Weatherization Plus Health Gains National Exposure to Model and Partnerships

It’s been a busy start to 2019 for Commerce’s Weatherization Plus Health program. We’ve participated in several regional and national forums and shared the structure and results of our Plus Health work providing lasting home and client health improvements.

  • Dec. 17, Vince Schueler, our WSU Energy Program Evaluation partner, shared results of our evaluation with a Working Group of Vermont, Connecticut, and New York weatherization programs working on development of Weatherization Plus Health models.
  • Jan. 22, we told our story to a national audience of over 100 health and weatherization professionals on a webinar, “The Intersection of Housing and Health”, organized by the National Safe and Healthy Housing Coalition.
  • Feb. 8, Michael Furze, Assistant Director, Energy Division was part of a panel in Washington, DC providing a “101” briefing about federal programs that reduce housing and energy cost burdens for people in need. Michael described our Weatherization Plus Health model and its health benefits to an audience of legislators, staffers, and social service program administrators.
  • Feb. 11-12, our Weatherization Plus Health administrators, local agencies, trainers, and Community Health Worker medical partner presented two sessions at the Home Performance Coalition regional conference in Portland, Oregon. Sessions were titled, “Integrating Plus Health Services to your Weatherization Program” and “Community Health Workers’ Unique Role in Adding Value to Weatherization and Health Homes Programs.”

As Commerce’s Weatherization Plus Health moves through its second round (2018-2019 fiscal year) of 14 projects around Washington, interest remains high regionally and nationally in our structure, partnerships, costs and client health benefits.