Council OKs 1st contracts for disabled

December 10, 2012, 10:00 pm by Adam Troxtell

Repairs began this week on two Marble Falls homes that are completely funded by a grant program the city has participated in since July.

The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) is funded through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and provides up to $20,000 in repairs or modifications to low-income residents who are disabled. City Council approved participation in the program during its July 17 meeting, and on Tuesday awarded housing rehabilitation contracts to two construction companies who began work the next day.

The construction is done to improve accessibility and eliminate substandard or hazardous conditions for residents. Robb Stevenson, grant administrator for grant consulting firm Langford Community Management Services, Inc., was present at Tuesday’s meeting. He explained to council how the city could use its participation in AYBR and leverage it with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Housing Preservation Grant Program, a similar grant, to provide up to $30,000 worth of grant-funded modifications for homes that need it.

"You often find their homes require more than just a ramp or modifications so they can shower safely,” Stevenson said. "So, we started looking at grants we could leverage it with.”

This proved valuable, as council granted a contract for $26,790 to Precision Construction LLC to repair a home at 511 Seventh Street. The home will receive leveling, foundation repair and will have its deteriorated front porch repaired.

For more on this story, see Tuesday's Highlander.