nrcshhm-National Directory of Home Modification Resources-Georgia

Welcome to your state/community home modification forum. This forum has been created to give you an opportunity to learn about and contribute to your state's home modification profile.

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

ACTION, INC.
Contact Person	Mark Heeb
Address	Housing Preservation 594 O'Conee Street, P.O. Box 1072 Athens, GA 30603
Phone Number	(706) 546-8293
Sponsor	Athens Community Council on Aging, Inc.
Date established	1989
Primary target population	Older and disabled persons
Number of Persons Served/year	20
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	80%
No. of paid staff	1 part-time
Most Common Modification/Repairs Provided	Ramps, miscellaneous minor repairs, plastic window insulation
Type of Assessment	Functional/Environmental
Assessor(s)	Case Manager, Social Worker
Total Budget	$1,300
Funding Source(s)	Title III - Older Americans Act Donations * Coordinates with Area Agency on Aging:

Atlanta

Home Chore-Northside Sheperd's Center
Contact Person	JoAnn Peacoat
Contact Title	Project director
Address	425 10th St., NW Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone Number	404-875-0509
Email	celcaz@aol.com
Primary target population	60+
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	100%
No. of paid staff	3
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Painting and yardwork.
Type of Assessment	Functional and environmental.
Assessor	Case managers
Total Budget	$112,000
Funding Source(s)	* Government grants * Churches * Individual donations.

Home Safety Solutions, LLC
Director	Todd Zeldin
Contact Person	Lee Pearlman
Address	181 14th Street, Suite 500 Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone Number	404-601-3100
Fax Number	404-653-0406
Email	1pearlman@homesafetysolutions.com
Homepage	www.homesafetysolutions.com
Primary target population	children under 5 and adults over 60
No. of staff	5
No. served	est. 5000
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	We provide the products and education necessary to reduce the risk of preventable, unintentional injuries in the home.
Type of Assessment	Functional and environmental.
Funding Source(s)	Private

Augusta

Operation Independence
Contact Person	Tiffany Johnston, ED
Address	948 Walton Way Augusta, GA 30901
Phone Number	706-724-6262
Fax	706-724-6729
Homepage	www.waltonoptions.org
Sponsor	Walton Options for Independent Living
Date Established	1997
Primary target population	Low-income elderly.
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	60%
No. of persons served/year	200
No. of paid staff	2
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Ramps, doors, handrails, and grab bars.
Type of Assessment	Functional
Assessor	Peer support.
Total Budget	$40,000
Funding Source(s)	* Foundation * OAA III B
Special Features	Loans
Funding Home Mods	100%
Funding Repairs	0%
Cost to Client	$20 co-pay and sliding scale.

Columbus

ACCESS
Contact Person	Ed Hartley
Address	3723 Arrel Drive Columbus, GA 31909-3715
Phone Number	706-322-0003
Email	rehabcontractor@msn.com
Primary target population	wheel chair confined
Number of Persons Served/year	12 to 15
Budget	$750,000 annual
Funding	DRS - Vo. Rehab. GA, SC, TN & AL Workers Comp. Numerous private insurance companies Lawyers - for expert testimony Private individuals
environmental:	Yes
features	ACCESS provides quality housing services thoughout the eastern seaboard and provides expert testimony thoughtout the United States and the United Kingdom
Non-Profit:	No

Conyers

HOME REPAIR PROGRAM
Contact Person	Olivia Haydel
Address	Rockdale County Aging Program 1214 Summers Circle NW, Conyers, GA 30207
Phone Number	(404) 922-4633
Sponsor	Rockdale County Aging Program
Date established	1987
Primary target population	Older homeowners
Number of Persons Served/year	24
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	100%
No. of paid staff	1 part-time
Most Common Modification/Repairs Provided	Weatherization, miscellaneous minor repairs, roofs, ramps
Type of Assessment	Functional/Environmental
Assessor(s)	Volunteer, Case manager, Social Worker
Provides Education/Training	Yes
Funding Source(s)	Funding Source(s): Dekab Economic Opportunity Authorization * Coordinates with State Unit on Aging/Area Agency on Aging

Decatur

CENTER FOR UNIVRSAL SESIGN
Contact Person	Jon Sanford
Address	924 S. Candlee Street, Decatur GA 30030
Phone Number	404-321-6111 x6788
FAX	404-378-2859
Email	jasanf@aol.com
Special Features	* Funding assistance or grant availability for room addition for the disabled.

