Pierceton Eyes Housing Grant
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
PIERCETON - Pierceton town council members have called a special meeting to discuss the grant application process for an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program through Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, a not-for-profit sister agency of the Warsaw Housing Authority.
The meeting is at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Pierceton Community Building.
"We're in the very preliminary stages of the grant process," said council president Jerry Kreger. "We budgeted money last year toward this project and the housing authority is going to try to get money from Kosciusko County Foundation and in-kind funds."
Once the grant is secured, qualifying homeowners may apply for the low-interest funds to bring their homes up to state housing codes.
"This meeting is to establish grant parameters," said Catharine Walker, director of the Warsaw Housing Authority and HOW. "Housing Opportunities of Warsaw can operate anywhere in Kosciusko County. In the last three years, 28 homes in Warsaw have been rehabilitated through the Housing Authority.
"We've received many calls from outlying towns, not only from Pierceton but from other areas as well."
HOW received its official not-for-profit 501(C)3 status in August 1998.
While the Warsaw Housing Authority operates within a five-mile radius of the city of Warsaw, the establishment of HOW expands housing rehabilitation services throughout the county.
Homeowners accepted into the program agree to a lien on their home. The loans have a 3 percent interest rate and a portion of the loan is forgiven over a 10-year period.
"It's a win-win situation," Walker said. "Everyone has a different idea about what is best for their community and Pierceton is excited about the grant, I know."
An inspector will determine the scope of the work to be done in a home. Homeowners must bid out that work and get the best price possible. HOW's staff follows process through each phase of construction.
Since Kosciusko County does not have a building inspector, Kreger said, the town is looking for volunteers familiar with housing codes to write the specifications and carry out the inspections. [[In-content Ad]]
PIERCETON - Pierceton town council members have called a special meeting to discuss the grant application process for an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program through Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, a not-for-profit sister agency of the Warsaw Housing Authority.
The meeting is at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Pierceton Community Building.
"We're in the very preliminary stages of the grant process," said council president Jerry Kreger. "We budgeted money last year toward this project and the housing authority is going to try to get money from Kosciusko County Foundation and in-kind funds."
Once the grant is secured, qualifying homeowners may apply for the low-interest funds to bring their homes up to state housing codes.
"This meeting is to establish grant parameters," said Catharine Walker, director of the Warsaw Housing Authority and HOW. "Housing Opportunities of Warsaw can operate anywhere in Kosciusko County. In the last three years, 28 homes in Warsaw have been rehabilitated through the Housing Authority.
"We've received many calls from outlying towns, not only from Pierceton but from other areas as well."
HOW received its official not-for-profit 501(C)3 status in August 1998.
While the Warsaw Housing Authority operates within a five-mile radius of the city of Warsaw, the establishment of HOW expands housing rehabilitation services throughout the county.
Homeowners accepted into the program agree to a lien on their home. The loans have a 3 percent interest rate and a portion of the loan is forgiven over a 10-year period.
"It's a win-win situation," Walker said. "Everyone has a different idea about what is best for their community and Pierceton is excited about the grant, I know."
An inspector will determine the scope of the work to be done in a home. Homeowners must bid out that work and get the best price possible. HOW's staff follows process through each phase of construction.
Since Kosciusko County does not have a building inspector, Kreger said, the town is looking for volunteers familiar with housing codes to write the specifications and carry out the inspections. [[In-content Ad]]