Palm Beach County Community Services: Air Conditiioning Replacement Program for Low-Income Homeowners

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Palm Beach County’s Community Services Department (CSD) provides a comprehensive range of programs and services to assist low-income households with basic needs and remove barriers to self-sufficiency. One such program is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). Using these funds, CSD implemented an air conditioning replacement program for low-income homeowners. As of 3/31/2023, we have processed $1.89M to local HVAC vendors to replace 215 air conditioning units, just in time for the hot summer months! Properly functioning air conditioning units are not a luxury in South Florida-they are a necessity! This is especially true for families with children and/or special needs family members, as well as those who have medical equipment that needs to be maintained at certain temperatures. In fact, 181 of the 215 households served (or 84%) are households with seniors, disabled , or children under five! Additionally, $1.89M was injected into the HVAC community during a time of severe economic downturn, which has helped the local business community. This program will continue until all eligible homeowners in Palm Beach County have functioning air conditioning units!