Gainesville

INDEPENDENT LIVING
Contact Person	Sharon McCurry, Coordinator
Address	Georgia Division of Rehabilitation Hall County 311 Green St., Suite 209 Gainesville, GA 30501
Phone Number	(770) 535-5930
Sponsor	Georgia Division of Rehabilitation
Date established	1985
Number of Persons Served/year	500
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	50%
No. of paid staff	1 full-time, 1 part-time
Type of Assessment	Functional/Environmental
Assessor(s)	Case managers
Provides Education/Training	Yes
Funding Source(s)	Local donations * Coordinates with State Unit on Aging
Special Features	* Uses volunteers and family members to perform services

Macon

Disability Connections Home Modifications Program
Contact Person	Tina Hopper
Address	170 College Street Macon, GA 31201
Phone Number	478-741-1425
Fax	478-743-8359
Email	disabilityconnec@aol.com
Sponsor	The Middle Georgia Center for Independent Living Inc.
Date Established	1997
Primary target population	All ages with disabilities.
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	60-90%
No. of persons served/year	56
No. of paid staff	3
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Doors, ramps, grab bars, etc.
Type of Assessment	Consumer input.
Assessor	Director
Funding Source(s)	* CDBG * Title 7 * Part B of the Rohalo Act * Municipal and state funds
Special Features	Coordinates and solicits community volunteer construction labor and donations for materials on large jobs.
Special Features II	Offers one on one peer support to each consumer who wants home modification.
Cost to Client	Consumers pay difference of over budget spending.

Marietta

ACCESS RENOVATIONS
Address	Profesional Home Renovation 1349 old us 41, suite 160, Marietta, Georgia 30060
Director	Michael Dresdner
Phone Number	(770) 422-9674
Sponsor	Private
Date established	1995
Primary target population	Metro Atlanta and North Georgia
No. of paid staff	2
Funding Source(s)	VA, VR. Workers Copensation, private
Special Features	*Excellent Craftsmenship and design

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
Contact Person	Barbara Martin
Address	Attn. Housing Rehabilitation 120 Marrietta Station Walk, Suite 270 Marietta, GA 30060
Phone Number	(770) 528-4600
Sponsor	Cobb County Community Development Agency
Date established	1983
Primary target population	Older, low/moderate income homeowners
Number of Persons Served/year	100
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	70%
No. of paid staff	2 full-time, 1 part-time
Most Common Modification/Repairs Provided	Roofs, heating and cooling, sewer/septic systems
Type of Assessment	Environmental
Total Budget	$470,000
Funding Source(s)	Community Development Block Grant Community Services Block Grant Weatherization Program
Special Features	* Coordinates federal and state funds for clients to maximize the type of financial assistance available to them.

Savannah

HOME WEATHERIZATION/HOME REPAIR
Contact Person	Terry Tolbert, Deputy Director for Housing and Economic Development
Address	618 West Anderson Street Savannah, GA 31401
Phone Number	(912) 238-2960
Sponsor	Economic Opportunity of Savannah-Catham County Area, Inc.
Date established	1975
Primary target population	Older disabled or low-income renters and homeowners
Number of Persons Served/year	170
Most Common Modification/Repairs Provided	Weatherization, roofs, ramps
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	50%
No. of paid staff	6 full-time
Provides Education/Training	Yes
Total Budget	$90,000
Funding Source(s)	U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program Service Fees
Special Features	* Provides home repair and remodeling at a lower competitive cost by procuring materials from manufacturers and wholesalers in large quantities * Provides a service which reviews contracting costs of competiters to help reduce costs for clients

Living Independent for Everyone
Contact Title	Executive Director
Address	17-19 E. Travis St. Savannah, GA 31406
Phone Number	912-920-2314
Fax	912-920-0007
Date Established	1991
Primary target population	Disabled
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	60%
No. of persons served/year	200+
No. of paid staff	1
Most Common modification/Repairs Provided	Ramps
Type of Assessment	Functional / environmental
Assessor	N/A
Provides Education/Training	Train consumers and employees
Total Budget	$58,000
Funding Source(s)	City of Savanna and the Council of Georgia.
Special Features	Goal is to help people with disabilities to remain living independently.

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES
Contact Person	Mark Reavis, Executive Director
Address	1316 Abercorn Street Savannah, GA 31401
Phone Number	(912) 238-0647
FAX	(912) 234-8520
Primary target population	Low to moderate income
Number of Persons Served/year	75
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	10% - 15%
No. of paid staff	6 full-time, 1 part-time
Most Common Modification/Repairs Provided	Roof repair, ramps, outside carpentry work, general home repairs
Type of Assessment	Functional/environmental
Assessor(s)	Construction specialist
Provides Education/Training	Yes
Total Budget	$900,000
Funding Source(s)	Community Developmemt Block Grant HOME funds HOPE III from HUD Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Interim financing from local lenders
Special Features	* Offers pre- and post-purchase counseling to new homeowners

Warner Robins

WEATHERIZATION AND RURAL HOUSING PRESERVATION
Contact Person	Dorothy
Address	P.O. Box 2286 Warner Robins, GA 31099
Phone Number	(912)328 0333
FAX	(912)329 0959
Sponsor	Middle Georgia Community Section Agency Heart of Georgia CAC
Date established	1984
Primary target population	Elderly and disabled
Percentage of Clients Aged 60 Years+	75%
No. of paid staff	15
Most Common Modification/Repairs Provided	Storm windows and doors/ insulation
Provides Education/Training	Workshops/ information brochures
Total Budget	$300,000
Funding Source(s)	Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority

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