Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Keeping home warm won't be a struggle this year for one mom

Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jdendinger@news-bulletin.com

Meadow Lake For most people, opening a window to catch a cooling breeze or closing one to stop a wintry draft is commonplace. But for one Meadow Lake family, the simple act of opening and closing a window has been nonexistent for the last two years.

When Jill Schaaf and her four teenagers moved into the doublewide mobile home two years ago, she decided she wanted to take on the challenge of renting to own.

"I knew there were some problems," she said. "When we moved in, some of the windows were already broken and they were just kind of sitting in the frames."

Over the last two years, the New Mexico wind and occasional hailstorms finished them off. "This last hail really beat things up," Schaaf says, pointing to a shredded pair of blinds behind a newly installed window. "It just blew straight into the house; we had almost a foot of hail in there."

But now thanks to the New Mexico EnergySmart Program, Schaaf's home was weatherized with new windows, front door and furnace on Monday.

The purpose of New Mexico EnergySmart is to increase the energy efficiency of homes occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total residential expenditures and improve their health and safety.

The statewide program is managed by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA) and is implemented through partnerships with four non-profit organizations strategically located throughout the state. The State Legislature also provides financial support to EnergySmart.

"The cost of energy is such a burden on low-income families," said Leann Holt, communications manager for the association. "They will often spend a quarter of their income on energy expenses."

The Schaaf family knows that statistic well. Last winter, they racked up over $300 per month in electric bills trying to stay warm.

"The furnace went out, and we had to use space heaters. Our highest bill was $375 for one month," she said. "That was when it was really cold, and everyone had their own heater going. And sometimes that would trip the breaker, so we'd wake up in the morning freezing."

Schaaf applied for assistance through the MFA and was originally told her house would be weatherized in March, Holt said. "Unfortunately, funding ran out and she had to wait until now," she said.

Samantha Schaaf is sitting on the sofa doing her homework as the workers finish up the installation and head out. "During the winter, it was freezing. We would have like a million covers on us," she said. "I would change in front of the heater; I don't know about the rest of them.

"And during the summer, it was so hot. There were one or two months in the fall and spring when it was perfect, though."

Not only was heating the home a concern, but general security was as well. Last summer, someone came into the home and took an exotic bird. "He was pretty valuable, but without windows and a good front door I was always worried someone would just come in here," Schaaf said. "That's why I always had the kids go to their cousin's when I wasn't here."

The old front door of the house, while solid, didn't have a sturdy frame to latch to. "The framing around it had all broken, so you had to slam it really hard to make sure it latched," Schaaf said. "Of course if you slammed it too hard, it would stick and someone would be stuck inside until we could get it open."

While the state provided $800,000 in the 2008-09 program year, Holt said the governor would be asking the Legislature to up its contribution to $2 million during the next special session, which begins Friday.

"There is such a need for this program in the state," she said. "Since 2002, only 2 percent of the eligible households in New Mexico have been weatherized through the program." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 348,726 households in New Mexico qualify for weatherization assistance but only 7,374 homes have received services.

Central New Mexico Housing Corporation in Albuquerque serves Valencia County in the New Mexico EnergySmart program. Because the program is for low-income families, the services are free. Call 345-4949 to see if you meet the income eligibility guidelines for assistance.

As Schaaf opens windows to let in a breeze, she is all smiles. "We are so grateful for this," she said. "It's just . . . wow!"

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