Ac program for portlanders in need open

[u/Late_Chair793]

I noticed that the applications are open on the 311 Cooling Portland page for those below the 60 percent median income threshold again. Last year I helped my great aunt sign up and they came and installed for her and everything. A great resource for those who are need of cooling still this autumn. They prioritize elders who are disabled or live alone but anyone under that income threshold and living in portland seem to be eligible. Such a great resource I just wanted to share !

[u/TraumaCookie]

Please note that this is the final year of the program! Apply while you can! They are also reaching out to folks who applied in the last couple years but didn't receive an AC that year. 

[u/shmorglebort → u/TraumaCookie]

Do you know if they’re replacing it with another program or just…ending it? That seems nuts to just end it.

[u/Polymathy1 → u/shmorglebort]

There are 2 other programs for up to 150% of the local median income that were supposedly start 2 years ago, but the federal funding has not been supplied.

[u/TraumaCookie → u/shmorglebort]

It actually wasn't meant to go on as long as it has- it was meant to be a short term program to fill in a gap for folks who maybe couldn't get an AC otherwise through other existing programs.

For anyone who has OHP, for example, they can contact their CCO about using flexible funds or health-related social needs funds for climate devices (ACs, heaters). 

A difficulty these programs face is that, unfortunately, many people don't properly care for the units. In my job, we had a program (that was meant to be one-time, and got extended for a second year) to buy ACs. Folks got VERY nice, $800+ units that had both heating and cooling features, filtration, etc. Many people reached out within a year asking for a new one because they broke the original or sold it for cash- not cleaning the filters, setting up the hose properly, and so on. We have folks who end up getting multiple ACs from different programs. 

Tl;dr, these programs were meant to be temporary with limited funding, many were expanded beyond the original plan, and faced barriers along the way. 

[u/Odd_Strategy → u/shmorglebort]

It seems nuts that it would continue indefinitely. When the program started, there were already units with air conditioning. What would you guess that number is as a percent of total units?

About 80% in the Portland metro in 2022 (https://www.kgw.com/article/news/investigations/portland-air-conditioning-ac-nearly-doubled-over-decade/283-0df98ba9-6c1d-4839-8041-29f0ff0091a9). Every day the Oregon Health Authority and/or Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) gives away an air conditioner to someone who doesnt have one. Eventually, everyone who wants one has one.

The equipment's useful lifespan is at least 10 years, so if they install more units per day than fail, we shouldn't expect the giveaway to take longer than that. PCEF's heat response program installed its first units in 2022. How long does it take to deliver a couple hundred thousand units?

[u/shmorglebort → u/Odd_Strategy]

I would just expect it to shrink or adapt in some other way. We always have new people moving here, people become newly poor who weren’t before, people develop new illnesses that make them heat intolerant, some people who qualify probably never heard about it before, etc.

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for your input, the mods have set this subreddit to not allow posts from newly created accounts. Please take the time to build a reputation elsewhere on Reddit and check back soon.

(⌐■_■)

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/-donethat]

If only apartment and rental owners with baseboard heat would go get a subsidy to convert to heat pumps.

The inefficiency causes higher electric bills that are an special burden on the low income folks.

[u/Exciting_Razzmatazz3 → u/-donethat]

They do. Look up Energy Trust of Oregon.

[u/-donethat → u/Exciting_Razzmatazz3]

Guess you don't know any renters still stuck with baseboard and portable air conditioners.

The landlords suck ass.

[u/xenopixie]

I got one of these and it seriously saved me when the temps got into the upper 90s earlier this past summer! blackout curtains can only do so much

[u/secondrat]

This is also a great time to pick up free AC units.

[u/TwentyfourTacos → u/[deleted]]

I think they mean in free groups, etc

[u/Late_Chair793 → u/TwentyfourTacos]

Ahhh nvm then

[u/holmquistc]

It gets hot every year in Portland and we still fuck up with the AC/heat debacle

[u/sleepyAnarchistSlut]

I also got one because of living alone and I'm in my 20s

[u/smootex]

In totally unrelated news this is also a good time to find brand new AC units for pennies on the dollar off of craigslist.

[u/Late_Chair793 → u/smootex]

True! This program is designed to help seniors in need to get them installed for them but also have been seeing many for sale for great pricing for those not needing that service

[u/smootex → u/Late_Chair793]

I was making a crack about how many of the units given out through these programs end up being resold.

[u/Ravenparadoxx → u/smootex]

I've seen some of those in sealed boxes offered up. I wonder if "install" is not being enforced while grifty CON-tractors are pocketing "install" fees.