Retiree Lived With A Leaking Roof For Over Three Years Until A Nonprofit Just Arriving In Jacksonville Paid For A Brand New One, Here Is Who Qualifies

For more than three years, rain came through the roof of Celia Judd’s Jacksonville home. The retiree, who lives on a limited income, set out buckets to catch the water, including one on her dining room table, and spent years looking for help.

A roofer in a long-sleeved shirt tears off old shingles from a residential roof before a new one is installed.

That help finally arrived from a nonprofit that has only just expanded into Jacksonville. Rebuilding Together Greater Florida paid for a brand new roof, and the homeowner no longer has to dodge drips.

The group’s program page is at rtgfl.org/get-help.

Buckets Everywhere And Water Cascading Across The Floor

Judd’s leak was not a small one. She describes it as getting bad, with water cascading across her floor, and for over three years she says she kept looking for a way to fix it on a retirement budget. A new roof is one of the costliest repairs a homeowner faces, and for someone on a fixed income it can feel out of reach.

The nonprofit stepped in and covered the cost. South Edge Roofing and Construction, owned by Christopher Carvajal, did the work on her roof. Carvajal says his company has about 10 roofing projects planned through the program.

A Nonprofit New To Jacksonville Covers Repairs That Affect Safety

Rebuilding Together Greater Florida pays for approved repairs that affect safety or quality of life, such as leaking roofs. The organization serves 22 Florida counties, including Duval County, where Jacksonville sits.

Its work is funded by local, state and federal grants, and it is looking for more corporate partners and contractors so it can reach more homeowners. Construction manager Ryan Fettik says the focus is on certain groups first.

Veterans, Seniors And Low-Income Homeowners Go To The Front Of The Line

Priority goes to veterans, elderly residents, people who need medical care and low-income homeowners. If you are in one of those groups and your home needs a serious repair, the program is built with you in mind.

Fettik wants homeowners to know the offer is what it appears to be. The program is not a reverse mortgage or any other financial arrangement, and he says there is no catch. The nonprofit pays for the repairs it approves for qualifying homeowners.

Who Qualifies For A Free Repair

The basic rules are straightforward. You must own your home and live in it as your primary residence. You need to be current on your mortgage payments, and your household income has to fall within the program’s guidelines.

The group’s application page spells out more. You must live in one of its service counties and own the home where you live, and you cannot own any other residential property. Household income must be at or below 120% of the area median income, and you must be current on both your mortgage and your property taxes. The organization verifies eligibility before approving any work.

The Paperwork To Gather Before You Apply

The nonprofit asks for a few documents. Everyone 18 and older needs a driver’s license or Florida ID. If you have dependents, bring birth certificates, a guardianship letter or adoption papers.

To show income, have paystubs, pension or retirement documents or Social Security letters ready. To prove you own the home, use a recent mortgage statement, a utility bill, a property tax statement or other legal ownership papers. Having them in one folder will save time.

From Online Application To Repairs In Six Steps

The process works like this:

Review the eligibility requirements.
Submit the online application, which can take up to an hour, upload your documents and complete a short self-assessment of your home’s condition.
Take an intake call, when the group confirms details and asks for any missing paperwork.
Schedule a Safe and Healthy Home inspection once your documents are in.
Wait for your application and assessment to be reviewed, and for notice that your home is approved.
Sign a scope-of-work agreement, and construction begins.

Plan For A Wait, And Know The Limits

Because of high application volume, the group says selected applicants may wait two to six months for repairs. If you apply, do it early, and cover the area with a tarp or buckets in the meantime.

The program does not offer emergency repairs. For immediate help, the group points people to their county’s website or the United Way helpline at 2-1-1.

What To Do About A Leak While You Wait

Small steps can limit the damage. Move furniture and valuables out from under the drip, set out buckets and towels, and take dated photos of the stains and the water. Photos help with the home assessment and with any insurance conversation.

If you can safely reach the spot, a tarp secured over the damaged area can keep more rain out until the crew arrives. Never climb onto a wet or steep roof yourself. A ceiling that sags or bulges is holding water and can fail, so keep people out from under it and call a professional. Mold can start within days of a wet ceiling, so keep the room ventilated and dry.

For a homeowner like Judd, the outcome is a dry house after years of buckets. If you or a parent or neighbor has a leaking roof and fits the rules, the application is the first step, and the nonprofit says to start at rtgfl.org.

Willow and Hearth