Within the next two years Ringgold Housing Authority residents can expect to feel cooler summers and warmer winters and save money on their electricity bills while doing it.
"We're getting stimulus money," said Pat Sizemore, who is among about 75 residents in the Ringgold public housing development. "There's money available to fix the ductwork, and it should help our utility bills."
Public housing sites that serve low- to moderate-income residents across the nation are expected to benefit from $5 billion for weatherization in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
About $57,000 of the money came to the Ringgold Housing Authority, whose 30 units were built in the 1960s.
"That's good money," Executive Director Sue Lane Helton said.
She knows other housing authorities received millions of dollars, but Ms. Helton said her site will get enough so residents will have less expensive utility bills, buildings will be repaired and local contractors may get some much-needed work.
Ms. Helton said she plans to start accepting bids from contractors for the project as soon as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approves the housing authority's plans for the money. The money is supposed to be committed within a year and work is expected to begin within the next two years, Ms. Helton said.
The plan is to replace ductwork for the heating and air conditioning system, repair cracks in the walls and correct some drainage problems, Ms. Helton said.
Ms. Sizemore said she's looking forward to the weatherization improvements.
"It will make the heat more even. Right now, one room is cold while another is hot and the utility bills are high," she said.
The Southeast Tennessee Human Resources Agency received $2.8 million to help weatherize homes for low- to moderate-income residents. But SETHRA officials said they haven't decided if they can meet the contract obligations.
About 95 percent of the money has to be contracted out. Only 5 percent stays with SETHRA to administer the grant.
"We want to be able to pass this money through," said Chris Kleehammer, assistant executive director. "But we can't go broke trying to administrate it."
The grant states that SETHRA must administer the weatherization of at least 364 houses owned by low- to moderate-income residents.
Mr. Kleehammer said SETHRA representatives will meet with government officials on June 30 to learn more about the grant and to decide if the organization can participate.
Dayton Housing Authority in Rhea County, Tenn., also received $602,504 in stimulus money.
Executive Director Lisa Bondio said the money will pay for electrical upgrades to about 80 units of the 300 units at the Taylor Hills housing development.
The electrical upgrades will make way for residents to receive new heating and air conditioning and dryer ducts.
The units were built in 1971 with baseboard heating units. Instead of dryer vents, the units had outdoor clothes lines.
Most Dayton Public Housing residents already have window air conditioning units, but they don't cool as efficiently as central heat and air, Ms. Bondio said.
Ms. Bondio said the housing agency expects to receive bids for the project within the next 30 to 45 days.
BY THE NUMBERS
$5 billion: Stimulus money allocated for weatherization
$57,000: Allocation to Ringgold Public Housing
30: Units in Ringgold Public Housing
$602,504: Allocation to Dayton Public Housing
80: Apartments that will receive electrical upgrades and new heating and air units.
Source: Dayton, Ringgold public housing agencies
