Reduce Your Power Bill: Take Advantage of Gila County Grants Today
The Gila County, Arizona Board of Supervisors recently approved an extension to two distinct grant programs. These initiatives are aimed at offering crucial assistance to residents with low incomes and disabilities, who are grappling with the escalating costs of housing in the area.
One of these grants will inject an additional $48,000 into measures designed to help residents minimize their energy bills. This will primarily be achieved by funding weatherization improvements to their homes. Weatherization includes tasks like insulation, window replacement, and sealing cracks and gaps that can allow drafts, all of which can help regulate the indoor temperature and therefore reduce energy usage.
In addition, another grant program has been allocated $350,000. These funds will be used to facilitate the remodeling and repair of existing homes, with the specific aim of improving their energy efficiency and thereby lessening energy consumption and costs.
While these grants represent only a small fraction of the county’s affordable housing fund, their impact can’t be underestimated. According to data collected by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, for every 100 extremely low-income residents in the county, there are merely 30 affordable rental units available. Furthermore, the Community Action Program of Gila County, while offering some housing assistance, finds its resources depleted at the start of every month due to the high demand.
The reality of the housing situation in Gila County is indeed challenging. The Census Bureau lists the median home price at $200,000 and the median rent at approximately $900. However, the Rocket Homes website reports a significant rise in both home prices and rents over the past year. Their data show the median sales price over the past year reaching an alarming $400,000, exacerbated by a scarcity of affordable two-bedroom properties.
Given these circumstances, the grants that fund county housing programs are becoming increasingly vital. The median household income in Gila County stands at $51,000, sufficient to support only an $80,000 mortgage with a $10,000 down payment. Through the implementation of these grants, the county aims to make headway in alleviating the affordable housing crisis, either by enabling residents to stay in their homes or by reducing their utility bills.
The $48,000 grant for home weatherization, which includes a $10,000 contribution from APS, is directed towards reducing the energy bills of low-income and disabled residents. This comes at a crucial time as utility bills have been on a sharp rise over the past year, and APS just announced an average increase of $12 a month in February. This comes after the Arizona Corporation Commission approved a surcharge to deal with the soaring price of natural gas, which fuels power plants. The average electricity bill for an Arizona consumer now sits at approximately $187 a month.
In addition to this, the supervisors have greenlit a $372,000 grant from the federal Department of Energy. This will enable the provision of insulation, double-pane windows, and other modifications to homes that will help lower energy costs for qualifying individuals. The grant will fund services from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, and will be administered through the Gila County Community Services Department.
