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PICTURE ROCKS - Federal stimulus money has found its way to Picture Rocks northwest of Tucson. The Weatherization Assistance Program helps low income home owners by reducing their utility bills, making their homes safer, healthier and more efficient.

"So they're replacing this," Joyce Kotzamanis says referring to the old refrigerator in her kitchen.

She was injured on the job a few years ago. "I tore my rotator cuff. And I screwed up my back, the L4 and the L5. And there's some damage back there and I got some arthritis that's set in now from it."

For years she struggled with medical bills and was forced to sell her house in Catalina. She purchased this mobile home in Picture Rocks.

Still unable to work, she returned to school and is working towards a degree in psychology, so money is tight.

That is where Pima County and stimulus money comes into play.

"They're replacing the heating, air conditioning. They're replacing the hot water heater. They're replacing the refrigerator."

"We're using stimulus money out here now," says Jesus Duran a Housing Rehabilitation Specialist with Pima County. "Before we had the stimulus money we had a smaller type version of this program. But the stimulus has really ramped up our program, I'd say like maybe four fold."

His office has added three employees. And that is helping Joyce with a healthier place to live.

"I have breathing problems so the swamp cooler wasn't sufficient enough because it's too much moisture."

So Matt Shelby, with TRS Air Conditioning and Construction, is installing a brand-new air conditioning unit. His company is benefiting.

"It's given us an opportunity to hire one more person and try to get back to where we were three years ago."

The price tag for Joyce's weatherization, "Right around maybe $13,000 for the entire job. Labor and material," says Duran.

And that leaves Joyce speechless. "Absolutely amazed. I mean I can't, words can't even express it. I really can't even begin to tell you."

Pima County Community Development and Neighborhood Conservation Department received $1.7 million in stimulus money. The money is to be spent over three years and they just completed the first year.

For information on how you can apply for assistance go to the link below.

http://www.weatherization.azcaa.org/