Housing Programs
Homes are always in need of repair and people are in need of affordable housing. Below are some St. Johns Housing Partnership programs.
- Home Owners
- Weatherization Assistance Program
- Emergency Repair Program
- Neighborhood Revitalization
- Credit Counseling Services
Weatherization Assistance Program
“Providing energy-efficient homes for Florida’s low-income citizens”
Funded by the U.S. Dept. of Energy and the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Serviecs.
State and National
Weatherization Assistance Programs are nationwide and funded each year by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program provides grants for energy-saving repairs on the homes of low-income residents. In Florida, the program is implemented under the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Development.
Local governments, community action agencies, Indian tribes and nonprofit agencies are eligible for the grants, which are allocated based on a formula that combines population and weather data. Preference is given to elderly and disabled homeowners and families with children.
Americans spend $156 billion each year on home energy use. Low-income households pay an uneven share of this bill- typically 18% of annual income compared with 3.5% for other households. After implementing weatherization measures, households can reduce their average energy costs by $358.
Local Communities
In Clay and St. Johns counties, the Weatherization Assistance Program is provided through the St. Johns Housing Partnership. Implementing the national and state goals for energy efficiency, SJHP helps reduce homeowners’ annual energy costs.
To do this, SJHP’s weatherization crews use advanced diagnostic equipment to perform an energy audit. The computerized audit determines the most cost-effective measures needed in each home.
Typically, these measures include installing insulation, sealing ducts, adding weather stripping, tuning and repairing heating and cooling systems, water heater wraps and reducing air filtration and base-load electricity use.
| Home Energy Use | |
|---|---|
| 44% | heating & cooling |
| 26% | cooking & appliances |
| 14% | hot water heater |
| 9% | refrigerator |
| 7% | electric lighting |
On National Weatherization Day in 1997, the St. Johns Housing Partnership weatherized the Alvarez family home to demonstrate safety measures and potential cost savings. When SJHP’s weatherization crew inspects a home, they look for cracked windows to seal; doors, windows and attics to caulk and weatherstrip; air leaks to seal where plumbing, ductwork or electrical wiring penetrates walls, floors and ceilings.
William Brown, SJHP’s weatherization specialist, led the energy audit in determining how to reduce the family’s energy use. With an infrared camera and a laptop computer, Brown read the air conditioner’s energy use and the gas stove’s CO2. Among common electric appliances, hot water heaters use about 14% of home energy on average. Wrapping the heater can sometimes save energy. If any hot water heater is not working efficiently, the SJHP weatherization crew either repairs or replaces it.
National Weatherization Day provides SJHP the opportunity to demonstrate health and safety with using heating and cooling systems but also with home appliances and their potential for combustion, gas leaks and mildew. SJHP’s Emergency Repair Program incorporates energy audits in its review process. Where weatherization measures can be taken, SJHP’s crew will do so.
Emergency Repair Program
This program provides home repair services to single-family homeowners in need of assistance through a combination of staff, subcontracting, self-help, and volunteers from local businesses and social service agencies. Community participation helps reduce program costs. Volunteer recruitment and supervision is an ongoing aspect of the program. The SJHP has a policy of cooperating with any volunteer group to maximize impact and leverage additional resources whenever possible.
Referrals of low-income seniors and families in need come from social service agencies as well as word-of-mouth from previous clients. Additionally, the County annually advertises notice of funds from the State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP), which generates applications for assistance. Emergency repairs are handled immediately if a threat to client’s life or health is perceived—staff, funding, and experience permitting. Otherwise, the client’s name is placed on the waiting list. The list has over 300 homes requesting assistance. All applications can be completed through the mail with telephone assistance or, if requested, in the recipient’s home.
Neighborhood Revitalization
St. Johns Housing Partnership plans an annual neighborhood rehab effort with community volunteers each year. The volunteer projects have grown successful, three times receiving honorable mention from the National “Make A Difference” Day campaign.
Three years ago a successful Neighborhood Revitalization effort in Hastings was the ReBuild project, a volunteer partnership with local builders and realtors. Because of the neighbors and volunteers helping out—some showing up to help a second and third time—this rehab effort was able to help repair the homes of several more families. David and Marilyn Wiles worked with Hastings Town Clerk Shelby Jack, with Town Council Member Brenda Felder-Lockett, Reubin Carter, and other residents to paint the home of Ella Blue. The Wiles showed up on another project and brought their son to help. Along with Brenda who also returned to help, they painted the exterior of Mrs. Flora Carter’s home
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