FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Teresa Ruiz

August 24, 2005 973-621-4404

Caryl Lucas

973-621-1590

ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO VIEWS IMPROVEMENTS

AT WEST ORANGE HOME

County Home Improvement Program Provides Funds for Renovations

West Orange, NJ – On Wednesday, August 24th, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. visited the home of Arlene Gerson, a West Orange resident who received a $23,000 deferred loan from the County’s Home Improvement Program.

The loan was used to install a new blue ceramic floor in Gerson’s foyer and paint the dining and living rooms. Other renovations completed by Gabriele Home Improvement of Bloomfield included a new roof, new gutters, new aluminum siding, and a refurbished rear deck with a new railing.

“Our Home Improvement Program is a great resource that helps eligible low-to-moderate income homeowners make repairs to their homes,” said DiVincenzo, who presented Gerson with a housewarming gift. “Many of our homeowners, especially our seniors, are on fixed incomes, which makes it difficult to make improvements, so we are pleased to be able to assist,” he added.

“The completion of this project marks another example of how County government works to improve the quality of life for our residents,” said Michael Taylor, Director of the Division of Housing and Community Development, explaining how the Home Improvement Program assists homeowners who are in need of repairs to their properties. “By helping our residents fix up their homes, we help beautify our neighborhoods and increase property values,” he added.

“I am so grateful to the County of Essex for helping me,” said Gerson, adding that since her husband died six years ago she had been unable to make any repairs to her home. “It’s been difficult maintaining this house on a fixed income. I had to let some things go like repairs,” she noted.

“I love all the repairs. My home looks like a new place,” said Gerson, as she pointed out her freshly painted blue living and dining rooms. She also showed the County Executive her backyard deck, which received a power washing and a coat of paint. Gerson thanked the staff from the County’s Division of Housing and Community Development for selecting a dependable contractor that completed her home improvements in a timely fashion.

Sal Gabriele, owner of Gabriele Home Improvement, said he was thrilled to get the project. “This is a good program and more people should take advantage of it,” he said. “The County is helping residents who need assistance,” he added.

The Home Improvement Program is funded through the Community Development Block Grant Program. It provides deferred loans to low-and-moderate income homeowners who occupy a one-to-three-family home. Residents from Belleville, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair, North Caldwell, Nutley, Orange, Roseland, South Orange, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange are eligible for assistance through this program. (The municipalities of Newark, East Orange, Irvington and Bloomfield operate their own Home Improvement Programs.) A lien is recorded against the property, which must be paid only if you sell or transfer ownership of the property within a 20-year period. If you retain ownership within the 20-year period, the lien is forgiven. Examples of eligible improvements include heating systems, roofing, plumbing, electrical, code violation abatement, interior or exterior repairs, energy improvements, carpentry, plumbing, water-proofing and weather-stripping.

The Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development, located at 50 South Clinton Street in East Orange, also offers a Homebuyers Assistance Program and a Community Economic Revitalization Program for small businesses seeking new facades. To obtain an application or to see if you qualify for any of these programs, call 973-395-8450.

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