nrcshhm-National Directory of Home Modification Resources-Alabama

Where to Get Help:

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.

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.

Athens

CASA of Limestone Count
Contact Person	Deborah McNeil- Director
Address	P.O. Box 783 Athens, AL 35612
Phone Number	256-232-5757
Fax	256-233-6466
Email	Casaoflimestoneco@yahoo.com
Date established	1979
Primary target population	60+ or homebound of any age.
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	90%
No. of persons served/year	400
No. of paid staff	1
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Ramps
Type of Assessment	Yes
Assessor	Director
Provides Education/Training	Yes
Funding Source(s)	Donations, United Way, churches, aid from State of Alabama.
Special Features	* Volunteer based * Services Limestone County; Cost to client is free.
Type of Services	Construction for post accident victims

Birmangham

Alabama Head Injury Foundation
Contact Person	John Gillum
Address	3600 S. 8th Avenue Birmingham, AL 35222
Telephone	205-328-3505
Primary target population	Head/spinal injury; low income, and substandard housing.
No. of persons served/year	50
No. of paid staff	1
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Holes in floors, plumbing, widening doors, and ramps.
Assessor	Director, Housing Coordinator, or Resource Coordinator.
Funding Source(s)	Trust Funds
Special Features	Assessment type continued: Application materials filled out; client states what they need then clients find their own contractors.
Special Features II	Waiting list is 400.
Special Features III	Statewide non-profit organization.
Type of Services	Construction for post-accident victims.

Home Modification Program
Contact Person	Daniel G. Kessler
Address	206 13th St. S. Birmingham, AL 35233
Telephone	205-251-2223
FAX	205-251-0605
EMAIL	dgkessle@bellsouth.net
WEBSITE	www.birminghamilc.org
Staff	1
Served	70
Target	All Ages
Clients	700 +
Date	1992
Budeget	$200,000
Funding	City of Birmingham Community Development
environmental:	Yes
Non-Profit:	Yes

Ft. Payne

CASA of Dekalb County
Contact Person	Jonnie Justice
Contact Title	Director
Address	310 14^th St N. W. Ft. Payne, AL 35967
Phone Number	256-845-9021
Fax	256-845-9021
Primary target population	Elderly, homebound, and disabled.
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	80%
No. of persons served/year	2,000
No. of paid staff	2 Paid staff and Volunteers
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Ramps, and guard barriers.
Type of Assessment	Standardized forms; functional ability.
Assessor	Volunteers; director.
Total Budget	$52,000
Funding Source(s)	* Fundraisers and * United Givers fund.
Special Features	* Provides means to help pay. * Provide supplies needed.

Guntersville

CASA of Marshall County
Contact Person	Vickie McWhorter-Walker
Contact Title	Director
Address	1321 Gunter Avenue Guntersville, AL
Phone Number	256-582-2963
Fax	256-582-2922
Primary target population	55+ homebound disabled people.
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	90%
No. of persons served/year	2,000
No. of paid staff	3
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Ramps, guard rails, and home weatherization.
Type of Assessment	Form from AARP.
Assessor	Director; volunteers.
Provides Education/Training	For volunteers, yes.
Total Budget	* $25,000(United Way) * $6,900(Other).
Funding Source(s)	State and private organizations

Hayneville

Willow Non-Profit Housing
Address	200a N. Commerce St. Hayneville, AL 36040
Phone Number	334-548-2191
Fax	334-548-2576
Email	willowa@the.net.net
Sponsor	Rural Elderly Enhancement Program
Date established	1988
Primary target population	Under 25,000
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	30-35%
No. of paid staff	6
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Completion of applications for families.
Type of Assessment	Functional
Provides Education/Training	Provides counseling.
Total Budget	$90,000
Funding Source(s)	Department of Labor
Special Features	Provide assistance to low-income families for affordable housing.

