The Whole-Home Repairs Program (WHRP), which provides funding to address habitability and safety concerns, provide measures to improve energy or water efficiency and make units accessible for individuals with disabilities, is set to open in Lycoming County.

While Lycoming County, in partnership with SEDA Council of Governments, is administering the program, STEP will work directly with residents through the application and eligibility process.

“One of the key things about this program is that the homeowners will be able to have access to more care management for the whole family and move them to self-sufficiency,” Rachelle Abbott, STEP Chief Operations and Planning Officer, told the Lycoming County Commissioners at their meeting this week.

Funding is income-based so there are eligibility criteria that need to be met in order to qualify.

Additionally, the program provides funding for construction-related workforce development, which will be offered in partnership with the Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Clean Energy Center. Residents will be able to enroll and receive training through the Building Green Futures curriculum over the next two summers.

STEP maintains a list of customers who have indicated they need weatherization and/or home rehabilitation measures. Currently there are over 600 Lycoming County residents on this list.

“In order to help people who have been waiting for these services, we will first be utilizing our existing unmet needs list to distribute WHRP applications,” Abbott said.

Since the list is used for many funding streams, anyone wanting to have their name added, should call STEP at 570.326.0587 or visit the Housing Options Pathway at stepcorp.org.