The Utah County Housing Authority is giving Home Depot and Lowe's intense competition in the quest to be crowned king of home improvement.

Since its establishment in 1992, the Home Improvement Program has been the means through which hundreds of Utah County families have secured low interest loans to make home improvements.

Orem City Housing Coordinator Christie Snyder said the Home Improvement Program assists homeowners with 0 percent to 3 percent interest loans for a broad array of items.

"The Home Improvement Program is designed to assist eligible homeowners make necessary house repairs, bring their homes to building and electrical codes and maintain safe, sanitary housing." Snyder said. "The home improvement loan helps assist these homeowners to finance repairs such as electrical, plumbing and roofing."

The Utah County Housing Authority provided over $1.5 million in low interest loans and assisted more than 100 homeowners make improvements to their electrical wiring, plumbing, roofing, siding, windows, doors, carpet and heating units last year alone.

Funding for the Home Improvement Program is provided by the federal government and is overseen by Housing and Urban Development. Allocations are then made to participating cities and counties to be used at the discretion of local officials.

"These funds are designed to improve the lives of our residents," Housing Director Charlene Mackay said. "The housing rehab program is just one of the ways that we seek to provide additional services to those residents and improve the community."

BYU rugby coach Jared Akenhead was among those who benefited from the Home Improvement Program.

"The Home Improvement Program's greatest benefit is the interest rate," Akenhead said. "The low interest rate was better than anything I found at local banks, and it helped me put equity in my home a lot sooner than anticipated."

Most home improvement loans are based on the standard 3 percent interest and are paid back over a period of 10 years, although early repayment is acceptable.

Two exceptions to the 3 percent interest loan exist.

First, a special 0 interest deferred loan is available for senior citizens and disabled persons.

Second, a deferred payment loan is possible on special extenuating circumstances.

The Home Improvement Program has satellite locations in towns from Lehi to Spanish Fork, including Provo and Orem.

For further information in regards to the Home Improvement Program, the Utah County Housing Authority can be reached at 373-8333. Provo and Orem City's housing directors can be contacted directly at 852-6160 and 229-7025 respectively.



Copyright Brigham Young University 13 Jul 2004