Healthy Homes & Power of Home Saint Paul Programs

Program Benefits

Living in a home that requires basic repairs and consumes excessive energy can cause significant stress and financial strain for families.  Weatherization is the process of making a home more energy efficient by installing insulation and sealing air leaks. Some homes have health and safety issues, such as outdated and dangerous electrical wiring and asbestos, and those homes can’t be weatherized until the issues are addressed.  Pre-weatherization is the process of fixing problems that prevent weatherization from happening.  The Healthy Homes program of Saint Paul offers both pre-weatherization (health and safety) and weatherization (insulation and air-sealing) services. The program targets qualified households that need critical repairs before weatherization can take place. By making these repairs possible, the program helps homeowners enjoy improved comfort, safety, and cost savings.

Financing Terms

The Healthy Homes program is a grant program. Homeowners who qualify can receive up to $50,000 for approved measures. The City will pay contractors directly for the work. Homeowners do not need to repay the funds.

Eligibility Requirements

The property must have pre-existing health and safety issues that are preventing the home from being weatherized. Applicants must qualify by ONE of the following ways:

• Household income is at or below 80% area median income (see income limits below)
• Home is located in a pre-approved geographic area (see map below)
• Applicant has been approved through another income-qualified program.

Eligible Measures

• Inspections
• Hazardous materials tests and clearances
• Structural repairs and replacement
• plumbing issues
• Electrical repair and replacement
• Ducting repair or replacement
• Air sealing
• Insulation
• Ventilation

Program Benefits

The Power of Home program of Saint Paul is designed to assist homeowners in electrifying their residences. Electrification involves replacing household equipment and appliances that use fossil fuels, like natural gas, with new, efficient, electric-powered alternatives. This shift can lead to healthier living conditions and increased comfort for residents. By using electricity instead of gas, households may also see a reduction in their utility costs. Eligible upgrades include equipment for heating, cooling, water heating, cooking, and clothes drying.

Financing Terms

The Power of Home program is a grant program with funds paid directly to contractors. Homeowners who qualify may receive up to $50,000 for eligible and approved measures. Homeowners do not need to repay the funds.

Eligibility Requirements

The property must have been weatherized in the last seven (7) years. Applicants must qualify by ONE of the following ways:

• Household income is at or below 50% area median income (see income limits below)
• Home is located in a pre-approved geographic area (see map below)
• Applicant has been approved through another income-qualified program.

Eligible Measures

• Inspections
• Electrical upgrades
• Replacement of fossil fuel (natural gas) HVAC with electric counterparts
• Replacement of gas water heater with electric air source heat pump water heater
• Replacement of gas clothes dryer with electric air source heat pump counterpart
• Replacement of gas range/oven with electric induction stovetop and electric oven

Along with your completed application, your choice in the method to qualify for Healthy Homes and/or Power of Home will determine what documents are required. 

There are three methods to qualify for Healthy Homes and Power of Home Programs 

Method One: Geographic qualification method

• Submit address of home located in an income-qualified area
• Complete the income self-reporting affidavit

Method Two: Participation in an income-qualified program

• Provide an award or confirmation letter related to the program you are currently enrolled in with an income qualification less than or equal to Healthy Homes/Power of Home eligibility requirements (for example, WIC, SNAP, EAP, Medicare/Medicaid)

Method Three: Income qualification method

Submit proof of income in one of the following ways:

• Submit complete copies of your most recent Federal Income Tax Returns as filed with the IRS, including all W-2s and/or 1099s for all household income earners ages 18 years old or older; or
• Submit complete copies of your last three (3) month’s income for all household income earners ages 18 years old or older; or
• Most common forms of income include paystubs, public assistance (such as social security, pensions, alimony, unemployment)

Yes, you can. If your household is eligible you may enroll in both programs. However, weatherization will need to take place first before HVAC equipment can be installed.

Once you apply and have been approved for either program, a program team member will refer you to Home Energy Squad. The overall timeline from start to finish will depend on what work required and the level of complexity. 

Yes, you can. 

There are a number of ways that these programs will help you save money and live in a more comfortable home. Once the house is weatherized, the property will have better control over the heating and cooling, keeping the heat inside in the winter, and the cool air inside in the summer.

High efficient equipment such as air source heat pumps for heating, cooling, and water heating use less energy than standard efficiency models. By using less energy, your utility bills may decrease across a year’s usage.