Home Sweet Home: Critical Home Repair Program Helps Seniors Stay in their Homes
When asking Mecklenburg County residents what they think is the most urgent priority in their lives, affordable housing ranks at or near the top of our annual community survey.
That is why affordable housing is a priority for Mecklenburg County and the Board of County Commissioners. Part of the County’s affordable housing programming includes working to keep seniors in homes that many have owned for decades. But many seniors on a fixed income have trouble making repairs and keeping their older homes in shape.
To help these residents, Mecklenburg County offers a lifeline through the Critical Home Repair Program, funding urgent health and safety repairs for low-to moderate-income homeowners.
“It was a small ‘honey-do’ list at first that grew,” says Mecklenburg County homeowner Kenneth Patterson. “I had good intentions of doing it all, but I should have known from all the years that I worked putting patches on stuff don't work.”
“It just became so overwhelming that I knew that I needed to look for help,” says homeowner John Fleming.
Mr. Patterson and Mr. Fleming are two Mecklenburg County homeowners who have benefited from the Critical Home Repair Program.
Mecklenburg County's Storytellers: Critical Home Repair
Common repairs for eligible homeowners include:
- Roofing and structural stabilization
- Plumbing, electrical and HVAC upgrades
- Accessibility improvements such as ramps and grab bars
“It is a tremendous need in our community,” says LaShonda Hart, interim director, Mecklenburg County Office of Housing and Community Development. “Critical structural safety or accessibility needs like roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, and ADA accommodations take a toll that goes beyond the physical.”
Since 2020, Mecklenburg County has partnered with local nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity Charlotte Region, Rebuilding Together Greater Charlotte, Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity, and She Built this City.
For these cost-free repairs, families make the commitment to stay in the home for five years or sell to an income-qualified buyer.
“When I open up my door, I can ask myself what you hear, and I hear peace,” says Patterson. “A peace that restores pride and the confidence to open up my home to family and friends again.”
“I'm so grateful, and the tears are tears of joy and I feel so special,” says Fleming.