Park Forest Partners With AmeriCorps For Free Weatherizing

PARK FOREST, IL — Park Forest residents of a certain income may be eligible for free home weatherizing this summer, officials from the village and AmeriCorps told Patch.

In order to qualify for the program, one resident must make at or below $25,760 in annual income. From there, qualifying income goes up until a household of six, which must make at or below $71,160. Residents must also own and live in a "single-family, structurally sound home."

According to the 2020 Census, the average income for a household in Park Forest was $53,938 in 2018-19.

Improvements for those who apply and qualify will include air sealing, door sweeps, weather stripping and sealing switches and outlets. All services will be free of charge.

Initially, the Economic and Development and Planning Commission required applicants submit social security numbers for all household members, proof of gross income for all adult household members, the state ID of the head of the household and proof of home ownership.

Later, officials changed the application process to not include any proof of income, but instead contact information for the village to reach out and obtain proof. If accepted, recipients would need to submit to a home inspection in mid-June, officials said.

Interested residents can fill out the form here and email it to jbrown@vopf.com or drop it off in person to Village Hall.