This article, published in August of 2021, is about a new program being piloted by the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA), called the Build to Last Program. PEA is hoping to make the energy assistance network in Philadelphia less siloed by connecting homeowners who apply to one of many assistance programs (e.g WAP, BSRP, and others) to other assistance programs that they’re eligible for. Any individual whose applied to any housing program in this network of programs will be connected to Build to Last, and PEA will then screen and help people apply to other programs that they’re eligible. My only concern is how this will impact Neighborhood Energy Centers whose job is essentially to do this holistic screening/application assistance work. The programs encompassed in this network include WAP, which is facilitated through ECA (the nonprofit organization which funds NECs)so ECA must have been at the table when this program was being created. NECS would still have a place because individuals can still come to them to get started with the initial application that would then connect them to Build to Last. Also, hopefully it’ll take pressure off of the NECS to do this screening work, and they’ll be able to focus efforts on doing more educational programming. My concern is the fee for service revenue that NECs receive to help people apply for programs. Additionally LIHEAP doesn't appear to be on this list, so NECs will still have role helping individuals apply for LIHEAP. I'm wondering how Build to Last plans on doing outreach to folks who have applied for an assistance program in order to screen/help them apply for other programs, as some individuals may not have reliable internet/phone access, and rely on the brick and mortar model of NECs to receive assistance.
Amanda Clark, "This initiative from Philadelphia Energy Authority is connecting programs and organizations to support homeowners in low-income housing", contributed by Morgan Sarao, The Energy Rights Project, Platform for Experimental Collaborative Ethnography, last modified 11 August 2021, accessed 22 December 2024. https://energyrights.info/content/initiative-philadelphia-energy-authority-connecting-programs-and-organizations-support
Critical Commentary
This article, published in August of 2021, is about a new program being piloted by the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA), called the Build to Last Program. PEA is hoping to make the energy assistance network in Philadelphia less siloed by connecting homeowners who apply to one of many assistance programs (e.g WAP, BSRP, and others) to other assistance programs that they’re eligible for. Any individual whose applied to any housing program in this network of programs will be connected to Build to Last, and PEA will then screen and help people apply to other programs that they’re eligible. My only concern is how this will impact Neighborhood Energy Centers whose job is essentially to do this holistic screening/application assistance work. The programs encompassed in this network include WAP, which is facilitated through ECA (the nonprofit organization which funds NECs)so ECA must have been at the table when this program was being created. NECS would still have a place because individuals can still come to them to get started with the initial application that would then connect them to Build to Last. Also, hopefully it’ll take pressure off of the NECS to do this screening work, and they’ll be able to focus efforts on doing more educational programming. My concern is the fee for service revenue that NECs receive to help people apply for programs. Additionally LIHEAP doesn't appear to be on this list, so NECs will still have role helping individuals apply for LIHEAP. I'm wondering how Build to Last plans on doing outreach to folks who have applied for an assistance program in order to screen/help them apply for other programs, as some individuals may not have reliable internet/phone access, and rely on the brick and mortar model of NECs to receive assistance.