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| Before |
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| After: Facundo Paniagua, his children, and the contractor who fixed his roof |
When Fort Wayne resident Facundo Paniagua discovered his roof was leaking, he didn’t know where to turn for help. It wasn’t just the roof that was causing problems – the soffits were rotting, the gutters were falling down, and in an attempt to winterize, the windows had been sealed shut. Paniagua was working at a local foundry, but knew he didn’t have enough money to fix all of his home’s issues. Then, he saw an article in El Mexicano about the City of Fort Wayne’s Neighborhood Impact Program.
“I was hesitant at first,” says Paniagua. “But I am very thankful I made the call. The staff was marvelous. I was treated very respectfully.”
Although Paniagua speaks some English, he is more comfortable speaking Spanish, so the City of Fort Wayne always had a translator available to provide information about the home repair program. The staff explained that Paniagua and his wife Liliana qualified for the Neighborhood Impact Program, which operates with support from the Federal Home Loan Bank system.
The Neighborhood Impact allows homeowners at 80 percent of the area median income or less to tap into forgivable loans up to $10,000 for eligible home repairs. The City of Fort Wayne partners with 1st Source Bank, a local member bank of the Federal Home Loan Bank system, by providing one-third matching HUD dollars up to about $3,300. The City also requires that the homeowner to contribute $500. As long as the homeowner keeps the home as their primary residence for five years, the loans are forgiven.
"1st Source Bank is proud to have provided Fort Wayne residents the opportunity to repair their homes,” said Lawrence Mayers, 1st Source Bank senior vice president—Fort Wayne Region president. “The partnership between the City of Fort Wayne, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and 1st Source Bank has truly made a positive impact in the community."
“Facundo, his wife and two children love their home and neighborhood,” says Dawn Clopton, senior loan specialist. “The Neighborhood Impact Program improved the safety of their home so it will serve them well for years to come. The repairs were good for this family and good for the entire neighborhood.”
As part of the work done on the Paniagua’s home, located on Mount Vernon Park Drive, a new roof was installed, the soffits and gutters were repaired, and six new energy-efficient windows were installed.
“Just by looking at the before and after photos, you can see that the house is safer and more energy-efficient,” said Clopton. “It is a remarkable transformation.”
The Neighborhood Impact Program is closed for 2012, but the City of Fort Wayne is looking to partner with the Federal Home Loan Bank and 1st Source Bank again in 2013. Currently, the City of Fort Wayne is running its Winter Heating Program, which provides low-interest loans to replace or repair furnaces or water heaters. Local resident should keep an eye on the City’s website, www.cityoffortwayne.org/ohns or call 427-8585 to find out more about any of the City’s housing programs.
