Volusia County Holding Outreach for Bill, Repair Assistance

The Volusia County Community Assistance Division will be holding a community outreach event for residents seeking help with energy bills and housing repairs. The county government announced last week that the event would take place on Monday, March 30 in DeLand. Staff on-hand at the event will provide one-on-one help applying for several different loan assistance programs. These include funds for elderly residents’ utility costs and housing repairs. The outreach event will take place on Monday, March 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the county said. It will be held at the Dr. Joyce M. Cusack Resource Center at 489 Mathis Street in Deland. The available funding comes exclusively through grants from the state and federal government. Those looking to take advantage of one or more programs don’t need an appointment, the county says. More information is available from Volusia County Community Assistance by calling (386) 736-5955 or by emailing communityassistance@volusia.org. The programs which will be accessible at the outreach are as follows, per the county’s release on the event. Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP): “A federal initiative that offers financial aid to households with at least one person aged 60 or older to keep electricity, gas, or propane services running during a home energy emergency. Funds can be used to maintain or restore energy or place a deposit on new service.” Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation: “Provides up to $100,000 in the form of a zero-interest, 30-year deferred or forgivable repayment loan to assist income-eligible homeowners whose homes have life-threatening health or safety deficiencies or need improvements to be safe, healthy, affordable, energy-efficient, and habitable.” Wind Hazard Mitigation: “Provides up to $20,000 in the form of a zero-interest, five-year deferred or forgivable loan to assist income-eligible homeowners with window and door shutters and coverings, gable-end tie downs, and upgraded garage doors, and impact rated windows and doors.” Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation – Emergency Repair: “Provides up to $20,000 in the form of a zero-interest, five-year deferred or forgivable loan to assist income-eligible homeowners with the repair or replacement of one or more of the following housing components: roof, HVAC and septic systems, wells/waters, septic and water hookups, and small accessibility improvements (i.e., wheelchair ramp or grab bars).”