By Jon Eichner | St. John - LTRG Board Member
A new year for the Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI) brings new challenges. Two years and this as a collegue from Love City Strong, one of our partners puts it - is the longest running rebuild program in the territory. To date the RHI Program has fixed or completely rebuilt 31 homes. 2 Homes are currently under construction and with have 9 more homes in the planning process.
The programs has been an incredile success but not without facing many challenges. The 9 homes in the planning process are some of our most difficult ones in terms of Disaster Case Management and Construction.
Challenges include probate and deed issues with obtaining the proper building permits. Most of these properties were passed down to family members generation to generation. No one every questioned them if they owned their homes because they always lived there and everyone knew it. Putting estates in probate is just something that was never considered and most of these families have little to no money to make ends meet make it happen. One of our Disaster Case Managers received a deed written in Danish! These issues ad to the all ready lengthy rebuild process.
In terms of construction many of these nine homes are complete rebuilds - from the ground up. Some of these families have been renting homes since the storm and some have been living in tents and make shift 'shacks' to make ends meet. Pulling together resources is what as St. Johnians we do best. Funds from generous donors including an incredible 'in-kind' donation of shipping container homes give these families hope for their future.
The St. John Long Term Recovery Group is determined to seeing everyone get the help they need. We have started a small jobs construction program to step in after the big rebuild programs to address safety and quality of life issues for seniors and disadvantaged members of our community. With your help we can make a difference on St. John.
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