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Habitat for Humanity accepting applications for home repair assistance

Jeremy M. Lazarus | 8/2/2019, 6 a.m.
A nonprofit group known for building affordable houses also will repair dwellings for lower-income elderly and disabled homeowners and others …
Ms. Huss

A nonprofit group known for building affordable houses also will repair dwellings for lower-income elderly and disabled homeowners and others in difficult circumstances.

Armed with a $150,000 grant from City Hall, the Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity is now accepting applications from qualifying people who would be eligible for free repairs to stay in their homes.

Mary Kay Huss, who recently took over as the area Habitat’s executive director, is urging people who need assistance to apply by phone at (804) 232-7001 ext. 115 or by email at jpresley@richmondhabitat.org.

“We used to have a program, but the funding dried up,” Ms. Huss said.

With other nonprofits swamped, Ms. Huss said the city is reaching out to her organization to help expand repair options.

She said Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity hopes to start the new repair initiative with 10 to 12 projects and build upon the effort by raising private donations to add to the public grant provided through the city’s Community Development Block Grant.

Currently, the best known nonprofit providers of home repair services that the city teams with includes project:Homes, which the city has relied on for years to provide repairs for qualifying homeowners, and Rebuilding Together, which recruits volunteers for an annual home improvement effort in a selected neighborhood.

But the demand has created a backlog and long waiting lists.

Ms. Huss said the Habitat program will be able to replace roofs, windows and decaying porches for individual homeowners. She said that Habitat is not limiting spending on a given home, but would put a lien on the property for any amount that exceeds $15,000 to be paid when the property is sold.

To qualify, applicants must have incomes that are at or below 80 percent of the regional median income. That amounts to $48,400 a year for a single individual, $55,300 for a couple and $69,100 for a family of four, Ms. Huss noted.

Habitat’s rules require that applicants have paid their city real estate taxes and are not behind on utility payments; attend a class on home maintenance; and complete an hour of work on the house with others for each $1,000 of the project.