OMAHA ONE TOUCH

Nicole Caputo-RennelsOne Touch CoordinatorOmaha Healthy Kids Alliance

Weatherization Plus Health- NEAN Symposium Kearney, NE 2013

The Omaha One Touch Project

Maximizing resources. Collecting uniform data. Lessening the burden on families.

Ellen Tohn, Tohn Environmental Strategies

• Funding Provided by HUD Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, With Support From USDA• 2 sites – New Hampshire and Omaha

Snapshot of Omaha (2011-2013)

IssueFamilies

Touched/YearProgram Provides Home

Visits or Repairs

Health 3590Lead, Head Start, Home Visiting (City of Omaha Lead Hazard Control and City Rehab numbers not current for 2013)

Housing 240Housing Rehab & Repairs (City of Omaha Lead Hazard Control and City Rehab numbers not current for 2013)

Energy (2011/201

2)

1150(400 low income)

Weatherization, reEnergize, Utility-Funded Upgrades

reEnergize Program

Note that about 40 of Lincoln’s Market Rate projects are actually tied to

LES’s Sustainable Energy Program and included only insulation work.

Partners

Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance City of Omaha reEnergize Program (a

BetterBuildings Grantee)

City of Omaha Lead Hazard Control City of Omaha Rehab and Handyman Douglas County Health Department Habitat for Humanity Rebuilding Together Also: smoke-free, Head Start

Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance Mission is to promote lead-safe and

healthy homes for children and families in Omaha.

Founded in 2006 as a result of Superfund site in Omaha

Education, outreach, prevention, advocacy, policy work

WHY DID WE GET INVOLVED?

reEnergize Program

Joint effort between Cities of Omaha & Lincoln One of 42 Better Buildings Neighborhood programs in the nation $10 million grant from DOE Over $50 million leveraged by local organizations Residential Evaluations & Upgrades Commercial/Non-profit Evaluations

Overcoming Barriers to Market Transformation Consumer Confidence Skilled and Qualified Workforce Access to Financing The primary focus of this program is building a market for energy upgrades

and standardizing the scope of energy evaluations and upgrade work for Nebraska consumers

WHY DID WE GET INVOLVED?

One Touch BeginningreEnergize Residential Project Delivery Model

Initial Barriers

Concern over extra time Concern over technology Concern over use of technology Glitches in technology Change in usual way of doing

things Turf

Healthy Homes Review Tool

Updated Healthy Homes Review Tool

What we look for

Energy efficiency (insulation, temperature)

Lead Mold CO Safety Smoke

Ventilation Structural

damage Pests Pet issues Resident

issues (occupant behavior)

What we know so far

Good tool for initial assessment and conveying info for more technical energy evaluation (i.e. audit)

In 80% of homes we visit, there are no carbon monoxide detectors

Many of the families will ask for a lead risk assessment after we are there

Great need for IPM program, radon testing, safety issues to be addressed, mold

Examples

Weatherization home identified with bed bugs

reEnergize home with carbon monoxide leak

What we have gained

Standardized review process Uniform data Use of technology Collaborative process leveraging

community partnerships Streamlined, web-based tool Well positioned for HUD’s new SHHIP

program Invitation to apply for Kresge grant

(reciepiants of Kresge grant in 2012) Partnership with community college Deeper collaboration Ease of service delivery

Next Steps

Create uniform educational tool Work with community college Additional partners Data mining Marketing Increased coordination of services- refine

automatic referral system Communication tool FUNDING FOR RESOURCES TO FIX PROBLEMS

For more info…

omahahealthykids.org

Contact Info…

Nicole Caputo-RennelsOne Touch Coordinator, Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance402-934-9700