Linda | 38 | $20,000 (33%AMI) | 2 Children

Lives in East Lake Courts: 800 SF 2 BR 1 BA

Average Utility Bill: ?? 

Allowance up to $XX per month is provided by Chattanooga Housing Authority but Linda is responsible for overages above that allowance. 

CHA is incentivized to invest in energy efficiency because they pay for the utility costs up to the allowance, but overages still frequently occur and can lead to eviction.

Bruce | 20 | $12,000 (20%AMI) | 0 Children

Receives Housing Choice Voucher and lives in a privately owned apartment in a duplex. 600 SF 1 BR 1 BA

Average Utility Bill: $200/month

Utility voucher for up to $XX per month is provided by Chattanooga Housing Authority. Bruce's landlord could include utilities in the rent, invest in efficiency and education, and keep the difference between the voucher and the actual utility bills.

With Bruce paying for utilities, the landlord is not incentivized to invest in energy efficiency but keep the unit compliant with CHA standards to stay in the HCV (Section 8) program. 

Sharon | 28 | $16,000 (24%AMI) | 3 Children + Spouse

Rents a privately owned house. 1200 SF 2 BR 1 BA

Average Utility Bill: $400/month

Sharon qualifies for the Housing Choice Voucher Program but is on a waiting list. In the meantime, she rents an house in Ridgedale.

The landlord lives out of state, is not incentivized to invest in energy efficiency because Sharon and her husband pay for utilities and responds to complaints like a broken heat pump weeks after notification. 

Kevin | 34 | $28,000 (47%AMI) | Spouse

New Homeowner. 1400 SF 2 BR 2 BA

Average Utility Bill: $350/month

Kevin took out an Adjustable Rate Mortgage to purchase a house but has never owned a home before. Kevin is incentivized to invest in efficiency because he pays the utility bill, but does not have the extra money because of the high interest rate on his mortgage as well as health issues from mold.

Martha | 71 | $11,280 (24%AMI) Social Security | 0 Children in home

Homeowner. 1600 SF 3 BR 2 BA

Average Utility Bill: $520/month

Martha is aging in place in the home she and her late husband purchased but has taken out second and third mortgages. Martha and her husband did all of their own repairs, but she has been unable to keep up with repairs after a hip injury and cannot afford to pay for work to be done.