Milwaukee County Announces New Senior Home Repair Program

MILWAUKEE—Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Housing Services and Aging & Disabilities Services are announcing a new Senior Home Repair program. The program will provide safety assessments, repairs, home modifications and installation of specialty products for older adults and people living with a disability. In February, two workshops will be held at Milwaukee County Senior Centers with more information on how to participate in the program, along with the opportunity to connect to other county resources such as Energy Assistance. To learn more about the Senior Home Repair Program, contact the Milwaukee County Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 414-289-6874 or email at ADRC@milwaukeecountywi.gov.

Upcoming workshops to learn more about the Senior Home Repair program will take place on:

• Thursday, February 15, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Clinton Rose Senior Center, 3045 N. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Milwaukee; and

• Tuesday, February 20, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Wilson Park Senior Center, 2601 W. Howard Ave, Milwaukee.

“One of my main priorities is to address the needs of older adults in Milwaukee County and help them live safe, healthy, and engaged lives in the community. Ensuring these folks can live in quality, accessible housing is necessary to do just that,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “This new program will provide support to older adults and ensure they are able to easily navigate their homes, remain safe, and age in place. With our older adult population continuing to grow, Milwaukee County is providing more tools to fulfill the desire of our seniors to age in their own homes and live peacefully in their community.”

The population of residents 65 – 85 years of age will increase by approximately 30,000 in the next decade, while the number of residents aged 85 and older will double, exceeding 30,000 in Milwaukee County.

“I applaud our team for developing this supportive partnership between Housing Services and Aging & Disabilities Services to provide much needed support to residents to make their home environment more accessible,” said Shakita LaGrant-McClain, Executive Director, Department of Health & Human Services. “This is an excellent example of how our No Wrong Door philosophy advances our mission to empower residents to live safe, healthy, and meaningful lives.”

Through Milwaukee County Housing Services, the Senior Home Repair program will provide close to $1 million toward home repairs for seniors within the City of Milwaukee. Housing Services will offer no interest loans to income-qualified senior homeowners. Loans can cover a wide range of home issues, including roofing, gutters, siding, doors, windows, electric, plumbing, and heating systems. Loan funds can also be used for emergency repairs related to health and safety along with municipal orders. In addition to loans, accessibility grants may be available for individuals who need home modifications. Home modifications may include an accessible bathroom, access ramps, grab bars, etc. Milwaukee County Housing Services staff will assist homeowners with the bid process and oversee progress while work is being completed.

Aging & Disabilities Services is providing additional funding to Revitalize Milwaukee to extend the Older Adult Homes Modification Program for Falls Prevention across the county. The program provides two key services: Occupational Therapy Assessment and Accessibility Modifications. Licensed occupational therapists perform assessments for seniors or people living with a disability to ensure the repairs they receive are as effective as possible. Using the Safe at Home Assessment tool, occupational therapists visit clients’ homes and observe how they navigate them. Using the assessment tool, they mark areas of concern and what remedies can be used to make it safe for the homeowner. These repairs are then scheduled by Revitalize Milwaukee to be completed by a licensed professional.

To meet the goal of creating a safe environment for elderly and disabled homeowners, Revitalize Milwaukee purchases and installs specialty products. These products modify appliances and other basic household fixtures that frequently present a challenge to operate for homeowners who have physical limitations. Items commonly installed or constructed by Revitalize Milwaukee are medical assistive devices, ramps, door levers, walk-in showers, handrails, grab bars in bathrooms, and washer-dryer unit installation on the main floor of a home. Revitalize Milwaukee works with our partners to purchase these specialized products and has them properly installed by professionals.

Learn more about the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services HERE.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.