Currently, SERCAP’s Essential & Critical Needs Program assisted a low-income, family of four (4) in Buchanan County, VA, with the installation of new Septic System. The family recently began experiencing difficulty with their old septic system and learned that an entirely new system needed to be installed. However, the family is very low-income, and the cost of replacing the Septic System on their own would have caused significant financial hardship. The family was referred to SERCAP by the local Health Department, and fortunately, SERCAP was able to step-in and provide some financial assistance. SERCAP’s Essential & Critical Needs Program approved a Grant of $1,500.00 to assist the family with the installation of their new septic system. Leveraging the Grant from SERCAP as a down-payment, the family was then able to establish a payment plan with the Contractor for the remaining balance due.
In the long-term, the positive impact of this project will be the improvement to the client’s overall Quality of Life, due to the improvement of their Environmental Health and Economic Self-sufficiency. This project will positively impact their Environmental Health by: 1) once again providing them with reliable access to environmentally sound wastewater solution, and 2) by preventing the potential financial burden, which could have occurred if financial assistance and a payment plan with the Contractor was not available, and the clients had to spend money they do not have to replace the septic system entirely on their own, (potentially having a negative impact on the clients’ mental and emotional well-being). The project will also positively impact the clients’ Economic Self-sufficiency by improving their home’s property value. Additionally, the project will improve the Economic Self-sufficiency of the community, by encouraging neighborhood revitalization, and by increasing the current property tax-base for Buchanan County.
*Funding for SERCAP’s Essential & Critical Needs Program is made possible through a Budget Appropriation from the Virginia General Assembly, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD). Additionally, all of SERCAP’s programs in Virginia, are leveraged by the Budget Appropriation from the Virginia General Assembly, administered by DHCD.