Betty Fairchild has lived in her home near the Brookside campus of Waukegan High School for 25 years. As nice as she has kept it, she knew it needed more attention than an 88-year-old widow can easily provide.
One day at church late last year, Fairchild said she learned about the city’s Community Development Block Grant program. It enables people who qualify to not only receive funding for renovations, but also to have the work arranged by the city.
Fairchild’s home received a makeover with new windows, a new furnace, new central air conditioning and smoke detectors in every room. She is not sure of the house’s age, but says it is at least 60 years old.
“It feels wonderful,” she said. “It’s really a blessing. I can’t move as well as I did before, and now I can get around better. I don’t plan on selling. I’m going to stay right here.”
Renovations on Fairchild’s house were part of $1.5 million spent improving owner-occupied, single-family homes through this fiscal year’s Community Development Block Grant program in Waukegan.
Laraesa Garland, the director of the block grant effort, said the funding came from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but each year there is a little less.
This year, HUD provided $736,000, and $360,000 came from the state through the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA). For the first time, Garland said the city contributed $400,000 to the program through its own funds.
Mayor Sam Cunningham said in an email that expanding the block grant effort is important because it is a program that directly impacts residents, often longtime citizens like Fairchild.
“We believe every resident deserves to live in a safe, quality home,” Cunningham said. “This commitment allows us to reach more households, address critical repairs and strengthen the very foundation of our neighborhoods.”
For Reynaldo Fernandez, receiving home repairs through the block grant program was more than getting an upgrade to his home. A military veteran, Garland said Hernandez needed a lot of work done on his house.
Garland said the leaky roof was replaced with a new one, new facias and soffits were added, new windows were installed, electrical work was done and drywall was replaced in areas where roof leaks left permanent damage. Originally, he wanted a ramp, but changed his mind, saying he plans to walk again.
When the city promoted the block grant program on one of its social media outlets, Garland said
Fernandez’s situation got the attention of Crawford Richmond, a senior marketing representative with Serenity Home Healthcare.
Richmond said Serenity provides healthcare to seniors, people with disabilities and veterans. When he saw the post, he made the necessary connections to contact Fernandez, who may receive services from Serenity.
Not everyone qualifies for home improvements through the block grant program. Garland said the applicant must be a Waukegan resident and have owned their home for more than a year. It must be a single-family residence.
Income requirements are part of the program to help people with low to moderate incomes. Garland said an individual can earn no more the $67,150 annually, and a couple can make no more than $71,800. A family of four qualifies if they earn less than $95,900.
Along with physical improvements, Cunningham said the value is more than the brick and mortar used to build the house. It helps the community and the city feel good about their neighborhoods.
” The Community Development Block Grant Department’s Housing Rehabilitation Program is restoring pride, stability, and opportunity for families across Waukegan,” Cunningham said. “We are rebuilding Waukegan block by block.”
