The Missouri Department of Natural Resources plans to continue funding its weatherization program, but in a slightly different procedure.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources held a hearing today to get public opinions on its new weatherization program proposal in Jefferson City.

Some Community Agencies throughout the state have concerns regarding the new weatherization proposal. It doesn't give all the funding upfront to community agencies. 20% of the funding is set aside for what's called the "Transform Missouri Housing Initiative," in which they have to file a request proposal and compete for it.

MO-DNR will use the housing initiative to "provide energy-efficiency services to clients and significantly leverage other sources of funding for greater client benefit and job creation."

The initiatives may focus on "larger, multi-family housing units or neighborhood-based programs," according to the MO-DNR.

Jeffrey Owens from Columbia Climate Change Coalition has concerns about the funding procedure.

"The money by the time it trickles down to real action in terms of actual improvement, it's dried up. Through all the different funding, you know, through different funding agencies," Owens said.

Owens also admits that finding information about the program itself is quite a challenge.

US Department of Energy provides the funding for the program as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Central Missouri Community Action in Columbia and Northeast Missouri Community Action Agency in Kirksville are among the subgrantees of the program.

MO-DNR Director of Communications Susanne Medley said, "It's a great opportunity to improve energy-efficiencies in Missouri homes so that low-income individuals can save money and have dollars available for health care and food for instance."