Claypool Residents Receive New Porch Through Emergency Home-Repair Program
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
CLAYPOOL - Claypool residents Oris Mae and Steven Newsome soon will have a new porch to replace the part of their home that once collapsed from deterioration.
Employees of Millwood Roofing and Construction tore down the family's porch Wednesday morning as the family watched with smiles and tears.
"We feel privileged to assist this family and give back to the community," said Jeffrey Acton, Millwood Roofing.
The company has worked with Housing Opportunities of Warsaw before to help improve homes in Kosciusko County.
Old gutters were removed and the porch's roof also came down.
The project was made possible by the Kosciusko County Emergency Home Repair fund through Housing Opportunities of Warsaw.
"The program brings caring people and charitable organizations together to improve community health," said Pam Kennedy, HOW executive director.
The Kosciusko County Emergency Home Repair fund was started two years ago to offer Kosciusko County homeowners an opportunity for home repairs, Kennedy said.
The Newsomes have lived in the home for the past 25 years and have been through many trials in the past few years and haven't had the money to fix their porch.
The family's father and husband, Noah, died in January and Steven was injured in a mo-ped accident in 1994 and is in a wheelchair.
"It's God's blessing that we are getting our porch fixed because it has needed it for a long time, but we haven't had the money to get it repaired," Oris Mae said.
The porch roof sagged in front of the home and rain would leak into the family's front door, Oris Mae said.
The porch had bare wires to the porch light, deteriorating pillars and leaks resulting in the porch roof collapsing.
Steven said the thing he looks forward to most once the new porch is installed is sitting on it and watching cars drive by.
"Our porch has needed to be repaired for so many years and it is nice to know we will have a new porch," Steven said.
The money to fund the program came from REMC Operation Round Up, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation and United Way of Kosciusko County.
The program requires participants to pay back a portion of the cost of the work in payments they can afford with a 3 percent interest rate, Kennedy said.
Some families pay as little as $4 a month and the payments are being used to establish a revolving loan fund.
David Dills, Claypool Town Council member, said the town appreciates the work that is being done on the home.
"We are interested in making the town a better place for our residents to live and attracting other residents," Dills said.
Pat Coy, executive director of United Way, said United Way is honored to assist the program.
"This home repair is important to the family and we are happy to provide the funds to help accomplish the repairs," Coy said.
Rich Haddad, K21 president, said the organization also is honored to provide funds for the porch repair.
"We are committed to making homes a safe place for residents to live and are concerned about the health and wellness in our community," Haddad said.
People wishing to donate to the program can contact Kennedy at 574-269-7641.
