SHERMAN, TX - Insulating and weatherizing your home can keep you warm during these freezing temperatures. But it's also expensive, and many low income families can't afford it. We visited a home owner whose house TCOG weatherized to see just how far those federal stimulus dollars are going.

For the past couple of months Cindy Fike and her two teenage children have had a tough time staying warm in their old, drafty and poorly insulated home.

"Before they did the insulation it's been really cold, I'll walk around with the warmest thing that I can find to put on and I'm just sitting there freezing, just really cold. But now that they're getting the insulation in and everything it's warming up, it's getting better,”

About a year after turning in her application, the Texoma Council of Governments is finally able to weatherize her home.

The increase in weatherization funds is all thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Several months ago TCOG received $5.8 million in stimulus money.

"We have very specific goals set out for the use of the stimulus funds so that we will meet our deadlines and targets for spending the money and the number of homes we want to get done," said TCOG’s Executive Director Susan Thomas.

And though off to a slow start in November, they're now ahead of schedule as they move into 2010. The goal is 30 homes a month through February and then 50 homes a month after that. All in all, that'll be about 1,000 by their deadline in August 2011.

"Part of it is educating the homeowners on how to conserve energy, part of it is actually achieving those energy savings and part of it is the sort of global energy conservation goals that we're working for,” said Thomas.

But for TCOG and their weatherization teams, it's also about improving the quality of life for families like Cindy Fike’s.

"I feel really great that they've come to help, because it's a lifesaver to me and my kids, you know being a single parent and paying those high bills it's been really expensive and them coming out to help, that's been a life saver,” said Fike.

TCOG is hoping to stay ahead of schedule with weatherizing homes. They do serve 15 counties, which can make the application and inspection process a long one. But with added employees and contractors, TCOG says they expect to keep up with demand.

To Contact TCOG, just dial 2-1-1 or (903) 813-3510.