Huntsville

CASA of Madison County
Contact Person	Ann Anderson
Contact Title	Director
Address	2200 Drake Ave. Huntsville, AL 35805
Phone Number	256-880-0603
Fax	256-880-4883
Email	casahasv@hiwaay.net
Homepage	www.casamadisoncounty.org
Date established	1980
Primary target population	Elderly and homebound (disabled).
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	75%
No. of persons served/year	7,000
No. of paid staff	4
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Grab bars, ramps, weatherization, smoke alarms.
Type of Assessment	Form for weatherizations only.
Assessor	Volunteers
Funding Source(s)	Individual donations
Special Features	Services are free.
Type of Services	Modifications

Montgomery

Central Alabama Aging Consortium
Contact Person	Marsha O'Fallon
Address	818 S. Perry St., Suite 1 Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone Number	334-240-4666
Fax	334-240-4681
Email	mofallon@coa.state.al.us
Primary target population	Elderly
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	100%
No. of persons served/year	10
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Widening doors, ramps and miscellaneous.
Assessor	Care Manager
Funding Source(s)	Medicaid; funds pay for contracts, clients pay donations.
Special Features	Provide mainly funding, limited to $150 a person but will attempt to do the job if necessary.
Special Features II	Helps seniors over age 60 by making homes more accessible.
Cost to Client	Client pays for materials.

Christmas in April
Contact Person	Joseph Decker III
Contact Title	Executive Director
Address	P.O. Box 4762 123 Julia St. Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone Number	334-262-9969
Fax	334-832-9314
Email	cinamount@juno.com
Date established	1988
Primary target population	Low income, elderly, disabled homeowners.
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	80%
No. of paid staff	1
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Roofs for low income people; grab bars for disabled.
Type of Assessment	House evaluation checklist.
Assessor	Work with high school student volunteers.
Total Budget	$300,000
Funding Source(s)	CDBG money from government.
Special Features	Money from fundraisers is used to buy extra materials and hire plumbers.
Special Features II	Continued from assessment person: House selection committee visits homeowner.

Division of Rehabilitation and Homebound Services
Contact Person	Ted Bridger
Address	2129 East South Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36111
Phone Number	334-613-3480
Date established	1976
Primary target population	All ages.
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	30%
No. of paid staff	24
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Provides information.
Total Budget	$600,000
Funding Source(s)	Federal funds

STAR ALABAMA STATEWIDE TECHNOLOGY ACCESS AND RESPONSE PROJECT (STAR) SYSTEM FOR ALABAMIANS WITH DISABILITIES
Contact Person	Ted Bridges, Project Director
Address	2125 East South Boulevard, P.O. Box 20752 Montgomery, AL 36120-0752
Phone Number	(334) 613-3480, (800) STAR656 (In-State), (334) 613-3519(TDD)
FAX	(334) 613-3485
Email	tbridges@rehab.state.al.us
Homepage	http://www.rehab.state.al.us/star

Title III OAA
Contact Person	Derek Lee
Contact Title	Human Services Planner
Address	P.O. Box 301851 Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone Number	334-242-5743
Fax	334-242-5594
Email	ageline@adss.state.al.us
Homepage	www.adss.state.al.us
Sponsor	Department of Senior Services
Date established	1970's
Primary target population	60+ with disability
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	100%
No. of paid staff	3
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Grab bars and ramps.
Assessor	AAA people
Funding Source(s)	OAA funds
Cost to Client	Free
Type of Services	Minor home repairs.

Scottsboro

CASA of Jackson County
Contact Person	Beverly Waldrop
Address	250 S. Broad St. Scottsboro, AL 35768
Phone Number	256-259-3736
Fax	256-259-3182
Email	jbwaldro@hiwaay.net
Primary target population	The elderly.
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	80%
No. of persons served/year	None served
No. of paid staff	2
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Ramp building and grab bars.
Type of Assessment	Observation of environment
Assessor	Director; volunteer carpenters.
Total Budget	$50,000
Funding Source(s)	* Fundraising locally * Public donations * United Givers Fund
Special Features	Services: transportation, housekeeping, home repair, etc.
Type of Services	Miscellaneous

South Birmingham

HOME FIX-IT PROGRAM
Contact Person	Ralph L. Holzman, Manager
Address	2601 Highland Avenue, South Birmingham, Alabama 35205
Phone Number	(205) 325-1416
Sponsor	Jefferson County Office of Senior Citizens' Activities (AAA)
Date established	1986
Primary target population	Older homeowners
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	100%
No. of persons served/year	120
No. of paid staff	1 full-time
Most Common Modification/Repairs Provided	Plumbing, Carpentry, Painting, Electrical, Yardwork
Type of Assessment	Functional/environmental
Assessor	Handyman, Social worker
Provides Education/Training	Yes
Total Budget	$9,000
Funding Source(s)	Title III - Older Americans Act, Client payments
Special Features	Commissions older workers to perform modifications/repairs in return for full payment for materials and services, except for a client service fee.

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