BG housing repair programs make nearly 100 homes more inhabitable – BG Independent News

By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN

BG Independent News

Bowling Green has invested thousands in the gutter … or rather several gutters, plus roofs, furnaces, water heaters and windows in the past year.

Income eligible households throughout the city have received health and safety related repairs from two funds dedicated to housing help in the city, according to Bowling Green Housing Specialist Matt Snow.

Put together, nearly 100 homes have benefited from the housing repair funding.

City leaders allocated $600,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funds to be used for housing repairs. So far, $380,000 of that funding has been used.

The city also received $305,000 in Community Development Block Grants to be used for home repairs. That is a 5% increase in funding from previous years, Snow said.

“We’ve been very busy,” he said.

“I think it’s exciting to see how much we can accomplish.”

In all, 59 repairs have been made throughout the city using ARPA funds, including 15 roof repairs, eight gutter replacements, six whole house window replacements, five driveways, five furnaces, and four water heaters. Funding also paid for making walkways and entry steps safe, siding repairs and electric repairs.

“We can’t do anything cosmetic,” Snow said.

Each qualifying home can get up to $20,000 in repairs, though the average has been $9,000, Snow said.

In addition to repairs, the funding can be used for down payment assistance, a transit support system and transitional housing with the Salvation Army.

The housing repair program has a large waiting list – sitting at 45 homes currently.

“We’ve surpassed the need, even with that program,” Snow said, referring to the one-time ARPA funds.

“Without that ARPA money, our waiting list would be humongous,” he said. 

So the city is trying to spread out the funding among as many homes as possible.

“We’re trying to assist each applicant with one repair,” Snow said.

Each repair project must go through the competitive bidding process, with at least three local contractors submitting bids.

“We walk the homeowners through the whole process,” Snow said.

The contractors are paid once the job is done, he added.

Since COVID, home repairs have become more costly. A furnace replacement before COVID that cost $3,500 is now closer to $4,500.

“After COVID is when it really increased,” Snow said.

Many homeowners put off repairs because they can’t afford them, Snow said. That often leads to more costly repairs, he added.

“Homeowners will put it off and put it off – and hope their financial situation improves.”

While the ARPA funding will not be repeated, the CDBG funding is expected to return annually.

“The community will continue to receive that allocation,” Snow said.

Following is a complete list of all the repairs made through the housing repair programs:

ARPA – Housing Repair Program

Over the past year and a half, $380,000 of the $600,000 allocated to support income-eligible households with essential health and safety-related repairs has been utilized. This investment in the community has resulted in the completion of 59 vital repairs, enhancing the quality of life for numerous individuals and families. The list of repairs included:

• 15 Roof Replacements
• 8 Gutter Replacements
• 6 Sets of Windows (Whole House)
• 5 Driveway Replacements
• 5 Furnace Replacements
• 5 Air Conditioner Replacements
• 4 Water Heater Replacements
• 3 Concrete Walkways (Accessibility)
• 2 Siding Replacements
• 2 Door Replacements
• 1 Set of Entry Steps (Accessibility)
• 1 Electrical Service
• 1 Electrical Breaker Panel
• 1 Plumbing Supply Replacement

CDBG – Housing Repair Program

During fiscal year 2022 starting on Sept. 1, 2022, through Aug. 31, 2023, the Community Development Division has completed 34 housing repairs to support income-eligible households with essential health and safety-related repairs. The list of repairs included:

• 9 Furnace Replacements
• 8 Air Conditioner Replacements
• 4 Water Heater Replacements
• 4 Roof Replacements
• 2 Gutter Replacements
• 2 Door Replacements
• 1 Sets of Windows (Whole House)
• 1 Siding Replacement
• 1 Plumbing Sanitary Replacement
• 1 Fascia / Soffit Repair

Posted by: Jan Larson McLaughlin on September 16, 2023.