
The program will be administered by Schuylkill Community Action, one of only four agencies across the commonwealth selected to participate.
“Schuylkill County has some of the oldest housing stock in Pennsylvania. Our lower income and fixed income elderly residents often do not have the finances needed to fix serious health and safety hazards in their homes,” Argall said in a release. “This program will provide essential repair assistance to our neighbors who are in the most need.”
“Investing resources in a home will prevent another abandoned building that needs to be demolished in a few years. It is a win for everyone,” Argall added.
A statement released by county commissioners read “This is another great tool to help in the fight against blight in our county. This program will furnish the needed funds to assist with repairs and projects to increase the assessed values of homes, while creating a better quality of life for both the home owner and their neighbors. The county has partnered with Schuylkill Community Action on a number of grant projects over the years with a positive experience in each project.”
“We are very happy to participate in this program,” Schuylkill Community Action Executive Director Ted Dreisbach said. “It will help many residents who otherwise would have no option other than to continue living in an unsafe environment.”
“We are very happy to participate in this program,” Schuylkill Community Action Executive Director Ted Dreisbach said. “It will help many residents who otherwise would have no option other than to continue living in an unsafe environment.”
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