Back in 2021, over $12 million in ARPA funds were received by the city of Statesboro, $5 million of which were dedicated to providing rehabilitation and replacement housing assistance to lower-income homeowners in the cities designated Urban Redevelopment Area.
The Housing Rehabilitation Program received 83 applications, awarding 26 homes for development. Ten homes are currently under construction with four nearing completion, according to Statesboro's Planning and Housing Administrator Justin Williams.
Williams says that the intention is to repair homes that have severe systems issues, such as roofing, flooring and wall damage.
“It's not simply cosmetic, it's the things that make for a safe, sanitary home,” he wrote, “Some homes are in a state where reconstruction is the only real option.”
The projects were unfortunately slow to start according to Williams. The approved assistance policy set a soft cap of $50,000 per rehab with the option to also look at $70 per square foot per rehab. With initial difficulties attracting contractors and market fluctuations that have increased costs for construction materials, the initial estimates for repairs were inaccurate.
The council is supporting increased spending on individual homes and Williams says that before the project is complete, additional funding will be necessary. With the remaining interest set aside from the ARPA fund balance, City Council earmarked an additional $450,000 to be utilized for the reconstruction of 3 houses.
Remaining ARPA funds have gone towards improving utilities in underserved areas of Statesboro, as well as to multiple other projects like the new Food Bank.
