Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County in partnership with Somerset County Planning and Zoning, the Town of Princess Anne and the City of Crisfield will hold two meetings for current homeowners that are seeking assistance for critical home repairs and home modifications. Currently there is a gap in resources to fund home modifications and critical home repairs to low income, elderly homeowners that live in Somerset County and across the region. HFHWC has submitted an abstract to the Rural Maryland Council for a grant application to serve up to 11 homeowners with roof replacements and up to 12 homeowners with ‘aging in place’ home modifications. Elderly homeowners will receive assistance in completing the applications. The meetings are scheduled for: Monday, June 25th at 5:30p.m. at City Hall, Crisfield and Wednesday, June 27th at 10a.m. at the Princess Ann Town Hall conference room. For homeowners unable to attend, information is available by calling Habitat for Humanity at 410-546-1551 or Somerset County Planning and Zoning/Housing Repair Coordinator 410-651-1424.
Home modifications include handicap ramps, additional hand rails inside the home, grab bars, lever door handles, additional lighting, reinforcement of flooring to eliminate trip hazards, elevated toilet seats, etc. There are positive health benefits to the homeowners as well as positive economic impacts to the area from investing in housing repairs. As a homeowner ages, they are not able to physically or financially maintain their home. It is less costly to assist a homeowner to age in place vs the cost of a nursing home. Typical repair requests include: roof replacements, bathroom modifications, hand rails, ramps, plumbing/septic replacements and so on. Information and applications for several state, federal and local Habitat for Humanity repair programs will be available.
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Media representatives are invited to contact Ms. Hilligoss via cell phone 443-523-5599 to discuss the workshops.
