MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Matt Hanratty, Blacksburg's housing and neighborhood services manager, is working with Community Housing Partners to administer a home-repair program for low- to moderate-income residents.

| Sharla Bardin

sharla.bardin@roanoke.com, 381-1669

BLACKSBURG -- A new program will help Blacksburg residents take care of emergency repairs in their homes that they might not otherwise have the money to fix.

The emergencies could include a leaky roof, plumbing problems or a new hot water heater, said Matt Hanratty, housing and neighborhood services manager for the town.

The emergency home repair program in Blacksburg is expected to start later this month and is funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant, Hanratty said.

The program is intended to take care of "an immediate need that needs to be fixed now" for residents who meet the low- to moderate-income requirements, he said.

An emergency repair is defined as "any physical improvement, adaptation or modification, which is not of a cosmetic nature and is required to remove imminent threats to health and safety," according to program guidelines.

The work can include repairs to electrical systems, heating systems, sewer lines, gas lines, roofing or plumbing and improvements to equip a home for someone with physical disabilities.

The town is partnering with Community Housing Partners, a Christiansburg-based nonprofit agency. The town and agency have worked together on other projects through the years, including building affordable homes for low- to moderate-income residents, Hanratty said.

Community Housing Partners is a community-development corporation that serves the needs of low-income individuals and families. The agency's mission is to create affordable, green and sustainable housing opportunities and services, according to the organization's Web site.

Referrals for the emergency repair program may be made to either the town or the agency, and the agency will work with contractors to provide the emergency repairs necessary, according to the program guidelines.

The agency will then request reimbursement from the town for the work performed.

Hanratty said the process now is for the town to enter into an agreement with the agency, and town Attorney Larry Spencer is reviewing the agreement.

Hanratty said the next step is for the agreement to go to the town council for review this month.

There is no cost to the homeowners who take part in the program, he said.

Applicants must meet current low- to moderate-income standards as mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at the time of application.

Hanratty said he thinks the town is in need of this type of program so a home doesn't fall into deterioration.

Community Housing Partners also offers an emergency home repair program for the New River Valley, said Bill Beachy, the agency's vice president of energy services.

From July 2008 through June 2009, 56 households were assisted through the repair program. A total of $39,481 was used for the repairs, and the money included state funds, private donations, agency general funds and assistance from the Community Foundation of the New River Valley and the United Way, Beachy said.

Beachy said there is a waiting list of 17 people in the New River Valley, including Blacksburg residents, for the agency's emergency home repair program.

With Blacksburg using its federal CDBG funding for an emergency repair program, "we will have even more resources at our disposal to help Blacksburg residents," Beachy said.

Hanratty said the town will use $25,000 this year for the repair program.

The maximum amount of assistance per household per year may not exceed $1,000. Applicants who experience more than one emergency situation in the same year may receive assistance through the program a second time in that year, providing the maximum grant amount has not been spent, according to the guidelines.