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Portland (Obstruer
January 8, 2014
H ousing
Utility Savings for Families
Pilot program
helps low-
income
households
and reduced energy consum ption
fo r o v er 800 O reg o n hom es, to p e r
form the w eath erization im p ro v e
m ents. T he p ro ject is ex p ected to
create 340 w o rk hours in its pilot
phase, w ith additional opportunity
in future phases.
T he pilot includes an education
program , fu n d ed by a grant from
T he C o n co rd ia F oundation, h e lp
ing residents u nderstand the w ork
being p erfo rm ed and how h o u se
hold habits affect their energy bills,
com fort and healthy in d o o r e n v i
ronm ents.
“N W N atural is excited to fund
and partner on this innovative pro
gram ,” said Bill Edm onds, N W N atu
ral director o f environm ental m an
T he local housing provider P o rt
land C om m unity R einvestm ent Ini
tiatives (P C R I) believes that low -
in co m e fa m ilie s sh o u ld no t be
forced to choose betw een keeping
th e ir h o m e s w arm an d p u ttin g
healthy food on th eir table. T o help
disadvantaged fam ilies stay w arm
and have m oney left fo r o th er e s
sentials, PC R I has started a pilot
w eatherization p artnersh ip for 10
single fam ily hom es in north and
northeast Portland.
T he program is co llab o ratio n
betw een PC R I and V erde, an o th er
non-profit group, and will be funded
by N W N atural. It provides e n
e rg y -sa v in g w e a th e riz a tio n im
provem ents like air sealing and in
sulation to low -incom e households
w ithout challenges like w aiting lists
and up-front costs that accom pany
m any existing w eatherizatio n p ro
gram s.
“This pilot is a great opportu-
agem ent and sustainability. “Even
though gas prices are as low as they
were in 2004, that doesn ’ t m ake drafts
Two local non-profit groups are sponsoring a weatherization project for families who can’t easily
access other programs.
nity to m ore efficiently provide util
ity co st savings to fam ilies w ho
need it m o st,” said T rav is Phillips,
housing d ev elo p m en t m an ag er at
PC R I. “W e ’re eag er to see and
ex pand on the p ilo t’s success so
th ese and o th e r fam ilies can spend
their h ard -earn ed salaries on school
books and h ealth y food in stead o f
k eep in g th eir h o m e w arm .”
PC R I and V erde are also using
the p ilo t to p ro v id e eco n o m ic o p
Fix-It Fairs to Save Money
Free Fix-It Fairs where you
can learn simple and effective
ways to save money at home
and stay healthy this winter and
beyond are coming soon to
north and southeast Portland.
Featuring exhibits from nu
merous community partners,
these events also include an
extensive schedule of work
shops held throughout the day.
Experts will be available to talk
with you about water and en
ergy savings, personal health
and healthcare, food and nutri
portu n ity to lo w -in co m e fam ilies
and co m m u n ities o f color. T he tw o
non-profits en g ag ed H om e E nergy
Life P erform ance G roup (H E L P), a
m inority- and w o m an -o w n ed b u si
ness w ho has already w eatherized
any w arm er. W e think it’s im portant
to reach as m any households as
possible with education and services
about energy efficiency.”
In the future, PC R I and V erde aim
to replicate the program elsew here in
P C R I’s affordable housing portfo
lio , fo r s e n io r s in P C R I ’s
H om eo w nership Retention program,
and with other organizations serv
ing low -incom e O regon residents.
tion, community resources, re will host a Fix-It Fair on Satur
cycling and yard care, lead test day, Feb. 22, from 9:30 a.m. to
ing and more.
3 p.m.
Rosa Parks Elem entary
Special workshops in Span
School, 8960 N. Woolsey Ave., ish will be offered at David
will host a Fix-It Fair on Satur Douglas event; and free
day, Jan. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to professional childcare and
3 p.m.; and David Douglas High lunch is provided at each of the
School, 1001 S.E. 135th Ave., fairs.
THE
SPINA COLUMN
TM
An ongoing series of questions and answers about America’s natural healing profession.
Part 14. Scoliosis Exam: The most
important test your kids will take all year.
M y k id s a lre a d y g e t b a ck -
to - s c h o o l c h e c k - u p s . W h y
Id I b ro th er w ith yet an o th er one?
: S c o lio s is , a la te ra l c u r v a
MR«
Dr. Billy R. Flowers
ÄQ
p racto r. T h e one p ro fessional best
trained to detect and co rrect spinal
disorders. I t’s a sim ple, p ainless, inex
pensive p rocedure that can save y o u r
children years o f d isco m fo rt and d is
fig u rem en t later in life. F o r a scoliosis
checkup, o r fo r answ ers to any q u es
tions you m ight have about y our ow n
health, call us at the n u m b er below .
m ight have scoliosis?
ture o f the spine, is one test pro
p r o b a b ly n o t in c lu d e d in y o u r
c h ild re n ’s b a c k -to -sc h o o l p h y sica l
: T h e m o s t c o m m o n v is ib le
checkups. A nd yet, it is d istu rb in g ly
sy m p to m is v ery p ro m in e n t shoul
co m m o n am o n g teen ag e girls. If left d er blad e h ig h e r than the other. H o w
untreated, scoliosis often leads to p a in ever, the best ch eck fo r scoliosis is an
ful arth ritis o f the spine. B ut if the annual p re-school ch eck u p w ith a C h iro -
d iso rd er is d etected by age eight, b e
2124 NE Hancock, Portland Oregon 97212 • P h o n e : ( 5 0 3 ) 2 8 7 * 5 5 0 4
fore the ad o lescen t g ro w th spurt, there
A
J
is b etter than 50% ch an ce fo r co m p lete
recovery.
: H o w can I tell if m y d au g h ter
Flowers' Chiropractic Office