LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Money is tight for thousands of valley families with many are struggling to pay their mortgage and basic upkeep.
13 Action News anchor Tricia Kean shares a local nonprofit that is offering some much-needed help to homeowners impacted by COVID-19.
"Slam dunk. Slam dunk," says Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly.
RIGHT THING TO DO
An easy and unanimous 7-0 vote according to Weekly. The commission is awarding a $663,000 grant to the local nonprofit Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada, funded in part by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act.
"There was not one; if, and, or but about this allocation. We knew it was the right thing to do," Commissioner Weekly.
FREE HOME REPAIRS
The money is being used to provide free home repairs to low-income homeowners, directly impacted by the pandemic.
"All the people who applied for it have to either have lost their job due to COVID and need a critical repair on their home or sheltering in place due to COVID," says Rebuilding Together Executive Director, Bob Cleveland.
He says the grant money will help about 100 valley homeowners with issues like; water and plumbing leaks, roof repairs, plus A/C and heating problems.
NOT SAFE FOR THEM
Bob describes these repairs as lifesaving.
"It's just not safe for them. They really have nowhere else to turn... Living in a house with no heat and especially if it's an older home with thinner windows and bad insulation, the inside of the home can get down to 35, 40° on a regular basis when it freezes here," says Bob.
There's such a high demand for assistance, Bob says every penny of this grant is already accounted for. But he and Commissioner Weekly are still encouraging any homeowners in need of critical repairs, to apply for help.
KEEP APPLYING
"We take applications year around. We never know what funding we're going to get," says Bob.
"We're so grateful, I'm so grateful for Rebuilding Together, that we even have an organization out there like this. I agree with them, keep applying because there's a possibility there may be more funds that are coming down the pipe," says Commissioner Weekly.
