Epicenter’s Fix it First Program has success in Green River

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The Epicenter has one of its first success stories with their Fix it First Program.
The client, born and raised in Green River, purchased her home in 1972. This past winter, bursting pipes flooded her basement, eroding the stability of the fireplace. The weight pulled the floor down towards the basement. Initially after the flood, a group of young locals removed the chimney from her home, but she still had severe floor damage where it once sat. The homeowner was referred to Fix It First by the Green River City Recorder. After meeting with the FIF crew the client stated, “I was a little apprehensive because I didn’t know for sure how things were going to work. But, once I talked to Armando and Dan (FIF staff members), they eased my mind.”
The work, which included adding reinforcement to the floor joists, covering the hole in the floor with sheathing and laminate tiles, installing drywall on the walls around the hole as well as painting the walls and nearby cabinets; was completed in just three days in mid-June. Though in the photo, the work may look cosmetic in nature, it is not. The instability of the floor and walls was unsafe, and the hole in the floor was inefficient. Now, with Fix It First repairs, the house is safer and more efficient. The labor was performed by two FIF staff members alongside four volunteers from the Shepherds of the Mountain Lutheran Church in Park City. Upon completion of the work, the client stated, “I would recommend this program to anyone that needed it.” After baking professionally for 20 years, she is excited to get more storage space in her pantry for ingredients and supplies.
Epicenter’s Fix it First program began in response to the City of Green River’s 2012 Housing Plan that identified 46 percent of the houses in town are in need of repairs. Fix It First aims to provide affordable and durable solutions to moderate- to low-income and elderly homeowners by providing the up-front cost of materials and labor through low-interest loans that can be structured according to household income.
Funding for this revolving loan program is provided through a private grant from Bike & Build and in-kind support. Income from home improvements is used to fund more Fix It First projects.
Projects performed include: siding repair, handrail installation, grab bar installation, accessibility ramps, health and safety repairs, small roof repairs, window repair/replacement, and other energy efficiency improvements. For more information on Fix It First, please call (435) 564-3330 or visit the Epicenter at 180 S. Broadway, Green River.