http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090313/POLITICS/903130384Friday, March 13, 2009
Stimulus to weatherize 30K homes
Federal funds to help repair roofs, seal drafty windows for Michigan's low-income residents
Deb Price / The Detroit News
WASHINGTON -- Michigan will be able to weatherize 30,000 homes of low-income residents for free, thanks to $243 million in economic stimulus money headed to the state.
The White House announced Michigan's share of the weatherization money Thursday.
The money means a huge expansion of Michigan's free weatherization program, which helps about 5,000 low-income residents a year.
Services include repairing roofs, insulating attics and sealing leaks around doors and windows.
Tom Clementson, an unemployed road construction worker in Indian River, said he hopes to apply to have his drafty, older home weatherized.
"My heating bills are about $225 a month," Clementson said. "I could use savings on that to pay the phone bill or buy food. That would really be good."
To qualify, a family of four needs to have a household income of about $40,000 or less.
more...