• Weatherization & Energy Efficiency
• Rebabitilation & Repairs
• Lead Abatement

Housing and energy costs are a major concern for low-income families. Older homes are often poorly insulated, have inefficient heating systems and may have serious structural and safety problems – including significant lead paint hazards.

The Housing Preservation program works to provide safe and energy efficient housing for low and moderate income families by addressing the structural, safety and energy conservation needs of the existing housing stock.

How People are Helped

• Weatherization services and insulation
• Furnace repair and replacement when needed
• Handicap accessibility improvements
• Computerized energy audits and air infiltration testing
• Evaluation and repair of gas appliances – stoves, water heaters
• Home structural repairs, including roof, windows, doors
• Health and safety inspection and lead hazard reduction

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The Weatherization program helps to bring homes up to the State's energy code and into a physical condition that provides significant energy savings. To qualify for services, homeowners must meet income limits. Rental properties may also qualify for the program if the tenants are below income limits and if the landlord agrees to participate in the program.

The process for each home begins with a housing preservation site assessment. This assessment evaluates ways to improve energy efficiency and safety, including the amount of air leakage within the property, the condition of appliances, insulation, doors and windows, the quality of heating and air conditioning systems, the presence of a hazard from asbestos, lead or carbon monoxide, the condition of the electrical system, smoke alarms, lighting, and the amount of ventilation. West CAP staff then prepares a work plan to address these problems in a cost-effective way.

The goal of the program is to ensure a safe living environment and to improve the physical systems of the house in order to use less energy. The program has limits on the family income in determining eligibility, as well as limits on the overall cost of the proposed improvements.

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Rehabilitation & Repairs

The Housing Rehabilitation program provides homeowners with a range of renovation and repair services. To be eligible, family income must be within 80% of the median income for the county. The exact services that can be provided will depend upon the family’s eligibility for Wisconsin Public Benefits, and also on the provisions established by the electric utility cooperative or municipal service system in their area. West CAP staff will assist in determining eligibility and services. Rehabilitation services may include:

• Modifications to insure handicapped accessibility
• Energy conservation through insulation, heating system repair, and caulking
• Roof and siding repair or replacement
• Electrical system upgrade
• Plumbing, well and septic repair or replacement
• Structural repairs to walls, ceiling, doors and windows

Lead Hazard Removal

Houses or apartments that were built before 1978 often have potential health risks from lead-based paint on walls and other surfaces. Health experts agree that residue from lead-based paint can cause serious health problems if not taken care of properly. Lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a hazard; however, in older homes lead from paint chips, which you can see, and lead dust, which you can’t always see, can both be serious hazards.

The HomeWorks program helps low-income homeowners, renters and landlords find solutions to these lead hazard problems. The Wisconsin Department of Public Health provides testing and risk assessment for each residence, while the West CAP staff completes the work needed to correct the problem. This may involve safely removing peeling or cracking lead-based paint, or painting over surfaces with a new non-porous material. In some cases, windows, siding, doors, or mouldings may need to be replaced.

HomeWorks Lead Removal services are provided at no cost to homeowners who meet low-income guidelines. Special cost-sharing incentives are available to encourage landlords to correct lead hazards in their rental units. This service is limited to low-income families with children under the age of six, and funding is limited.

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