Health & Fitness
HRRC Financial Assistance Program Gearing Up for a Busy Season
With spring around the corner, and inspectors preparing for exterior systematic inspections, homeowners should look to their local nonprofit, Home Repair Resource Center..
HRRC has everything a homeowner might need to successfully manage their home repairs. Workshops, tool rental and contractor evaluations are just some of the ways that HRRC can help. Some homeowners may not have the resources to handle a large and expensive repair, like roof replacement, where the cost can run into the thousands of dollars. HRRC’s Financial Assistance Programs can help make financing these repairs possible. Qualified applicants are eligible for grants that, in conjunction with special financing options through a partnership between
HRRC and KeyBank, make monthly loan payments more affordable. For homeowners with past credit problems, HRRC’s loan guarantee may be a way for them to access conventional financing and rebuild their credit.
Even if money is no object, contracting repairs can be a challenge. No one can afford to waste money or have it taken from them, so homeowners can benefit from having HRRC on their side. The first step is becoming knowledgeable about the ins and outs of contracting a job, and about the needed repair itself. The handouts and videos in HRRC’s Resource Library can provide good information before starting to get estimates. HRRC’s contractor evaluation book can then help homeowners identify contractors that may be right for a job.
Seniors are eligible for special services through HRRC’s Senior Repair Program (SRP). which empowers seniors with the tools and information needed to successfully complete home repairs. Program participants receive a home assessment that looks at the condition of mechanical systems, aging in place, security, energy efficiency and potentially needed upgrades. Participating
seniors can also receive assistance with developing written specifications for repairs identified during the assessment, so bidding contractors give estimates that can be easily compared to each other. In addition, they get help with comparing and evaluating those estimates, which in most instances can mean the difference between a good and bad contracting experience.
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Homeowners pay a modest program participation fee. Residents of Cleveland Heights, University Heights, and South Euclid can attend two classes and receive a 90-minute in-home repair consultation for $25. Residents of other communities may attend one class and receive a 90-minute consultation here in our office for $35. To register for a class or home inspection, call Wesley at (216) 381-6100, ext. 22 or email wwalker@hrrc-ch.org