CAA continues weatherization program

St. Mary Community Action Agency is celebrating National Weatherization Day today in recognition of a program dedicated to improving the energy efficiency of homes throughout the nation.
The United States Department of Energy, via the Weatherization Assistance Program, provides funding to states to improve the energy efficiency of the homes of low income families.
Since the program’s inception in 1976, over 7 million homes have received energy efficiency improvements, such as heating and cooling upgrades, the addition of insulation, weather-stripping to doors and windows and much more.
St. Mary CAA’s weatherization program began over 35 years ago in St. Mary Parish and later Vermilion Parish. In the past five years, the agency has taken over weatherization programs in six other parishes: Acadia, Iberia, Jeff Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche and St. Martin.
The agency has completed an average of over 100 houses per program year. Last year, the program completed 108 houses with 28 of those in St. Mary and Vermilion parishes. The majority of persons served were elderly or disabled.
The need for the weatherization program is evident by the increasing number of applications the agency receives monthly, “First of all I am very thankful and greatly appreciative of the blessing of getting my home repaired and energy efficient,” said recipient Marcel Kay Langley.
St. Mary CAA Housing Director Jeff Beverly oversees the agency’s Weatherization program and has watched it grow since its inception 35 years ago from one parish to eight, and hundreds of elderly and disabled homeowners receiving greatly needed energy efficiency home repairs.
“Without this program, so many families, especially the elderly and disabled, would be struggling with trying to maintain their homes,” Beverly said. “Our work crews and weatherization staff go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure our client’s homes are energy efficient for the betterment of utility expenses in today’s economic conditions.
Almetra J. Franklin, CEO echoed Beverly’s sentiments adding that she is “very proud that the agency can deliver such beneficial services to community residents.”