WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The waitlists for two programs administered by Ozark Action, Inc. (OAI) are shrinking, and the director of both programs says now is the best time in years to get on either waitlist.
The Housing Division at OAI is currently accepting applications for people seeking home weatherization services or for rental assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.
WX program can help more thanks to recent program changes
The OAI weatherization program, funded by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of Energy and the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), offers a comprehensive home energy audit and utility-lowering home improvements to low income residents at no cost to the client. Program benefits include a free pre- and post weatherization energy audit and free insulation work. These steps lead to lower utility bills and an overall improved quality of life.
Other improvements could include free minor home repairs, free heating system repairs, and window replacement, if the energy audit calls for those improvements to be done. On December 27, 2020, former President Donald Trump signed an omnibus legislative package into law that includes several significant changes for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), in addition to program funding. Prior to the signing of the bill, homes that were weatherized after September 30, 1994 were unable to have other weatherization work done by entities receiving funding through the Department of Energy or LIHEAP. On July 1, 2021, however, a new 15-year “rolling date” system begins – homes weatherized on or before July 1, 2006 can be re-weatherized beginning July 1, 2021, homes previously weatherized on or before July 2, 2006 may be re-weatherized beginning July 2, 2021, and so on.
“This is absolutely outstanding news,” stated Ed Button, Housing Division Director at Ozark Action, Inc., the community action agency performing weatherization work in Howell, Douglas, Ozark, Wright, Texas, and Oregon counties. “The original arbitrary date restricted
weatherization efforts in our area. Homes and their insulation settle, shift, and change over time, but if the home was fully or even partially weatherized after 1994 you were out of luck. The new date will allow more people to reap the benefits of the program, whether they have been in that home since it was weatherized previously, or they purchased the home sometime later.”
Button added that a number of homes that can be weatherized again have been identified and paperwork has been sent to those homes that were previously rejected. The weatherization program is available to homeowners and renters who qualify. Eligibility is
based on income. Other restrictions apply.
HUD voucher waitlist lowest in years
Despite the economic issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the waitlist for the HCV program through OAI is lower than it has been in the last several years. “Typically, we have a robust waiting list where those that apply are waiting a year or two to come in for a voucher briefing,” Button stated. “but thanks to the COVID-related eviction moratoriums, fewer people are looking for housing, which has allowed us to make our way through a sizable portion of our waitlist. But we’re still here and still offering help to those who
qualify.”
The HUD Housing Choice Voucher program (HCV) helps low-income individuals and families pay their rent, paying up to 100% of their rent in some circumstances. The program is based on income, with a limit of $19,750 per year for one person and a limit of $28,150 for a family of four. The OAI HCV program operates in Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Texas, Wright, Shannon, Douglas, and Ozark Counties, with the exceptions of the cities of West Plains and Cabool, which have their own public housing agencies. OAI’s program helps house over 500 families each year.
“People who receive vouchers through the program are typically the working poor – those who have one or several jobs but aren’t making enough to make ends meet – or the elderly receiving Social Security. Our program helps them and others in need stay in safe, affordable housing,” Button stated.
He added that there is a distinct lack of affordable housing in the area and encourages landlords in the counties they cover to call OAI to get added to a list to give to prospective renters or to just find out more about the program.
“At the end of the day, it’s a guaranteed rent payment for the landlords who rent to our clients,” Button said. “The last 14 months or so have been hard on everyone and it’s nice to have a small reassurance that as long as the tenant and the landlord are happy and within their lease parameters, you have some sort of income guaranteed to come in from that unit.”
Button added that there are some misconceptions concerning the program that tend to scare away some landlords.
“Some landlords think that renting to a HCV recipient means your home will only be able to be used to house HUD recipients from that point forward, or that we make you renovate the entire home, or that we tell you what you can or can’t do with your property, and that’s simply not the case.” Button said. “We have housing standards handed down from HUD that are the bare minimum standards to have a HCV recipient housed in your home: walls painted, smoke detectors, things like that. Qualifications most properties do not have a problem meeting. We never ‘take over’ your property, we never ‘own’ it. We just help the tenants.”
If you are looking for a place to rent, or if you are a landlord who would like more information on the program, call Ozark Action at 417-256-6147, visit www.oaiwp.org/housing, or email HUD@oaiwp.org.
People seeking to fill out an application for weatherization assistance can also call that number or email WX@oaiwp.org. For more information on the weatherization program and income guidelines, visit www.oaiwp.org/weatherization.
