Memphis seniors to receive $3 million in HUD grants for home repairs

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - U.S. Representative Steve Cohen has secured $3 million in U.S. Housing and Urban Development funding for eligible seniors in Memphis in need of expensive home repairs.

The Memphis office of the nationwide nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation announced funding for its Critical Home Repairs for Seniors Program. The program collaborates with Habitat for Humanity to provide free home repairs to eligible senior citizens through grants of up to $20,000.

“We have to consider the creation of new housing, but we also have to think about protecting the housing that exists,” said Michael Pugh, president and CEO of Local Initiative Support Corporation. “This program represents just that, the opportunity to preserve legacies and to preserve homes.”

The funding would help people like recently retired Randolph Bolden, who could not afford expensive roof repairs on his fixed income.

“My social security retirement, it’s just not enough there leftover for 15, 20-thousand-dollar home repairs,” Bolden said.

Marcia Rodgers also benefits from the program. Her husband handled all their home repairs before he lost his vision. She now needs help with costs to repaint her home and fix water damage.

“For seniors, it’s kind of hard these days because everybody’s scamming. So you can’t trust those people with the finances that you do have, so it’s really gonna help us,” Rodgers said.

Seniors say the home repairs will help them find safety and financial security in their homes without having to move.

“It gives them a sense of safety, a sense of peace, a sense of comfort,” says Janet Green, another beneficiary of the program. “This gives them an opportunity to not have to move, stay in what they know and love and have known for years.”

Information about securing grant money is available through LISC Memphis‘ website.

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