Helping low income families manage their energy costs has been a hallmark of Community Action for decades. Since their origins in the 1960s, Community Action Agencies have recognized that low-income families carry a heavier “energy burden” than their more affluent neighbors. Today, low-income families often devote 20-30 percent of household income to heat their homes and keep the lights on, while a middle or upper-class family may pay only seven to ten percent of their income for such necessities.

To help close this energy affordability gap, Michigan’s CAAs are leading providers of Energy Efficiency Programs for low-income households. Through the federal Weatherization Assistance Program and their partnerships with many of the state’s utility companies, CAAs have resources to help qualified households reduce their energy use and lower their utility bills. All services to qualified applicants are free.