County routinely receives funds from the State of California, Department of Community Services and Development, to manage the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) . Contra Costa County has received funding from the State of California, Department of Community Services and Development, for 25 years wherein the County provides energy bill assistance payments and weatherization services to income-eligible Contra Costa County residents. The funding source is federal funding from the DOE passed through by the Department of Community Services and Development.
County receives funds via the Employment & Human Services Department, which, in turn, partners with County's Department of Conservation and Development to provide direct services to clients through energy saving home improvements. The energy saving measures may provide homes with hot water heaters, furnaces, refrigerators, microwaves, doors, windows, florescent light bulbs, weather stripping, ceiling fans, and attic insulation. Homes receive a blower door test (a diagnostic tool to locate and correct air infiltration), and homes with gas appliances receive a combustion appliance safety test that checks for carbon monoxide gas leakage. Homes with gas appliances are provided with carbon monoxide alarms. The Program uses income-based eligibility as per the federal poverty guidelines for that program year. Once eligibility is determined, clients with no hot water, no heat, or are in danger of having their power shut off are served as emergencies. Services are then based on clients with the lowest income, highest energy burden, and those with one household member who is considered in the vulnerable population. During the last Fiscal Year, seven households received weatherization under DOE funds.
If not approved, eligible Contra Costa County residents will not be able to receive the weatherization assistance program to meet their energy needs.
The DOE WAP funding supports one of the community outcomes established in the Children's Report Card, Outcome #4: "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing" through the provision of home energy assistance to keep households warm in winter and to increase household energy efficiency.