A hugely successful statewide program that provides homeowners money to make home repairs now faces an uncertain future. It now has County Officials scrambling to help those who are on waiting lists.
The Whole Home Repairs Program was created two years ago with Federal, Pandemic Support funding. In Pennsylvania, $50 Million for the program was proposed in this year’s State Budget, but to the surprise of some, it received no funding. Based on income eligibility, it allows recipients to make a variety of home repairs – from new roofing to smaller upgrades. In Centre County, 85 homeowners are on a waiting list.
Faith Ryan of Centre Co. Adult Services Office saying: “One of the things were about to do, since we did not receive funding through the state budget for whole home,is to go back through that list and try to help people connect again, provide cases management. see if there’s some other way to alleviate cost for them and improve their life. at this time we are going to freeze the wait list.”
Statewide, thousands have applied for Whole Homes Repair funding. Supporters say the program helps homeowners with disabilities and allows residents to stay in their homes longer.