Two People Get 'HELP'

Hernando Today

BROOKSVILLE - As of today, two senior residents have qualified to get their homes repaired as part of County Commissioner Jeff Stabins' economic incentive program.

Housing Authority Executive Director Donald Singer updated the board Wednesday on the Housing Enhancement Loan Program, better known as HELP.

The brainchild of Commissioner Jeff Stabins, HELP was designed to put builders and contractors to work by rehabilitating homes for qualified individuals.

The program is open to people 62 and older who meet income guidelines.

In an effort to get more people involved, Singer said he plans to expand it starting Oct. 20 to the handicapped and disabled of all ages.

Thirty days after that, Singer said he will open it up to another group: single-parent head of household.

Singer said seven contractors are approved to participate in the HELP program. If all goes well, he hopes to see the home rehabilitations for the two HELP recipients started by the end of this month.

In addition to meeting the current age requirements, applicants cannot live in a mobile home; the repairs or rehabilitation to the home cannot exceed $37,000; and the loans must be used to repair or correct only certain structural features.

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

Stabins' HELP program proved popular when he introduced it in July as an alternative to the lowering of impact fees by at least 25 percent for a minimum 18 months to allow first-time homebuyers access to a $25 million state pool of funds. In fact, it was one of the reasons commissioners threw out the impact fee reduction.

Also at Wednesday's Land Use Hearing:

• County commissioners renewed the county's contract with the state that allows the county health department to provide $1.3 million in health services to residents.

Each year, commissioners, the Florida Department of Health and the Hernando County Health Department enter into a contract to promote public health, educate the public on the control and eradication of preventable diseases and other services.