The program may be known as WARM, but it’s keeping electric bills for the residents of Penns Common Court in Reading, Pa., cool.
The WARM program is administered by Med-Ed to help qualifying residents who have low income reduce their electric bills in the winter and summer months. Residents participating in WARM receive an in-home energy usage evaluation to determine what improvements can be made to save on energy costs. A trained energy educator works with residents to develop an energy-savings plan and recommends energy-efficient home improvements, such as upgrades to attic and/or wall insulation, repairs to caulking and weather-stripping, replacements for refrigerators, freezers and air conditioning units and new energy-saving light bulbs. There is no charge to the residents for the installation or services. 
At Penns Common, a Met-Ed contractor met with residents qualifying for WARM to test their refrigerators for energy efficiency. After the inspection, 31 residents received new energy-efficient refrigerators that will ultimately save $100 a year on their electric bills.
“The residents are very excited and extremely grateful,” said Penns Common Property Manager Laura Wasylak. “Not only are they saving money, but they are also receiving a brand new appliance which is very valuable to them.”
This was the first year Penns Common participated in WARM, but Wasylak anticipates residents will sign up again in the future.
To learn more about Penns Common Court or HDC MidAtlantic, visit hdcweb.com.
Finding a place to live that meets one’s basic needs and budget can feel like a never-ending challenge. The complexity of lower-income families and individuals extend far beyond simply finding a safe, affordable, and welcoming place to call home. At HDC, we are committed to being an ally in speaking to issues, programs, and policies that improve quality of life of our residents. Issues that we know are important to our residents include:
Every voice matters. At HDC, we are committed to raising up resident voices and opening doors so that residents can actively participate in the democratic process, speak out on issues important to them and their communities, and communicate how policies affect their everyday lives. We believe it is important to make the time and space to listen, and to support resident leaders in effectively using their voices. We support resident advocacy opportunities through our Resident Academy of Leadership & Inspiration, Voter Registration Drives, and holding constituent meetings and tours with elected officials.
We know we can’t solve the affordable housing challenge alone. We need champions to help change the conversation around what home means and why it matters. We are committed to educating elected officials to understand the needs and challenges of their constituents. We are here to provide solutions that work and offer affordable housing expertise that demonstrates the impact policy decisions have on lower-income families, seniors and those with disabilities. We work closely with and participate in alliances and coalitions to educate and advance shared policy priorities. Our advocacy partners include:
Wendy Smith serves as the Vice President of Property Management, responsible for the overall strategic direction for HDC’s management portfolio and the organization’s largest staff team. Previously, Wendy served as Asset and Operations Manager for a leading real estate firm based in New York City which owned over 11,000 affordable homes. Since 2008, Wendy has held roles in regional level operations for commercial and for-profit housing agencies. Wendy holds a degree in International Studies.
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