To apply for
the summer cooling program, make an appointment by calling Hristina
Ferracci at 302-856-7761, ext. 109.
Appointments are held in each
county, usually within a few days of making the call, and First State
will come directly to the homes of the severely disabled.
Low-income Delawareans may qualify for free AC
By
Shannon Marvel McNaught
Posted Jul 4, 2018 at 4:00 PM
First State Community Action Agency distributing units
Low-income residents in Delaware may qualify for a no-cost air
conditioning unit through First State Community Action Center’s summer
cooling program.
First State was created in the 1960s when the
federal government first funded a network of regional community centers
to combat poverty. The organization is based in Georgetown, in Sussex
County, but has locations in Dover and New Castle, as well. Funding for
the summer cooling program is provided through the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
The intense summer heat is a concern
because it can adversely affect anyone’s health, especially those
already at risk: small children, the elderly, the disabled and those
with respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD. Unfortunately, air
conditioning can be cost-prohibitive.
“It’s the goal of the
summer cooling program to ensure the health and safety of people,” said
FSCAC Communications Manager Kaneisha Trott.
First State installed over 500 units in Delaware last year and has installed 100 so far this year.
Not only does First State provide needy families with air
conditioning units, they install the unit, assess each home’s electrical
systems and provide education on energy conservation.
Qualifying
for the summer cooling program is two-pronged. First, you must be 60
years of age or older, be disabled, have a documented breathing issue or
have a child aged five or younger in the home. You must prove you
qualify with a state-issued I.D. for everyone in your home over 18,
birth certificates for anyone under 18, Social Security cards for
everyone in the home and a current electric bill.
In addition,
you must provide proof of income for everyone in the home and meet
income requirements. Household income levels must be at or below 200
percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The federal poverty
guidelines are created annually by the Census Bureau.
Both
homeowners and renters are eligible for the summer cooling program, but
renters must provide both a copy of their lease and permission from
their landlord. Participants who received an air conditioning unit from
the program in the past 10 years are not eligible.
To apply for
the summer cooling program, make an appointment by calling Hristina
Ferracci at 302-856-7761, ext. 109. Appointments are held in each
county, usually within a few days of making the call, and First State
will come directly to the homes of the severely disabled.