Rehab program for Cape homes faces obstacles

The future of funding for Cape Girardeau's neighborhood rehabilitation program is uncertain, but one local homeowner whose home will soon be refurbished says it is the best thing to happen to her in years.

That owner, Aurelia Jones, lives in a two-story house with peeling white paint and a sagging roof that is begging for a makeover.

Jones, 76, says she is in bad need of some good luck.

Two years ago, Jones lost her husband after a long battle with brain injuries and dementia. That same year she fell and hit her back and neck on a fence. Since then she's suffered from a spinal cord injury, making it painful to walk and often leaving her hands numb. Jones lives alone and heats her home by carrying logs to her wood furnace.

"I didn't even build a fire this morning. I'm so slow doing things, it's just not worth it," she said, laughing.

The elusive good luck, though, seems to have finally found her address. Jones recently qualified to have her home remodeled by the city through its neighborhood rehabilitation program.

Workers will put in vinyl siding, install a new furnace, new plumbing, thicker insulation and a handicapped accessible bathtub at no cost to Jones.

"I never believed it would happen to me; in fact I won't believe it until it's done. I just can't imagine anything that good happening to me," she said.

Since 1982, Cape Girardeau has rehabilitated houses and neighborhoods through its block grant programs funded by the state Department of Economic Development.

The city typically receives $500,000 per neighborhood project. It combines that money with other public and private funds to rehabilitate an average of 23 homes in designated low-income, neglected neighborhoods.

Applicants must meet income requirements, and first preference is given to homeowners. But it's now uncertain how many more people the program will help.

Last year, Missouri cut off DED funding for neighborhood rehab projects. Cape Girardeau officials now use creative means to keep the program afloat.

"The Department of Economic Development no longer provides any neighborhood grants other than a demolition program, so these block grants we've been using since the '80s are no more," said Steve Williams, assistant coordinator with Cape Girardeau's planning services.

Jones' neighborhood will be the last one rehabbed under the old program.

In 2006 the city applied to the Missouri Housing Development Commission and was granted $150,000 toward the program. Cape Girardeau will also benefit from $150,000 granted to the East Missouri Action Agency.

The city can reapply annually, but even in the best-case scenario, the program will see a net loss of funding. Williams said he is greatly troubled by the trend but sees it as cyclical.

"The programs come and go. The funding will go and leave and in time that funding will come back. When and how, you don't ever know," Williams said.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245