Eastside Home Repair Program Aims to Repair 15 Homes

Ever since LISC Jacksonville was involved in the Hurricane Irma Home Repair Program, which started in 2018 and completed in July, the organization has been looking for opportunities to continue this work in Jacksonville’s Urban Core communities. Now, that pursuit has become a reality with the launch of the Eastside Home Repair Program, led by the Historic Eastside Community Development Corporation (HECDC), that will commence in September.

“LISC offices across the country are involved in home repair initiatives, providing financial and technical assistance to a number of local partners who then implement the work,” said John Sapora, disaster recovery and resiliency manager for LISC Jacksonville. “The successful implementation of the Irma home repair program, combined with what we’re seeing across other LISC offices, proved the efficacy of establishing a goal to create a home repair collaborative across the entire Urban Core, starting Out East.”

To LISC, it’s more than simply repairing homes – it’s about community and economic development, and helping low-income families build wealth through home equity and ownership in the Urban Core, which are comprised of predominantly BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) residents.

In Jacksonville’s Historic Eastside – where 80% of the residents are BIPOC – 85% of the homes were built pre-1990 with 62% valued at less than $100,000. While the median home value across Duval County is $254,000, the median home value in the Eastside is $81,900.

“One of the many underlying reasons for this is that these families and individuals do not have the financial ability to maintain their homes when they fall into disrepair, have storm damage, or experience typical aging,” added Sapora. “Yet this is their home. They do not want to move or sell their home, but they often cannot afford to repair even the health and safety issues in their home. So, if we can provide a system that will enable people to fix their homes, preserve homeownership and increase their equity, they have the opportunity for greater health, enjoyment and a stronger financial future.”

The HECDC will operate the Eastside Home Repair program, which aims to repair an initial 15 homes by December, with LIFT JAX serving as a funding sponsor and fiscal administrator of the home repair contractor payments. LISC Jacksonville will provide technical assistance and join LIFT JAX, the Jaguars Foundation, Wells Fargo and others to invest in HECDC operating capacity and its home repair program. The HECDC expects to continue repairing homes each year as part of its comprehensive Eastside housing development initiatives.

The program will also be similar to the Irma program in that it will source bids from contractors who are based in the Eastside and other Urban Core neighborhoods, serving as an additional economic development mechanism for BIPOC and women-owned contractors and construction workers. The team will also engage the National Association of Minority Contractors, which has a chapter based in Jacksonville, to provide bids for the home repair projects.

“We are elated that the residents of Eastside are able to participate in this first of many ‘restore and repair’ initiatives,” said Suzanne Pickett, executive director of HECDC. “It is a catalyst for bringing much-needed resources and building trust within our community.”

The HECDC will identify and screen eligible homeowners who live east of Springfield, west of Talleyrand Marine Terminal, and north of the Sports Complex, focusing on households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Homes selected will be eligible for a variety of repairs to make them more livable and enhance equity, such as roofs, walls, and floors; electrical, plumbing and HVAC issues; mold remediation; kitchen and bathroom fixtures; and exterior repairs to promote curb appeal.

“Jacksonville’s Eastside is rich in history and many of its residents have enjoyed living Out East for generations,” said Sapora. “Bringing this program to life not only provides benefits for the resident program participants, but it also enhances the neighborhood overall through economic viability and aesthetics. This helps pave the way for additional economic investment and for more opportunities for people to appreciate and utilize its historic and cultural attributes. Alongside the residents who live there, LISC is proud to work with the HECDC, LIFT JAX and other partners to help revitalize the Historic Eastside neighborhood.”

For more information about LISC Jacksonville’s work in the Historic Eastside, click here. For more about the HECDC, click here.