Seniors get help with home repairs through city program

The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC) has served close to 500 home owners who are seniors and have provided architectural services to small businesses through its Small Accessible Repairs for Seniors (SARFS) and Façade Enhancement Programs. Photo Credit: The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC)
The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC) has served close to 500 home owners who are seniors and have provided architectural services to small businesses through its Small Accessible Repairs for Seniors (SARFS) and Façade Enhancement Programs. Photo Credit: The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC)

Seniors get help with home repairs through city program

By Christopher Shuttlesworth

The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC) is a nonprofit organization that continues to promote comprehensive community development, through various programs such as The Small Accessible Repairs for Seniors (SARFS) and Façade Enhancement Programs.

SARFS is a city funded program that has provided almost 500 home owners who are seniors with minor home maintenance since 2003.

“When the opportunity for the program became available, we jumped at the offer because our communities have a large population of seniors in need,” said Carlos Nelson, executive director of GAGDC.

“This program is mainly about helping to keep seniors aging comfortably in their homes.” SARFS maintenance service includes grab bars for bathrooms, handrails, banisters, new toilets, new doors and small porches, floor replacement, locks, faucets and more.

Nelson said the program serves seniors who are on fixed incomes or

seniors who earn no more than 80 percent of a medium income.

Individuals who rent apartments must have permission from their landlord to receive service from SARFS, and landlords must agree of no rent increases due to SARFS improvements, according to a GAGDC press release.

Nelson explained that there is currently a SARFS waiting list in Auburn-Gresham, Englewood and West Chatham. But he says seniors can call 311, to get placed on the waiting list.

Another one of GAGDC’s sponsored programs that is serving community development is called the Façade Enhancement Program.

The Façade Enhancement Program is facilitated by partner agency CJohnson and Associates.

Nelson continued to explain that this particular program helps small

businesses from 79th Street to 95th Dan Ryan.

“We provide free consulting and architectural services to small businesses that need to get some façade enhancement to smooth up their storefront or businesses,” he said. “We have architects that come up with designs that the business owners like and we work to get funding and grants for the owners.”

For more information, visit http://www.gagdc.org/index.html.

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