Temperatures are starting to heat up and a local nonprofit organization is making sure vulnerable people at risk have help to stay healthy and cool. With a grant from Arizona Public Service (APS), FSL will continue the Healthy Homes Air Conditioning Program into its second year. SRP is also a funding partner in this program.
“We’re so grateful to APS for its support to bring the Healthy Homes Program back for a second year,” said Tami Bohannon, president and CEO, FSL. “Seniors and low-income families in Arizona are at higher risk during the summer months. Our goal is to lessen the risk of heat-related illnesses and casualties that many vulnerable families face when it gets hot out.”
Summer temperatures can range from 105 – 115 degrees during the day in the desert. In 2020, Arizona Department of Health Services reported 522 heat-related deaths across the state.
FSL is a proven partner in the area of weatherization and energy efficiency, so it was a natural next step to launch a program that was created to eliminate heat-related hazards from vulnerable, low-income households in metropolitan Phoenix. It provides free repair and replacement of eligible homeowners’ air conditioning systems when outside temperatures reach over 100 degrees.
From July to October 2021, the program provided emergency heat intervention to 52 households, with 100 percent reporting their home to be more comfortable post intervention and 53 percent stating they could get more rest or sleep after they were able to cool their homes.
The program will be offered through the 2022 calendar year and is open to low-income households in Yuma, Pinal, and La Paz Counties as well as metropolitan Phoenix, and the home must be owned by the applicant. Availability is very limited and subject to available funds. Applications opened May 1, 2022.
Priority will be given to the elderly, persons with disabilities, or small children in the home. Household income requirements follow Federal Poverty guidelines and applicants must show proof of household income to qualify.
