When Francisco N. and his family moved into their new home in Fresno, he realized that there was plenty of work to be done.
“I had found a home that met all my needs but knew it would take a long time to make it truly comfortable,” said Francisco. The house needed repairs, and the outdated appliances and insulation made for a large utility bill each month.
At the fruit packing company where he worked, Francisco’s coworker suggested that he apply for the Low-Income Weatherization Program’s (LIWP’s) Farmworker Housing Component, after sharing his own positive experience with the program.
The LIWP Farmworker Housing Component is funded through California Climate Investments and the State General Fund. The program is administered by the California Department of Community Services and Development in partnership with La Cooperativa Campesina de California, a statewide network of non-profits focused on delivering farmworker service programs for over 50 years.
Through LIWP, low-income agricultural workers can apply for rooftop solar panels and other renovations that make their homes more energy efficient, saving them hundreds of dollars on their energy bills while helping the state meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Once his application was accepted, LIWP staff helped Francisco every step of the way to make sure that he was informed and supported while his home was being renovated.
Francisco N. with his home’s new electrical panel and circuit.
Francisco’s home received radiant barriers, wall and ceiling insulation, a new electrical panel and circuit, an HVAC system, a water heater heat pump, and rooftop solar panels. Now his home is healthier, safer, and prepared for the increasing impacts of climate change, which are expected to be especially severe in the Central Valley.
Francisco is grateful that now he can rest easier and live in the present with his family. “Thanks to this support, I’ve been able to focus more on enjoying time with my family and less on worrying about home repairs or high utility costs,” he said. “My house now feels closer to the vision I always had for it – warm, comfortable, and truly a place to call home.”
Francisco N. outside his home in Fresno, California.
Over 200 miles away in Riverside County, another LIWP recipient is enjoying the benefits of their new heat pump heating and cooling system, water heater, air purifier, and rooftop solar panel system.
“This past winter, I saw incredible savings on my natural gas bill. My monthly costs dropped by $80 to $100, thanks to the energy-efficient water heater and furnace. Now, as I head into my first summer with solar panels, I’m excited to see even greater savings on my electricity bill. I’m recommending it to my sister-in-law, who doesn’t have air conditioning, because I know how tough summers can get here. I have no doubt that this program will make a huge difference for her and her family, just as it has for mine.”
LIWP Farmworker Housing Component is delivering life-changing upgrades to households across the state, and recipients are spreading the word throughout their communities.
As trusted messengers working at the local level within farmworker communities, CSD’s partner La Cooperativa Campesina de California is able to reach eligible single-family farmworker households to provide much-needed home upgrades, to keep their homes running safely, comfortably, and affordably, even as extreme weather events become more frequent for many agricultural areas throughout the state.