Holston Habitat launches new Home Repair Program

Published 5:26 pm Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Area homeowners will soon have the chance to participate in a special Habitat For Humanity program designed to complete repairs on their homes.

Holston Habitat for Humanity is launching a new program to provide home repairs and expand the organization’s service in the community. Holston Habitat serves Carter, Washington, and Sullivan Counties in Tennessee as well as Bristol Virginia.

Homeowners within the Holston Habitat service area who meet certain qualifications can apply to take part in the Home Repair Program beginning on Sept. 1.

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To qualify for the program, the applicant must own a single-family dwelling in need of external repairs, meet a set income level based on the size of the household and where they live, have a satisfactory credit score, and be willing to repay a portion of the cost of the project through a zero percent interest loan.

“They are responsible for 50 percent of the cost of the materials,” said Mandy Penz, Volunteer Coordinator for Holston Habitat

Participants will not have to pay any labor costs for their repair project because the work will be completed by Habitat volunteers, Penz said.

According to Penz, the cost of the projects for individual homeowners is not to exceed $5,000 for materials.

“We realize that many homeowners cannot afford the full cost to repair a porch, install a disability ramp, replace the roof, paint the siding, or do other external repairs,” said Steve Clark, Holston Habitat’s Construction Manager. “So, Holston Habitat is now available to help.”

The application process opens on Friday, Sept. 1, and all applications must be received by November 15 to qualify.

“We will have the application up on our website under ‘Home Repair Program’ so they can print it out or they can call our office and we will send them an application,” Penz said.

The applications will then be reviewed by the organization, and Penz said a total of 12 home repair projects would be selected for completion during the agency’s 2018 building season. Homeowners who are selected for the home repair program will be notified after the selections are made on Dec. 15.

“Once we get all that finalized, we will be looking for volunteers to help us complete the projects,” Penz said.

For more information on the Home Repair Program offered through Holston Habitat, visit their website at www.holstonhabitat.org and click on “Home Repair Program” or call 423-239-7689 and dial Extension 4 to speak with someone about the program.