By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County has announced plans for a Home Repair Program in a partnership with the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
The program will serve low-income households across the county and will offer new roofs or HVAC systems “to keep their home healthy, safe and affordable,” according to a news release issued Tuesday.
“This program is a natural evolution for Habitat as we strive to help more Kosciusko County residents maintain homeownership and reap its many benefits,” said Ben Logan, Habitat’s executive director. “When people can stay in the home they own, they can create and build better lives, and this new program will help low-income homeowners do just that.”
The Home Repair Program is continuing Habitat’s commitment to offering a hand-up, not a handout. This program helps low‑income homeowners make critical, non‑emergency replacements of their roof or HVAC system.
No other types of repairs will be considered at this time, Logan said.
Participants in the program will attend required financial literacy courses, complete 15-25 volunteer hours with Habitat, and help pay a portion of the repair cost through an affordable, 0% interest loan with Habitat.
“Having skin in the game is vital to Habitat’s principles and mission,” Logan said. “Our team designed this program to mirror our trademark Homeownership Program. It truly is a hand-up, and we are excited to offer this opportunity to Kosciusko County homeowners.
Applications for Habitat’s Home Repair Program will open on March 2.
Anyone interested in applying can visit kosciuskohabitat.org/repair to complete the application online or download a printable version.
Paper applications will also be available at the Habitat ReStore (3970 Corridor Drive, Warsaw, IN 46582) during store hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
The application and all required documents must be submitted electronically or by appointment no later than Friday, March 13.
Applications for the Homeownership Program will open later this spring, from April 20 through April 24. Those interested in applying can view the free Application Guide and sign up to receive reminder emails at kosciuskohabitat.org/homeownership.
For questions about either program, call (574) 269-4104 or email apply@kosciuskohabitat.org.
For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County, visit kosciuskohabitat.org or follow them on Facebook (@kosciuskohabitat).
The application process for the first round runs from March 2 to March xx.
Logan said they hope to assist upward of a dozen families in the first round. If all goes well, another round could happen later this year.
He said he expects the program to be popular.
Money to support it comes from a million-dollar grant from the Lilly Foundation, which will be used for a handful of initiatives.
Logan said much of that money will support administrative costs and that they will rely on other grant sources to cover the main costs.
