Complications in Implementing Home Weatherization Programs for the Poor

To help combat the impact of rising energy costs on low-income individuals and to reduce national energy consumption, the Community Services Administration (CSA) insulates and repairs homes for the economically disadvantaged. As of December 1977, over $100 million had been provided in grants to more than 900 local community action agencies and other organizations. Also, the Department of Energy (DOE) is carrying out a $200 million supplementary home Weatherization Assistance Program.

The Weatherization Program has helped many disadvantaged families, but the extent of help cannot be determined nor can the amount of energy conserved. Because of a 10-percent limitation on program administration costs, including labor, labor support is provided under a mutual agreement with the Department of Labor. This agreement has not been effectively carried out. Problems have resulted from poor workmanship and unavailability of an adequate labor force. The program has also been hampered by other administrative problems. CSA has not issued sufficient guidance, required program controls, nor adequately monitored program operations. Because grantees do not have specific direction for weatherizing rentals, most of the poor are excluded from the program. CSA also has not reported effectively on the quantity and nature of weatherization work performed and its effects on recipients and energy savings. An agreement of understanding among CSA, DOE, and Labor, intended to achieve program coordination, has not resolved problems arising from differing regulations and two federal funding sources making awards to the same grantees.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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