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Detroit roof repair program flooded with overwhelming number of applications

There are certain requirements for the program

DETROIT – Recently Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced a plan to fix 1,000 roofs for low income Detroiters.

So far 5,000 people have applied and the city expects that number to double by the end of the month.

“This is like a 117-year-old house,” said Warren Culberson.

Culberson said the home on Beewick Street in Detroit has been a part of his family since the 1960s. Just like anything over time things fall apart.

“The roof. There’s a big hole in the back roof, in the flat roof. It’s dribbling down,” said Culberson.

Culberson said he recently got an estimation for roof repairs.

“The cost was like $11,000,” said Culberson.

Earlier in October the City of Detroit announced a $30 million program to replace 1,000 roofs next year for low income seniors and homeowners with disabilities.

It’s called Renew Detroit. It comes from the $400 million in federal COVID-19 recovery dollars that the city received.

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“We have about 5,000 applications as of today. The need is incredibly great. We know that home repairs are very important here in the City of Detroit,” said Heather Zygmontowicz, Detroit Chief of Special Housing Programs.

Zygmontowicz said there are other programs that can also help.

“They cover many different things, so there are minor repair grants, major home repair grants. There’s one for homeowners, one for renters,” said Zygmontowicz.

There are certain requirements for the program. Click here for more information.