PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Up to 10 County homes may soon have new roofs thanks to the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation’s generous support of Aroostook County Action Program’s new Roofs Over Aroostook project. ACAP received $50,000 from the foundation to help meet repair needs for seniors and low-income people in The County whose roofs are failing, or worse, no longer functional.
ACAP’s Energy and Housing has nearly 460 homes on a waiting list in need of various repairs. Approximately 75 percent of those homes are in need of some form of roof repair or replacement, according to Gary Sirois, energy and housing program coordinator at ACAP.
“Aroostook County winters take quite a toll on roofs, and the need for roof repairs is as wide as our home repair priority waiting list is long,” said Sirois. “The welcome donation from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation will increase the overall number of home repair projects we can perform, by reducing the financial burden of roof repair from other funding sources.
“The generosity of Stephen and Tabitha King, and the generosity of other ACAP benefactors, helps ACAP meet its mission of making life better in Aroostook County – every single day. Thank you,” he said.
In June, Sirois developed the Roofs Over Aroostook project to allocate resources specifically to meet the needs of ACAP customers needing roof repairs and replacements. Replacing a roof is often cost-prohibitive. Oftentimes, homes that need roof repairs also are in need of other fixes – such as window replacements, heating system upgrades, etc. Additionally, even when a home needing only roof repair is placed on the waiting list, the timeframe to address that issue is short before the damaged roof begins to cause the need for more home repairs.
SIrois explained that roofs in disrepair are cause for multiple problems that are detrimental to the health and well-being of the home’s occupants. Besides the weather protection a safe roof offers, failing, leaky roofs are responsible for costly, and sometimes irreparable interior damage to ceilings and walls. They also can cause mold and air-quality issues, and have even, in some instances, caused the homeowner to lose their home insurance through cancelled policies, or to have to permanently vacate their homes.
ACAP’s current primary funding for the Home Repair Network comes from Maine State Housing Authority and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), which have restrictions and per-project limits. For instance, pre-1976 mobile homes that are in good condition, but need roof replacements, are ineligible for funding assistance from either of those primary funders.
Other grant funding for home repair projects is limited, making private funding a crucial tool in ACAP’s ability to intervene in dire circumstances. It can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $15,000 to replace an average roof. By the time most roofs have begun to leak or need repair, any smaller attempts at repairs, other than full replacements, are little more than temporary fixes that will end up costing more in the long run.
By dedicating the funding from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation strictly to replacing roofs and using that funding to leverage other resources and/or by working with community partners to reduce labor costs, Sirois estimates ACAP can replace up to 10 roofs in the upcoming year.
“The need for roofs will always exist in Aroostook County. The weather, seasons and aging populations will continue to be a challenge,” said Sirois. “ACAP Energy and Housing will rise to meet those challenges, continually addressing those needs by coming up with innovative programs, working to strengthen community partnerships, and educating the people to which we offer services on home maintenance and the programs available to those who need a little extra help.”
