During a ceremony held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 25, the City of Tyler presented keys to a newly reconstructed home to the family of Walter Humber. Mr. Humber’s home, located at 2124 West Jackson, was recently reconstructed as part of the City of Tyler Neighborhood Services Home Reconstruction Program.
“We are happy to hand the Humber family the keys to their new home today and say “Welcome Home,” Councilmember Donald Sanders said. “Their new home is one of the first projects in this neighborhood and we are pleased to see the results of the City of Tyler’s Reconstruction Program in this area.”
Most of the families participating in the Neighborhood Services Reconstruction Program are either elderly or disabled. This program will allow Mr. Humber to enjoy a house that was built to meet his special housing needs at this time in his life. Mr. Humber lost one leg to complications from diabetes and also suffered a debilitating stroke; despite this, Mr. Humber always has a smile and a soft word of praise and appreciation for City workers.
Due to the poor structural condition and extensive repair needs, the City’s Neighborhood Services Department found the Humber home to not be feasible for rehabilitation. It was instead eligible for replacement. The home was demolished and then reconstructed under the City of Tyler’s Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Assistance Program with federal funds provided through the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Unfortunately, Mr. Humber could not be in attendance at Friday’s celebration as he is currently hospitalized.
“My father is on a respirator and can not speak right now; when I show him pictures of the new house, he just grins and shakes his head. We both feel very blessed to have our new home,” Eleanor Humber stated. “It will make his daily life so much easier and he’ll be able to go outside and sit on the front porch. We really appreciate all of the work that the City and City workers are doing in our neighborhood; we are very pleased.”
Mr. Humber’s home is the first of ten homes that the City will be reconstructing this year. Nine new homes were completed last year as part of this program.
“The Reconstruction Program is an essential part of the City’s overall approach to revitalizing neighborhoods,” said Brenda Johnson, director of the Neighborhood Services Department. “It not only directly helps the family that owns the new home, but it improves the surrounding neighborhood by removing a dilapidated structure and replacing it.”
Rehabilitation or Reconstruction Assistance is available for low-income homeowners who have annual incomes that meet certain income limits. To be eligible, a citizen must also own or be purchasing their home; live in a “target area” that is designated annually by the City Council; be current on their property taxes, and have homeowner’s insurance. The funds provide assistance to bring existing substandard residential properties into compliance with current local housing and building codes. If the house is determined to be beyond repair, the existing home is demolished and replaced with a newly constructed home that provides safety, comfort, and security, while being modest and attractive in appearance.
Emergency Repair Assistance may be provided to homeowners residing in structures judged by City staff to be detrimental to the health and safety of the homeowner/occupant and requiring immediate attention. The sole intent of the funds is to eliminate hazardous situations. Funds may also be used to conduct improvements designed to remove architectural barriers that restrict the mobility and accessibility of elderly or disabled persons in owner-occupied dwellings. The intent of these funds is to provide essential home modifications that increase accessibility, safety, and security as needed to maintain independence. Both of these programs are available Citywide to eligible low-income homeowners.