By Scott Harvey
Austin – More than a dozen households in Northeast Texas will be awarded funding from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
$225,000 will be dispersed among the nine county region of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments, which includes Delta, Hopkins and Lamar counties.
The purpose of the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program award, previously known as the HomeFree Barrier Removal and Rehabilitation Program, is to fund home modifications aimed at improving accessibility for low income persons with disabilities.
Modifications include the addition of handrails, widened doors, countertops and cabinets adjusted to appropriate heights, ramps, buzzing and flashing devices for persons with visual or hearing impairments, and accessible showers, toilets and sinks.
The program provides one-time grants up to $15,000 per household for home modifications and up to an additional $5,000 in other rehabilitation costs correlated with the barrier removal project for qualifying individuals who earn no more than 80 percent of the area median family income.
The Ark-Tex Council of Governments was one of eight local nonprofit organizations to receive the award.