When 91-year-old Mary Medendorp needed help weatherizing her Holland home, she found a lifeline through
Community Action of Allegan County (CAAC).
“I do a lot of volunteering at Evergreen Commons,” Medendorp says. “That’s where I heard about the program.”
CAAC’s weatherization initiative provides income-eligible residents with energy-saving upgrades such as insulation, heating improvements, and ventilation updates.
For Medendorp, a widow and retired law enforcement officer, the assistance made her home safer, more comfortable, and more affordable to maintain.
After her application was approved, CAAC staff conducted a comprehensive home energy audit.
“They did all kinds of things. They tested the refrigerator, the furnace, the light bulbs,” Medendorp says. “They found out how old everything was. A couple of weeks later, I had a new furnace. They caulked the ceilings where air was coming in and added more insulation to the attic.”
The impact was immediate.
“We haven’t had to have the air conditioning on as much,” she says. “I think it’s helped the utilities go down, especially the gas bill. I’m on the budget plan for both Semco and (Holland Board of Public Works) BPW, so it’s a big relief because I don’t need any more extra bills.”
Making needed changes
Although she hoped to replace her 50-year-old air conditioner, Medendorp was told the program prioritizes heating systems due to Michigan’s long winters.
“They told me they did the furnace because it’s colder longer than it’s hot,” she says. “That made sense. I was a little surprised, but I’m still really thankful.”
Her upgrades also included switching to LED light bulbs, installing a continuously running bathroom fan to reduce moisture, and adding attic insulation. Although her refrigerator is nearly 20 years old, it passed the inspection.
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Courtesy of CAACMary Medendorp
“They’re looking for efficiency,” Medendorp says. “The refrigerator isn’t perfect, but it’s livable. The furnace they gave me is 98% efficient, which is a big improvement.”
She’s lived in the same home since 1978, retiring at age 60 after a public service career that included dispatch, prisoner transport, and traffic enforcement for the local police department.
In recent years, Medendorp has discovered other CAAC programs, including meal delivery following surgery. “I didn’t even know those were available,” she says. “The meals were awesome. I didn’t have to worry about food while recovering.”
She hopes more seniors will take advantage of programs like weatherization.
“There’s so much available that it’s unreal,” she says. “If you need it, for heaven’s sake, go do it. There’s no sense in taking on a burden you can’t afford if help is out there.”
Raising quality of life
In Allegan County, CAAC uses decades-old federal funding to weatherize homes for low- to moderate-income residents. The program aims to improve housing quality, lower energy costs, and promote healthier indoor environments.
“We’re able to weatherize about 25 houses per year,” says Darrell Oakley, deputy director of Housing and Community Services at CAAC. “It’s mainly energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, air sealing, infiltration reduction, and improving indoor air quality.”
Terry Emelander, CAAC’s housing programs supervisor, highlights the agency’s community outreach efforts.
“We do a tremendous amount of marketing and outreach to reach clients,” he says.
Clients begin with an intake process to determine eligibility, followed by an in-home energy audit.
“The auditor evaluates things like energy conservation and air tightness,” Oakley says. “The physical audit usually takes four hours inside the home.”
The upgrades do more than just lower heating and cooling bills.
“Many of our clients share that, following weatherization, their homes become more comfortable and functional,” says Brenda Molendyk, Chief Financial Officer Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer at CAAC. “We often hear comments such as, ‘That room used to be too hot to use,’ or, ‘That space was too drafty for us to occupy.’ These improvements expand the usable living space in their homes.”
Addressing health concerns
Emelander stresses the program’s role in improving indoor air quality.
“We’re getting into homes and improving the air quality, which leads to fewer missed days of work and school,” he says. “We reduce the draftiness and isolate unappealing attic air and crawl space air away from the living space. Then we add mechanical ventilation to guarantee a certain amount of air changes per hour, cycling fresh air in and stale air out.”
Molendyk emphasizes the health-related advantages of the program.
“Through weatherization, we’re able to eliminate mold and other environmental hazards, making homes safer and more livable,” she says. “From a healthy housing standpoint, these improvements can be life-changing.”
She also highlights the financial relief it provides to households managing tight budgets.
“A reduction of $400 annually in utility expenses can make a significant difference,” Molendyk explains. “Those savings can instead go toward fuel, medication, or other essential needs. For many of our clients, that financial margin is incredibly narrow, and the savings directly impact their quality of life.”
Importantly, the program is available to both homeowners and renters, provided there is landlord cooperation.
“Homeownership is not a requirement for participation,” Molendyk affirms. “However, in rental situations, we do need to establish a working relationship with the property owner and the occupant to proceed with improvements.”
She adds that reducing energy costs can provide a vital financial cushion for families on tight budgets.
“If their utility bill is reduced by $400 for the year, that’s $400 they can use for gas, medicine, or other essentials,” Molendyk says. “The margin for many of our clients is so small that the additional funding really helps improve their quality of life.”
The program is available to renters as well, provided that landlords cooperate.
“You do not need to be a homeowner,” Molendyk says. “However, we do need to have a relationship with the landlord in order for those improvements to be possible.”
For more information about the weatherization program,
click here.