The CDBG was closed out a few weeks back by the Duplin County Board of Commissioners, bringing an end to the project which was approved in 2006.
The two persons to have their homes rehabilitated were Dorothy Parker of Faison and Mary Hill of Magnolia. Stacy Brown of Pink Hill, James Carlton of Warsaw and Eleanor Stanley from Pink Hill had their old homes cleared and replaced by the program.
“The program has benefited me tremendously,” said Parker, pointing out that the rehabilitation to her home made it possible for her to remain there. Parker said that program funding replaced her windows, carpet, part of her roof and front door. Other improvements included were the painting of two rooms, modification to her bathroom, the power washing of her house and an upgrade to the electrical system which included additional outlets. A new screen door was added and steps replaced with handrails installed at all doors. The Duplin County senior citizen said she was grateful for the help she had received.
While 64-year old Stacy Brown was not available to speak by phone, his grandson, Marcus Brown, stated that his grandparents really were enjoying the new home. “The old house was heated by a wood heater and was always cold. The roof leaked and because of the heating situation, pipes had burst and water leaked throughout the house. It was almost uninhabitable,” he said.
The new, three-bedroom house has a brick foundation and vinyl siding. It is also equipped with central heat and air conditioning.
Magnolia resident Mary Hill was the other recipient to have repairs done to her home, a revamp that included vinyl siding to the exterior of the house and handrails to both the front and back doors. The interior improvements featured installation of sheet rock and painting of the walls, and new cabinets in the kitchen. The house was rewired and central heating and air conditioning was installed.
Hill expressed her gratitude for the work done. “They all did a good job and I truly appreciate what they have done for me. I could not have done this myself.”
While there are other CDBG SSH projects that are ongoing the 2006 program has finally come to a successful conclusion, county officials said, adding their own gratitude for the funding which made the revamp and replacments possible.
A public hearing was held to finalize the Citizen’s Participation Plan that began in 2006. The plan is part of the CDBG Scattered Housing Program (SSH). According to Mike Barnette, program director, it is required by the plan to hold a public hearing to detail how the program was administered and who received the benefits.
Duplin planning director Randall Tyndall informed the board that three houses were replaced and two houses were repaired. “Total expenditure to manage the grant and complete all the houes within HUD compliance is $400,000 of which all was grant monies. No county funds were involved, but services in kind were provided by the Planning Department.”
To contact Billy Todd, call 910-592-8137 ext. 117 or e-mail sigeneral@myclintonnc.com.
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