MANFIELD — The City of Mansfield has hung a “help wanted” sign for contractors willing to assist local low-income residents with emergency home repairs.
There is a waiting list of 90 homeowners in need of assistance with a variety of home repair issues, according to Adrian Ackerman, the city’s community development and housing director.
The program operates on federal funds though the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“We’re very busy these days, but with our program, we’ve had a difficult time getting our homeowners the assistance they need because we don’t have enough contractors to cover the work we have available,” she said.
The problem is local contractors are too busy with private work, are unaware of the local public work available, or are hesitant to work with government regulations and associated paperwork, according to Ackerman.
Current repair needs include roof repairs, furnace repairs, water heaters, plumbing, electrical and carpentry, Ackerman said. Contractors interested in the projects can call Ackerman at 419-755-9793 or visit the department’s website for contractors at https://ci.mansfield.oh.us/community-development-contractors.
“Of course, with it getting colder out, we anticipate the need for furnace repairs to go up,” she said. “We’re going to calls where people don’t have (heat) at all. If they are completely without, we try to push them up the list.
“A lot of these people are elderly … single parents … on fixed incomes … disabled and their options are very limited,” she said, adding the city has only been able to complete 17 such projects in the first 10 months of the year.
“We specifically are in need of plumbers and carpenters,” Ackerman said. “We have a project right now that we have spent a lot money on architectural design for a porch to be repaired. None of our contractors are interested in a project of that scope.”
There is a bid submission process for projects and a certain amount of paperwork associated with government-funded work. But Ackerman said it’s not as difficult as some would imagine, even with HUD involvement.
“Our program, once (contractors) understand the process, it’s not that hard. We are willing to work with anyone the best we can. We will help make sure you have all the appropriate documentation when you submit a bid.
“We will walk (contractors) through it as long as they turn in the paperwork,” she said. “We can keep any contractor busy.”
