Money for seniors home repair projects

Low-income homeowners who are 55 and older now have the opportunity to have repairs done to their homes in an effort to revitalize the stock of safe, affordable housing in Sanders County.

The Sanders County Community Housing Organization in working with Northwest Montana Human Resources is looking for these homeowners who need weathering and safety repairs done through the Senior Home Repair Project.

Nancy Combs of Thompson Falls is serving as director for SCCHO and she said a minimum of four homes can be accepted for the project and possibly more, depending on how much the repairs cost each home. Combs said $35,000 is available through a revolving loan fund for the project.

“We have it set up pretty well,” Combs said. “It’s a really good program.”

Low-income homeowners 55 and older can obtain information and apply for the project through Lori Kaharl at the Sanders County Courthouse. Combs said the grants received for the project are meant to focus on housing safety and community revitalization. She said Northwest Montana Human Resources is emphasizing safety in the project and safety repairs will take a priority.

“Ideally what we’re looking for is elderly homeowners on lower incomes who are receiving energy assistance,” Combs said.

Combs said applicants who are depending on energy assistance through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program will be given priority for the program because there are separate funds available for those homeowners. Combs also said homeowners on the west-end of the county will be given priority.

But Combs said others throughout the county — those not on energy assistance and those not on the west-end — should still apply because there will be a waiting list system in place so that everyone can eventually be served by the project.

Combs said this is the first time the Senior Home Repair Project will be administered locally. She said the SCCHO will be acting as a liaison between the contractors and the homeowners who are having the repairs done. She said in past years the project has not been administered locally and it has caused issues with communication or disputes between parties involved.

She said having staff and volunteers of the SCCHO available will greatly reduce any hassles for the seniors and make it possible for them to resolve problems more quickly. Combs said Deb Achatz will be helping homeowners with the application process and coach them as they participate in the project.

“We have people available to make this process go smoothly,” Combs said.

She said the SCCHO has certified one contractor already and they are still looking for more but what they need now is applicants.

“We have someone to do the work,” Combs said. “We’re looking for homeowners who need the repairs done.”

Combs said she will primarily be working with the contractors while Achatz will work with the homeowners. She said Kaharl will serve as a central information point at the Sanders County Commissioners office in Thompson Falls at 827-6942. Combs can be reached at 827-6622.