There are several ways to modify and repair your home. You can: 1) do it yourself, or get a friend or relative to help; 2) hire a building professional (handyworker, remodeler or contractor); 3) contact a home modification and repair program or service that can advise you on funding, assessing your home, and product advisement. In addition to the resources listed in our Directory below, services may be located through your:

• Local area agency on aging
  
• State department on aging
  
• State housing finance agency
  
• Department of public welfare
  
• Independent Living Center
  
• Rebuilding Together
  
  Also, consider taking these steps:
  
• Get recommendations from friends who have had similar projects completed.
  
• Hire a licensed and bonded contractor. Be specific about changes you wish to make in advance.
  
• Ask for a written agreement with only a small down payment. Make the final payment only after the project is completed.
  
• Check with your local better business Bureau regarding the contractor's or program's reliability and performance record.

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Other Resources:

The NeighborWorks® network is a national network of 220 community-based organizations that helps low- and moderate-income families rent, purchase, and maintain safe, affordable homes. The NeighborWorks® network also revitalizes communities through resident leadership and private and public partnerships.

To locate NeighborWorks® network partner that might offer assistance with home modifications, visit www.nw.org and click on Network Directory. Type in the CITY and select the STATE, then click on ORGANIZATION SEARCH. You can also try calling the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation at (202) 220-2300.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Some local housing agencies utilize portions of their CDBG program to pay for various kinds of home modifications. To contact your local CDBG grantee, call the US Department of Housing and Urban Development at (202) 708-1112.

On the website, click on a state to view contact information for the CDBG grantee in that area.

Resource Listings:

The web site www.homemods.org, a university-based and non-profit effort, provides an opportunity for home modification service and product providers to place a web site link and corresponding information on an annual subscription basis. Resources listed on www.homemods.org are provided solely as a convenience for users of the site. They do not indicate endorsement of any services, and www.homemods.org shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information.

Non-profit organizations are listed as resource links on the website upon request without a fee. A reciprocal link to www.homemods.org is requested but not required. For-profit organizations are listed as resource links for a subscription fee of $100.00 per year. For-profit organizations that include a reciprocal link on their websites will receive a $25.00 reduction in their annual subscription fee. Please click on "Fill out the program survey" below to request inclusion in the National Directory of Home Modification Resources.

Anchorage

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