{"id":10791,"date":"2010-04-05T12:40:15","date_gmt":"2010-04-05T16:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=10791"},"modified":"2020-12-24T12:42:23","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T17:42:23","slug":"mayor-kicks-off-homeowner-improvement-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2010\/04\/05\/mayor-kicks-off-homeowner-improvement-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Mayor kicks off homeowner improvement programs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"City<\/p>\n

Press release from the City of Fort Wayne:<\/p>\n

Mayor kicks off homeowner improvement programs, taps 311 to make applying easier<\/strong>
\nNEW: Phoning 311 – One Call to City Hall is ONLY Way to Access Programs<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mayor Tom Henry today gave neighborhoods a boost with the release of about $700,000 in funds to assist homeowners with needed housing repairs and retrofits. For applicants, he streamlined the process and put the accent on “easy” by directing residents to the City’s One Call to City Hall number: 311 to access the programs.<\/p>\n

“I know the demands of home ownership, the unexpected failure of a furnace or a hole in the roof that you just don’t have the resources to fix yourself,” said Mayor Henry. “In these tough times, these home improvement programs offer assistance to families who have been part of making our neighborhoods wonderful places to live, but whose resources are not stretching as far as they once did. With a simple call to 311, homeowners may find out that help is within reach.”<\/p>\n

As part of the Mayor’s commitment to strengthening neighborhoods and making local government more responsive and cost effective, the City is employing its 311 call center to pre-qualify applicants. This is the first year that the system will become the one gateway for these home repair programs.<\/p>\n

Interested homeowners need to call 311 or 427-8311 on Wednesday, April 7, 2010, the programs’ opening day. Calls will be accepted after 8 a.m. Call takers will guide callers through several questions to help determine eligibility and will set appointment times with loan specialists. Once 90 to 100 appointments have been made, the programs will close.<\/p>\n

“We are always striving to find the most effective, efficient and fair way to accept applicants into the programs, which consistently receive a flood of requests,” said Heather Presley, director of housing and neighborhood services for the City. “We are grateful that Mayor Henry suggested we use the 311-One Call to City Hall system which is working so well for other City departments, services and programs. We believe this will be a very positive new component of our program and look forward to integrating 311 into our process.”<\/p>\n

Designed to assist individuals and families who own homes within the boundaries of the city, the slate of housing programs offers a variety of options to meet the needs of specific groups, including:<\/p>\n