CHESHIRE, Mass. — A pilot program through Berkshire Community Action Council aims to assist those deferred from free weatherization and heating repair services.

Jess Cooley, who is working with BCAC on the Weatherization Remediation Assistance Program, put it on the Board of Selectmen's radar on Thursday. She is trying to organize resources to get the program off of the ground.

While doing energy audits for people on fuel assistance, the organization found that many have fixable disqualifying factors for repairs through the Weatherization Assistance Program or heating service program.  

Ten households in Cheshire are currently deferred.
 
"About one in three homes, they find that there's roadblocks or barriers in the home that mean that they can't get access to weatherization services or home heating services until they fix those roadblocks," Cooley explained. "And they're home repair projects that are needed, essentially."

The WRAP has been around since 1979 and aims to save clients' heating dollars by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes and apartments. It is funded through federal and utility company dollars.

Cooley reported that hundreds of households in Berkshire County have barriers to receiving these free services. The most common roadblocks include knob and tube wiring, asbestos, moisture or mold, roof leaks, and heavy storage, costing between $6,000 and $10,000 to fix.

She said they often affect seniors, those with limited income, families with young children, and disabled residents.  

A lack of readiness funding to support home repairs can lead to lower energy efficiency, safety and health risks, and deteriorating housing stock.

For Cooley, this project is to look at the issue from all angles. Right now, it needs sustainable and flexible funding and community collaboration with stakeholders.

"I've been talking to people, elected leaders throughout the county first to raise awareness that it's happening," she said.

"A lot of folks have just not been aware including our state legislators and delegation, they knew that there was all this funding for weatherization and energy assistance but they didn't know this is a loophole, a gap, and it's a problem nationally, too so we're hoping that eventually, some federal funding will be coming. There are people in [Washington, D.C.] that are working on it, but you can imagine that's going to take a while for that to really trickle down to our communities."

In the meantime, she has been speaking with relevant entities such as the housing authority, environmental groups, community health care providers, and elder services.  

The goal is to convene leaders who are aware of the barriers to the program and have an ongoing conversation about available resources. Cooley has been exercising all options for funding, as the repair projects to become eligible for BCAC's upgrades cost $6,000 to $10,000 on average.

She told the board that Pittsfield has set aside American Rescue Plan Act Funds for the readiness issue and some towns are considering appropriating a small amount of money for it in the budget.  Richmond has reportedly been doing this for years.

This year's town budget process has concluded but it was said that this is a good thing to have on the selectmen's radar.

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