MRPC
News
March 24, 2005
For immediate release
For more information, contact:
Bonnie J. Prigge or Lesley Bennish, (573) 265-2993
HOME
RENOVATION GRANT PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO
CRAWFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS
ROLLA-The Meramec Regional Planning Commission is looking for homeowners in
Crawford County who wish to participate in a new home renovation grant program
that will address lead-based paint hazards as well as general repairs, announced
Lesley Bennish, the MRPC grant administrator overseeing the project. The Crawford
County Commission, in partnership with Meramec Community Enhancement Corp.,
the nonprofit arm of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, has been awarded
a $127,525 grant from Missouri Department of Economic Development's Community
Development Block Grant program. Additionally, MRPC has been awarded $50,000
from the Missouri Housing Development Corp. to help low-income homeowners renovate
their homes and/or reduce lead risks in homes, and those funds will be used
in conjunction with the CDBG program.
"The intent of the program is to reduce lead-based paint hazards and then
provide general rehabilitation," Bennish explained. "We are looking
for applicants who are living in homes built before 1978, especially those homes
with small children, women of child-bearing age or caretakers of small children"
These are the target populations because lead-paint chips and lead-paint dust
can cause developmental problems in young children. The Center for Disease Control
and Prevention regards lead poisoning as the number one preventable childhood
illness in the United States. Between birth and age six, important developments
take place in a child's brain and central nervous system. If exposed during
these formative periods, lead poisoning can have a drastic affect on a child's
development. Children who are exposed to lead and have elevated levels of lead
in their blood are at risk for serious health problems such as reduced IQ and
learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, behavioral problems, decreased
stature and growth, impaired hearing, neurological problems, kidney damage and
major organ failure, encephalopathy (brain swelling), brain damage, anemia,
seizures, coma and even death.
Homeowners must meet income eligibility guidelines, as established through the
funding agency. For this program, the following income guidelines, based on
family size and income limit apply: A one-person household cannot have income
of more than $24,900; two-person household - $28,500; three-person household
- $32,050; four-person household - $35,600; five-person household - $38,540;
six-person household - $41,300; seven-person household - $44,150; and an eight-person
household - $47,000. For those homeowners selected, grants will pay for approved
rehab costs, up to $20,000.
Persons interested in applying for the program can contact MRPC for an application.
Completed applications will be evaluated to determine which homes will be renovated.
"Due to limited grant funds, it will be extremely important that interested
homeowners complete the application as quickly as possible and return it to
MRPC," explained Bennish. "I want to stress that the application must
be completely filled out with all supporting information provided to be considered."
Crawford County homeowners can contact Lesley Bennish at (573) 265-2993 or by
email at lbennish@meramecregion.org. If emailing, be sure to include a current
mailing address and a daytime phone number.