Sheila Bell has lived in her Lynnwood home since shortly after it was built 44 years ago.
Over the years, things wore out or broke.
That’s not uncommon, but Bell soon saw that the need for repairs had outpaced her income — a Social Security check.
Eventually, her deck
rotted away. Her master bath become unusable. Her carpeting was shot. So was the kitchen vinyl. Her garage needed a new door. Her entire house needed painting. One of the windows was cracked.
“I always appreciated that it was a well-built house, but I never had the money to keep it up,” Bell said. “Then a friend told me about the housing authority.”
The Snohomish County Housing Authority has a program for low-income homeowners that provides low or no-interest loans to deal with health and safety issues including roof damage, dry rot, foundation problems, failing septic fields or weatherization. Those who need to make a home more accessible for a handicapped resident can also find money.
Homeowners facing those health and safety issues can also receive money for cosmetic improvements such as carpeting or paint.
“For big-ticket items like a new roof or septic field, people should really look into us, because (bank) loans are hard to get,” said Mark Papritz, construction lead for the housing authority.”
Papritz said people must meet income guidelines and must have some equity in their home to qualify for a housing rehabilitation loan. Repayment of the loan can be deferred until the home is sold.
Bell said her loan came “just in time.”
She said she had stopped using the rotting deck “because it was getting too dangerous.” Among other things, Bell said, the new deck means a shorter trip to the mailbox.
“They put stairs on the deck, which we never had,” she added.
Bell said she had replaced some of the home’s old windows through the years, but could never afford to do the whole house.
The loan will make her home’s energy use more efficient.
And now she has a new bathroom in the home, replaced after dry rot and other problems forced her to stop using the master bath. She also is ready for a new carpet.
“The old carpet was in horrendous shape,” she said.
Papritz encouraged people with similar issues to call the housing authority.
“We’re going to be getting some new stimulus money,” he said, noting that a good amount of it will be for home energy updates.
Home weatherization is “kind of new for us,” Papritz said.
“We’re hoping that people will take advantage (of the stimulus money),” he added. “Especially if you’re a senior. You won’t be paying anything out of your pocket and there’s no excuse to let your roof leak.”
Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459; benbow@heraldnet.com.
Loan program
Snohomish County Housing Authority
Income guidelines: One person, gross annual income below $45,100; two people, $51,550; three, $58,000; four, $64,400
Terms: No-interest to 3 percent interest depending on income.
Type of work: Health and safety, energy conservation, general improvements.
Home: Must be in Snohomish County. Owner needs to have at least 20 percent equity.
Contact: 425-293-0555
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