City official briefs neighborhood on emergency home repair grants for seniors, disabled and active-duty homeowners

Kirsten Garcia, a community grant coordinator in Provo City Development Services, described the Emergency Home Repair Grant administered with HUDDBG funds. The program targets owner-occupied Provo properties with low-to-moderate income occupants who are age 60 or older, recipients of Social Security disability, or active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Garcia said grants cover necessary mechanical, electrical, plumbing or structural repairs that correct health hazards or threats to physical safety. Examples include roof repairs for active leaks, mold remediation, and replacement of failing fixtures; work is performed by licensed contractors and paid directly by the city. The program can provide grants up to $15,000 per household and is available only once per household; repairs must be deemed an emergency by a city inspector.

On budget, Garcia said the program currently has leftover funds from prior years due to low applicant numbers; she noted one roof repair cost roughly $10,000. She asked neighborhood representatives to identify and refer eligible households and provided contact information for follow-up.

Next steps: Garcia urged residents to share brochure materials at neighborhood events and to contact her with referral questions. She said the city periodically requests additional funding based on usage levels.