Date: Fri 15-Sep-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

housing-rehabilitation-grant

Full Text:

Low-Income Families Helped By Housing Rehab Program

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Rosemarie Hall is worried. Winter is coming and her roof needs repairs.

"I try to do as much as possible but I live alone on a fixed income. My

greatest need is my roof. I'm depending on a program like this one," she said

during a public hearing Monday night at Town Hall South on the local Housing

Rehabilitation Program administered by the Community Development Office.

Ms Hall is among the homeowners who are still on the waiting list of

applicants to have their properties repaired under the program which was

created through a $400,000 federal small cities grant in December 1993. So far

the local program has spent $292,000: approximately $88,500 was used to

rehabilitate the Nunnawauk Meadows elderly housing project and $188,400 was

used for repairs on nine private residences, leaving $65,000 for projects like

the roof on Ms Hall's home.

"The funds spent at Nunnawauk Meadows benefitted 96 households or 120

persons," explained Elizabeth Stocker, Newtown's community development

director. "The private residential rehabilitation that has occured to date

includes construction at nine Newtown homes occupied by 20 persons. All funds

expended to date have benefitted low and very low income residents. The

majority of the private homes serviced by the program are occupied by senior

citizens."

So far 33 applications for repairs have been received by the Community

Development office. A few were disqualified for not meeting the income

restrictions or other qualifications. There is still a waiting list of nine

households, of which two to five can be serviced by the current grant, Ms

Stocker estimates.

"It is apparent...that there exists a need in Netown for additional funds to

rehabilitate both public and private residential housing units," she said. "My

office has been approached by Newtown Housing for the Elderly, Inc.,

requesting additional rehabilitation funds for Nunnawauk Meadows. The elderly

housing complex is in need of funds for upgrading their water supply station

and (for) roofing on several of the older buildings."

Although the $65,000 left under the current program can't meet those needs, Ms

Stocker said Newtown can apply for another grant next year. The application

deadline for the next round of small cities grants has been tentatively set

for January 22, 1996.

Ms Stocker said that when a residence is approved for rehabilitation, specific

items must be checked and improved, if necessary. For example, a house with

lead paint must have lead abatement if children in the home test higher than

acceptable for lead content in their blood. Similarly, a failing septic system

or well would have to be repaired or replaced.

Sometimes costs escalate as mandated repairs are required, Ms Stocker

admitted.

"We will not put more money into bringing a house up to code than it is worth,

but that is seldom a problem in Newtown where housing prices are so high," she

said. "But some people have withdrawn their applications from the program

because of all the mandates."

The program requires that participants pay 25 percent of the cost. For low

income property owners, this can be achieved through a low interest loan

spread over 20 years and the payment can, in some cases, be deferred until the

house is sold or probated in a will. Very low income residents may be eligible

for grants which do not have to be paid back.

Applicants to the program are taken on a first-come basis except for those

needing emergency repairs such as for failing septic systems.

So far the residential repairs have included roofs, wells, electrical

upgrades, exterior siding and painting, furnaces, and energy conservation

measures such as new windows and doors.

Sally Carlson-Bancroft, who works for Catholic Family Services in home family

therapy, said that in "easily 75 percent of my cases, affordable housing is a

major issue. Either they need a place to live or more decent housing." She

asked whether the small cities grant could help remediate this problem.

Ms Stocker said a landlord can receive money to rehabilitate a house if the

landlord agrees to keep the rent at a fair market level for at least five

years so the low income tenant can afford to continue to live there.

The public hearing was called to encourage citizen participation in the

program which provides funds that can be used in the areas of housing,

community facilities, economic development and public services. At least 51

percent of the funds must benefit low and moderate income families.

For more information, or applications for rehabilitation projects, contact

Elizabeth Stocker in the First Selectman's Office at Edmond Town Hall.