Latest news with #SabinaCraig
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
New grant to help Aiken homeowners with Hurricane Helene repairs
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) — Help is on the way for Aiken homeowners struggling with home repairs after Hurricane Helene. 'We just thankful that no lives we're lost,' Carol Scurry said. Clement and Carol Scurry say they're thankful to be alive after a hurricane left them trapped. Trees crashed into their home, blocking the door and crushing their truck. 'I woke up my husband, and I told him I was hearing lots of loud winds and a lot of rumbling going on. He was saying it was just a bad storm, and I said, 'No, it was more than that,' she recalled. Storm damage left holes in their roof, cracks in the walls, broken light fixture part of their porch collapsed, and windows broken. 'We couldn't afford to pay for it,' Clement Scurry added, 'We had to struggle until, you know, doing a little bit here and there, but that's just the way it is because both my wife and I are retired.' 'We were freshly awarded, a little over $800,000, 'Director of Neighborhood Services Sabina Craig said. 'As a matter of fact, it was, $848,877, of award to assist low income families with repairs to their homes that was affected by Hurricane Helene.' Low income is 80% or less of the median income. For a single person in Aiken, that's $48,000 or less a year. The South Carolina State Housing Trust Fund offers up to $30,000 for home repairs, including roofs, plumbing, and HVAC. It's first come, first served. 'They have to live within the city limits of Aiken and I will take their information down and put them on the waiting list,' she added. There are fewer than 20 on the waiting list, and the funding can help 50 or more. The process starts with an inspection, then they request the necessary documents from the homeowners. 'Then I have a group of contractors that will bid on the work to be done. So that's usually about a two week to three week, process. And hopefully homes will be fixed in less than a month,' she shared. If demand exceeds the budget, additional HUD funds are available. 'The only difference between the South Carolina State Housing Trust Fund and our emergency repair funds is that with the South Carolina Trust Fund, the homeowner does not have to have homeowner's insurance,' Craig shared. 'However, with the emergency repair program, they do have to have homeowner's insurance.' For those outside the city limits, other programs are available. Homeowners can reach out to Sabina Craig directly for more details. If you're a homeowner in need, the Neighborhood Services Department is taking calls now at (803) 642-7606. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City of Aiken Community Development Block Grant Meeting allows citizens to voice needs
AIKEN, S.C. – The Neighborhood Services Department of the City of Aiken hosted a public meeting regarding the allocation of funds from the Community Development Block Grant. Residents of the City of Aiken came to voice their concerns and ideas on how the funds should be spent by the Neighborhood Services Department. Last year Aiken received $182,000 through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which is dispersed to assist low and moderate income housing areas throughout the city. Sabina Craig, Neighborhood Services Director for the City of Aiken, spoke to WJBF about the specifics of the CDBG, 'We are an entitlement, which means that we do a continuation of an application. We don't have to apply for the funds each year.' Residents from neighborhoods that receive CDBG Funds gathered at the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center to voice their opinions and concerns on how the funds should be spent. Different areas of concern for residents included pot holes, lack of street lights, and long waits at traffic lights to name a few. 'Some neighborhoods may need sidewalks, so may need streetlights, others may need activities for the youth in that area. So, what's more important to them is what I need to hear, So I know how to divvy up the funds and allocate them.' said Sabina Craig. According to the 2024 Annual Action Plan, the CDBG helped fund the Lot Clean Up Program which assisted 40 households; the Demolition Program, and Land Acquisition among other projects. Comments and concerns from Thursday's meeting will be presented to the Aiken City Council in the 2025 Annual Action Plan by the Neighborhood Services Department. For more information on the Aiken CDBG visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
