Laurel Fraught, a 74-year-old grandmother from Vancouver, faced years of living with a leaking roof and inconsistent heating in her mobile home, which was built in 1968.
Despite efforts from her children to make repairs, the family lacked the financial means for professional help, and Fraught feared that her declining living conditions were her reality for the rest of her life.
However, thanks to the city of Vancouver’s Housing Rehabilitation Program, her situation has dramatically improved.
Contractors conducted essential repairs, replacing the roof, heat pump, water heater, and oven, transforming her once-dilapidated home into a cozy and welcoming environment.
“It just floored me. It was like winning the lottery,” Fraught expressed, now able to enjoy visits from her 23 grandchildren in a warm and dry setting.
Vancouver’s Housing Rehabilitation Program is part of a broader initiative seen across the nation.
Many cities offer similar programs that provide grants or loans for critical home repairs, especially for low-income residents.
Specifically, Vancouver’s loans are applicable to individuals earning 80 percent or less of the area median income, which amounts to about $66,100 for single-person households.
The program provides loans with a minimal interest rate of 2 percent, covering up to $35,000, and allows beneficiaries to defer repayments until the property is sold.
Despite the positive impact of such programs, funding has become a pressing concern.
This vulnerability has been underscored by proposals from the Trump administration to eliminate funding for Community Development Block Grants, which financially support many rehabilitation initiatives.
According to housing programs manager Samantha Whitley, Vancouver’s program is already contending with limited resources.
“There’s just a really high need,” she noted, emphasizing the extensive waitlist for assistance.
Currently, the city is addressing requests from individuals waiting since 2023, with dozens more reaching out each year.
In an effort to alleviate some of the pressure on the waitlist, Vancouver recently allocated $100,000 from the American Rescue Act Funds to aid in repairing mobile homes for local homeowners in need.
Fraught was among those fortunate enough to receive assistance, with additional floor repairs on the horizon due to water damage from the leaks.
Most individuals on the waitlist are seniors relying on fixed incomes, struggling with the costs associated with maintaining their homes.
Whitley explained that, for many, what was once an affordable home has turned into a financial burden as they lack the funds to conduct necessary repairs and face challenges in securing loans from banks.
Justin Ventura, a housing rehabilitation specialist with the city, recalled one particularly poignant case of a woman who went without a kitchen for two years.
After an unlicensed contractor abandoned her kitchen renovation, she was left to prepare meals using just an air fryer and microwave while washing dishes in a sink.
Fortunately, the city was able to step in, completing her kitchen just in time for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago.
Most commonly, residents seek help for roof replacements and exterior home damage, which can be incredibly costly, averaging around $9,500.
For Fraught, those types of costs were beyond her capability on a fixed income.
Since the city’s intervention with her heat pump and water heater, she has noted significant reductions in her utility bills.
Expressing her gratitude, Fraught hopes increased funding will allow the city to extend similar assistance to more individuals in need.
“It’s been just a huge, huge blessing for me,” she remarked, reflecting on her new life.
image source from：columbian
