By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish Health and Human Services officials are taking applications from low-income homeowners on both sides of the Mississippi River for a $1 million home repair program awarded during last Tuesday’s Parish Council meeting.

The Minor Repair Housing Program, part of the Louisiana Office of Community Development-Disaster Recovery Unit, will help about 60 homeowners receive up to $15,000 per household to make repairs to their homes.

“The purpose of this program is to alleviate immediate threats to the health and safety of low-income homeowners who may not be able to afford to repair damages caused by hurricanes Gustav and Ike,” said St. John Parish spokesperson Paige Braud. “The program will concentrate on roof repairs or replacements, exterior repairs and repairs impacting the homeowners’ health and safety.”

Braud said special priority will be given to homes that were damaged by the 2008 hurricanes along with very low income applicants and heads of households older than 60. Mobile homes are not eligible for the program.

All applicants must own their home and make no more than 80 percent of the median income for the St. John the Baptist Parish area, which was about $37,000 according to the United States Census Bureau.

The parish began taking applications this week and will continue today at New Wine Ministries, located at 1921 West Airline Highway, LaPlace, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and again Friday at New Wine from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Applications will also be accepted on the west bank on Thursday at the West Bank Community Center, 173 East Third St., Edgard, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A complete description of the proposed project activities and a copy of the application materials are available at the Parish Presidents Office in the Percy Hebert Building, located at 1801 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace, and on the parish website at www.sjbparish. com/health.