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Hernando Today

HELP Arrives For Two People

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: January 15, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Help has finally arrived, at least for two people.
County commissioners Wednesday approved bid awards paving the way for rehabilitation work to get under way for residents Barbara Coral and Curtis Niles to get improvements done on their houses.

They are the first recipients of the Housing Enhancement Loan Program (HELP) initiative, designed to provide housing repair and rehabilitation funding assistance to homeowners with "very low income."

The bid for Niles home was awarded to Zelmar Builders for $31,459. Palmwood Builders got the bid for Coral's house for $18,565.

County Commissioner Jeff Stabins first proposed HELP six months ago to jump-start the construction industry and put contractors back to work.

"Hallelujah," Stabins said of the news.

But while this is a start, Stabins said he would like to see more applicants.

"When are we going to get some more, Mr. Singer?" he asked of Housing Authority Director Donnie Singer.

The Housing Authority has approved six applications for HELP. Coral and Niles' applications are the first to formally come before county commissioners for approval. The rest are scheduled for a later date, according to Singer.

Singer is also hoping that a public meeting on HELP, scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 2, will help publicize the program.

Singer has earmarked about $1.8 million of State Housing Initiatives Program (SHIP) money to help fund Stabins' economic incentive program.

SHIP provides 0-percent interest loans to qualified eligible homeowners of up to $37,000 per home to assist with the cost of needed repairs.

Last July, Stabins pitched HELP as an alternative to the lowering of impact fees by at least 25 percent for a minimum 18 months. In fact, it was one of the reasons commissioners threw out the impact fee reduction, lobbied hard for by local builders and businesspeople.

But Singer had a hard time trying to get people to sign up for HELP.

Originally only available to seniors, Singer expanded it to handicapped and disabled persons in the community. Finally, early in December he opened it up to the general populace.

To be eligible for the funding assistance, applicants must use the home as their primary residence and have a total gross household income less that $19,800 for one person; $22,600 for 2 persons, $25,450 for 3 persons, $28,250 for 4 persons.

Mobile homes are ineligible for the funding assistance under the guidelines of the program.

For additional income guidelines and for more information, contact the Housing Authority at 754-4160.

Also at Wednesday's meeting:

•Utilities Director Joseph Stapf assured county commissioners his department has taken corrective measures after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection identified some violations at the county landfill and sewer lift stations.

In lieu of a $17,000 fine, county commissioners asked staffers to identify an in-kind project, possibly using it to help fund the Hernando Beach dredge project.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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