News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
UC Habitat for Humanity is looking for eligible seniors to apply for their Aging In Place program.
Executive Director Pam Ealy said they are lacking the referrals they usually have and want to line up 20 to 30 repair projects over the Winter and Spring. Ealy said the Aging In Place program, or “Neighbor to Neighbor” is about addressing accessibility and maintaining seniors homes, so they can keep living at home.
“Making bathrooms accessible, ADA toilets, grab bars, adding ramps to homes,” Ealy said. “At the same time we’re finding where seniors need a new roof or a heating and cooling system repaired.”
Ealy said the program is for low-income seniors who own their own home. Ealy said if anyone knows a senior in need of home repairs or accessibility improvements, to encourage them to reach out to Habitat for Humanity.
“We’re hoping that maybe your listeners will have maybe a neighbor that could be encourage to apply,” Ealy said. “We need also just home owners to call us, we’re lining up projects to do this Winter and next Spring, so we just want to get a good load of projects ready for our volunteers.”
Ealy said the need for the large project list is because operations got behind due to the pandemic. Also, Ealy said there is grant money that needs to be utilized on these home repairs.
“We really weren’t going into homes this past Spring and Summer,” Ealy said. “Not that it’s any better really but we are being very COVID friendly, we’re wearing masks, we’re asking homeowners to wear masks and stay in another area of the house.”
Ealy said seniors or referrals should call the UC Habitat for Humanity and ask for the Director of Home Owner Services. Once someone calls, they will be asked a few questions and send paperwork to the applicant.
