JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A new program will help nearly 100 homeowners on Jacksonville's Eastside get their home repaired and lower their utility bills.
Jacksonville City Council officials approved the use of $845,350 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund JEA's Repair and Restore for Resilience program, which aims to weatherize homes in the Eastside neighborhood.
Many households in the historic area have been owned by same family for generations. These families and low-income homeowners qualify for the repairs, which leaders believe will reduce energy bills and keep homes in a livable condition for future generations.
Tony Presha has lived in the same home on Jacksonville’s Eastside for three generations. "Over 45 years now we raised a family here, this is the last of it here, my grandson," he said.
But time has taken a toll on the structure. “It needs windows, it needs floors," Presha said.
His home is one of 76 that qualify for weatherization repairs through JEA’s Repair and Restore for Resilience program. Program leaders say repairs can range from fixing a roof to replacing a home's electrical grid.
Presha received a new AC unit and a new hot water heater.
The Historic Eastside Community Development Corporation, LISC Jacksonville, the United Way and Lift Jax were part of the initial partnership that now includes JEA.
“Its focused on homeowners, lower-income homeowners, and a lot of our seniors in the neighborhood who are multiple generational residents, and we focus on some key things, the roof of the home, the shell of the home and we’re able to partner with JEA for energy efficiency updates," Travis Williams, COO of LIFT JAX said.
One of the goals is to save families money by reducing water consumption and making the home energy efficient.
"Its critical because the home is really the place of wealth building, so this gives our residents the opportunity to be able to prosper and stay in place as the neighborhood changes," Williams said.
With many legacy families living in Eastside homes, some believe it’s win for both the current homeowner and future generations.
“Helps strengthen the community, it helps for people to stay here and to raise another generation," Presha said.
Applications are being accepted for the program through the Historic Eastside Community Development Corporation, but funding is limited. The hope is to start have a total of 76 qualifying homeowners and begin weatherization repairs by the end of the year.