August 24, 2015 -- United Way of Long Island has received a $50,000 grant award from New York Homes and Community Renewal to operate the Residential Emergency Services to Offer (Home) Repairs to the Elderly (RESTORE) Program. The funds may be used to pay for the cost of emergency repairs to eliminate hazardous conditions in homes owned by the elderly when the homeowners cannot afford to make the repairs in a timely fashion. To be eligible for assistance, homeowners must be 60 years of age or older and have a household income that does not exceed 80 percent of the area median income. Funds must be used for one- to four-unit dwellings that are owned and occupied by eligible households, and work undertaken cannot exceed $5,000 per building.
Typical emergency repairs funded by the RESTORE Program include (but are not limited):
- Repairs to or replacement of failed or inadequate home heating systems, HVAC systems and chimneys;
- Correction of serious structural issues including foundation, floors and doorways;
- Stabilization, repair or replacement of damaged or leaking roof, vents and gutters;
- Broken, inoperable or unsecured window, door repair or replacement;
- Replacement of windows to enhance energy efficiency;
- Repairs to deteriorated interior or exterior stairs and means of egress;
- Plumbing repairs or replacement, including correcting issues with potable water supply, domestic hot water and sewage/septic;
- Electrical repairs or upgrades of electrical/utility systems to remove hazards;
- Mold remediation
A hallmark of United Way of Long Island's RESTORE Program is its interface with Project Warmth. This initiative is administered by United Way and provides emergency fuel delivery for families and seniors facing a home heating emergency (oil, gas and electric). Every year, approximately 10 - 12 senior citizens in Nassau County who seek help through Project Warmth require a home heating system replacement in addition to emergency home heating fuel delivery. Some of the boilers may be inoperable or are too dangerous to use for combustion safety reasons as well as the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The cost to provide a replacement range from $3,500 - $5,000 Unfortunately, this is an issue that United Way of Long Island cannot respond to without the assistance of RESTORE grant funds. With RESTORE grant funding, a senior household paying $300 a month for natural gas or oil with an antiquated furnace who installs an Energy- Star high-efficiency furnace can save a minimum of 30% on home heating costs. This translates to $100 in monthly savings; instead of a $300 monthly energy bill the senior might pay $200 -- a dramatic return on investment that could be used for food or prescription medications.
RESTORE funding allows United Way of Long Island to fill a critical gap in service for an aging population of seniors in Nassau. http://www.nyshcr.org
For more information about the RESTORE Program, contact Elaine Kaleta at 631.940.3721 or elaine@unitedwayli.org.