Repair more homes; create more jobs
Sussex County offers a program to help homeowners pay for home repairs. This effort has assisted more than 2,000 families, with average repair costs of about $16,000.
The problem is, with 1,000 people on the waiting list, it can take 10 years for a homeowner to rise to the top of the list. That’s a long time to wait to fix a leaky roof or a rickety stairway.
Officials say there are 2,000 more homes – a total of more than 5 percent of all Sussex homes – in need of repairs to bring them up to code. That means one in five households is living in a home that fails to meet the county’s own standards.
Who are the homeowners on the waiting list? Applicants must own their homes and be up to date on their taxes; they must owe no money to the county. This program already has safeguards in place to ensure program recipients are taxpaying homeowners who simply need a little help. Many are seniors whose budget just doesn’t stretch far enough to cover large repairs. Others are battling cancer and can’t make repairs themselves.
Meanwhile, the county had a recent revenue surplus, leading county officials to return $1 million in a rebate to taxpayers of $5 to $8 each. That same money could have repaired more than 50 more homes.
What happens when the county invests in these homes? To start with, homeowners can stay a little longer in their own homes. Beyond that, their home looks better and its value rises, boosting housing values all around it. When several homes in a community are repaired, for a small investment, a neighborhood can be transformed.
Plus, just about every repair dollar goes straight into the local economy, boosting local jobs. Councilman George Cole recently suggested putting more money into the housing rehab program. But empty talk has gone on long enough.
Mr. Cole, it’s time to demand change on this council. Propose significant funding for this program. Put it in the budget and on the agenda and let's see if the people of Sussex County want their government to help people repair their homes.
