Low-income homeowners in DeKalb County can keep warm with assistance from the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program through Community Contacts, Inc.

The program, sponsored by Community Contacts, Inc., is accepting applications from qualified homeowners to do minor repairs to homes to make them more energy efficient.

Community Contacts, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that helps low-income families keep heating costs down, said Jessica House, a spokeswoman for Community Contacts, Inc. Funding comes from grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and from the federal government.

“We go out and determine what needs to be done on a house,” House said. Inspectors go to homes that qualify for assistance and check insulation in walls and attics, and they make sure furnaces and attics are not leaking carbon monoxide. They also provide free carbon monoxide detectors, as well as fire extinguishers and alarms.

The organization offers assistance to homes in both DeKalb and Kane counties. The weatherization is not offered to apartment dwellers. However, renters may be assisted if they qualify and the landlord pays half the upgrade cost.

What inspectors do to a particular house depends on if the homeowners are part of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, House said.

LIHEAP is a state and federally funded program designed to assist low-income families pay heating and electric bills.

Last year, the program helped more than 1,600 families in DeKalb County and more than 4,600 in Kane County. As of Sept 1, 900 families were receiving benefits from the program.

To apply for assistance, call Community Contacts, Inc. at 630-232-7600.