More than 100 free A/C units available for qualifying Calcasieu residents
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Human Services Department is partnering up with local organizations and charities to provide free air conditioning window units.
It’s all in an effort to assist those in need as temperatures continue to blaze across Southwest Louisiana.
“I need one in my bedroom bad,” senior Candy Cotton said.
More than 100 air conditioning units will be available for distribution. The parish is partnering with Catholic Charities, Project Build A Future and the Calcasieu Council on Aging to launch “Project Excessive Heat.”
Cotton said her central air conditioner broke down a few years ago, and after replacing it, the second one broke down as well. Now she’s hoping she will be a qualified candidate for a free unit once applications open Monday morning.
“I don’t know what happened, but the air conditioning itself froze up, and it went everywhere, the water. I don’t even cover up no more, I even sweat in my room,” she said.
The police jury and its non-profit partners are hopeful this will aid in reducing the chances of someone experiencing a heat-related illness or death.
“It’s hot out there, 100 degrees, and I’m a senior citizen. I’m 68 years old, and it hurts me bad,” Cotton said.
Residents must meet the following income guidelines to qualify:
- One-person household: $29,160
- Two-person household: $39,440
- Three-person household: $49,270
- Four-person household: $60,000
- Five-person household: $70,280
- Six-person household: $80,560
- Seven-person household: $90,840
- Eight-person household: $101,120.
Households must also meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Must be a Calcasieu Parish resident
- Have a household member who is 15 or younger, or 60 or older
- Have someone in the household who is pregnant
- Have someone in the household who has a disability that is declared by the Social Security Administration and can be documented.
To apply, residents must call the human services appointment line at 337-721-4033 starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 24. The appointment line will not be available until this date.
At that time, applicants will be assigned an appointment date and time to complete the application process.
During their appointments, applicants will be required to provide the following documents:
- Photo identification
- Proof of household income (monthly or annual)
- Social Security cards for all household members.
Residents’ applications will be screened for duplications and those meeting the requirements will be scheduled for verification. Once verified, the applications will be referred to one of the partnering agencies, which will use qualified volunteers to install the window units.
For more information, call 337-721-4030.
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