Recently, SERCAP’s Housing Department assisted a low-income family of five (5) living in Albemarle County, VA, to complete a significant rehabilitation of their home. The family has lived in the home since 2014, and recently began experiencing difficulty with their septic system, which turned out to be a failed septic system. Therefore, the family was in need of a new individual household septic system, however, due to their low-income status they were unable to afford the cost of replacing the failed septic system, without suffering significant financial hardship.
Fortunately, the family was referred to SERCAP by a family member, and the agency was able to qualify them for financial assistance through the IPR-Flex (Indoor Plumbing & Rehabilitation) Program. SERCAP’s Housing Team conducted an inspection of the structure and property, and found several critical repairs that needed to be completed in addition to the installation of a new septic system. The Housing Department approved the family’s house for significant rehabilitation, including: repairing the heat pump, installing new attic insulation, replacing the vanity and fan in the bathroom, repairing interior trim, painting two ceilings in the house, installing new smoke detectors, providing a termite treatment, installing a new Conventional Septic System, and much more. Construction for the project was awarded to Coles Construction, for the full $39,750.00 project cost. The construction work was completed recently, and now the family once again has an affordable home that is warm, safe, and dry; which also has an environmentally sound wastewater solution.
Without SERCAP’s full slate of Programs and Services, many rural communities and low-to-moderate income (LMI) individuals would be forced to go without such necessities as reliable access to clean drinking water, indoor plumbing, safe and affordable housing, community development and infrastructure needs, water/wastewater infrastructure solutions, and more. It is important to remember that even in the US in the 21st Century; there are those who do not have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water, environmentally sound septic facilities, and affordable housing. In order to help SERCAP continue to provide assistance to both the individuals and communities in need, please consider making a donation to SERCAP’s Water Life! Fund!
Donate Today: https://sercap.networkforgood.com/projects/27202-sercap-s-water-is-life-fund (opens new window).
*SERCAP’s Housing Programs are made possible by the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development’s (DHCD) Indoor Plumbing & Rehabilitation Flex (IPR-Flex) Program, by County Funds (Budget Appropriations) from counties across the Commonwealth of Virginia, and by Program Income Funds from the IPR-Flex Program. Additionally, all of SERCAP’s programs in Virginia are leveraged by support from the Virginia Budget Appropriation, granted by the Virginia General Assembly and administered by DHCD.