Habitat For Humanity Now Accepting Applications for Home Repair Projects in Tillicum

(This comes from Habitat For Humanity)

Are you a homeowner in Tillicum?  Is your home in need critical repair?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity may be able to help. Habitat is offering a home repair assistance to low income homeowners in the Lakewood neighborhood of Tillicum through its Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI). The focus of the program is to provide critical repairs to existing homes. Repairs are related to general poor structural conditions, roof repair, safety, weatherization and painting as well as special needs such as wheelchair ramps. Work is performed by Habitat staff and volunteers. The program is not a remodeling or emergency repair service, but provides a means for lower income homeowners to repair their homes at little to no cost. 

There are three main services in which low income homeowners may apply to receive assistance:

• A Brush with Kindness (ABWK)  This program is an exterior home preservation service that provides: landscaping, debris removal, window repair, painting and caulking.
• Critical Home Repair Critical  Home Repair focuses on both exterior & interior home repairs such as:  roofs, exterior and interior wall repairs, floor systems, and handicap accessibility.
• Home Rehabilitation  Helps homeowners reclaim their homes from extensive disrepair. Habitat utilizes “green” building practices which helps save money on energy costs.

Using the Habitat for Humanity model of partnering with families in need, homeowners will need to qualify for a no-profit,  0% interest loan provided by Habitat as well as to fulfill “sweat equity” hours, (Hours spent by homeowners helping to repair their own home and the homes of others).  Loan payments are designed to be affordable to the homeowner.

“We have found that if a home needs a major repair, homeowners will get one or two quotes from contractors but often the cost makes the repair unaffordable," says Maureen Fife, Chief Executive Officer of Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity. "Habitat is able to provide services that are often 50 to 70% below commercial rates. This makes it possible for our partner families to get the repairs they need so they can remain safely in their own home. We are anxious to get NRI started in Tillicum. We just need homeowners to apply!”

For more information or to see if you qualify, please contact Mike Taggart at 253-261-4265 or at mtaggart@tpc-habitat.org