For the past two years, SHARP has been a highly successful program within the City of Frankfort. Now, it is going to available to those individuals in Clinton County.
“This has been a successful program on the city side of it,” said Clinton County Councilman Jon Hussey. “About a month or so ago, it was presented to the county and I just thought it was a fantastic program. There were several aspects that I thought were phenomenal.”
SHARP stands for Senior Homeowner Assistance for Repairs Program. It helps senior homeowners address higher cost home repair needs. To qualify for the program, you must be 62 or older; live in Clinton County (outside the City of Frankfort); be current and paid for any existing mortgage obligation and property taxes for the subject property; own your home and have resided in it for at least 6 months; have an entire household income of 80 percent or less of the area median income; and have qualifying repair/modification needs.
What types of projects grants qualify? Individuals can get repair/replacement of existing heating, ventilation, air conditioning; well/septic system or underground property sewer system; water heater; windows; soffit and fascia; siding; roofing; gutters; downspouts; caulking; exterior doors; weather stripping, attic and wall insulation as well as electrical which includes replacement of knob-and-tube wiring that prevents a home from meeting current code requirements for its area.
There is also accessibility modifications available that are based on aging or disability including ramps/zero step entries; handrails; levered door handles; self-closing hinges (internal/external doors; pocket doors or swing hinges; bathroom modifications including walk-in/roll-in showers; grab bars; and kitchen modifications including lowering existing cabinets or replacing with ADA-approved cabinets; lowered and/or roll under ADA-approved counters. Internal chair and wheelchair lifts; plumbing and electrical modifications necessary to relocate laundry facilities to the main level of the home; widened doorways; installation of smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors are also available.
“This is a pure grant program,” said SHARP program director for both the city and county Tom Jameson. “Once the money is spent on the project, there is no expectation that there would be any repayment whatsoever. The only stipulation is you can’t apply for the program for another five years.”
Jameson said they try and turn around requests in 24 hours or within a week at the latest. Those interested in the program can call Jerri Sexton for the county at 765-659-6309 or the mayor’s office for the city at 765-654-7332.
Those interested must complete an initial application; agree to work with SHARP to obtain the bids and choose the contractor; collect and provide documentation for identification, income verification, proof of homeowners insurance and current mortgage and property tax status; pay $75 for a title search to be done; sign an acknowledgement identifying the contractor which is being used for the repairs; and sign a satisfaction of completion and a closing statement at the end of the work.
If you income exceeds the following limits, you are not eligible to participate in the program. They are $34,550 (single resident), $39,550 (two residents); $44,450 (three residents) and $49,350 (four residents). All individuals listed on the deed of the home must reside in the home and be at least 62 years of age.
Jameson said the program begins in late April or early May and ends by the end of June.
“This is a time sensitive program,” said Jameson. “I wish we had a year-long program.”
The grant monies available are up to $300,000 and are facilitated by The Farmers Bank through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis.
“The SHARP program has now been running inside the City of Frankfort for two seasons,” said Clinton County Commissioner Steve Woods. “The mayor started it and he did it right. This is a program to help our seniors and those with disabilities get up to $7500 to keep seniors in their homes longer and up to $12,500 for the disabled. It’s a great program.”