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Show Repair programs available for home owners ' Most homeowners are unaware , that regardless of their income, there are federal, state and local programs that will help them repair and remodel their homes. Government, at all levels, recognizes recog-nizes that neighborhoods are the basis of life in our country. When a neighborhood deteriorates, many things happen both physically and socially, , When the homes look shabby, a neighborhood seems more attractive to crime and criminals. An area in decline is like a spreading cancer. . , i As homes become shabby look ing and in need of maintenance, the residents lose their desire to keep up the neighborhood. Streets become receptacles for trash, schools lower their standards and very quickly the selling price of homes in the area drops sharply. This accelerates the cycle of degeneration. , In order to maintain the standards ; of the nation's . housing and neighborhoods, government at ail levels . have programs to give homeowners money (that does not have to be repaid) for repairs or to ' lend them money at below market levels or at no interest In many areas, utility companies will either do energy conservation work free or at low cost and in other places will lend homeowners money at no in-1 terest to pay the contractor of then-choice then-choice for the necessary work. In addition there are tax incentives to promote efficient energy use. v . These programs are not restricted to low-income people, slum areas or urban neighborhoods. Owners of single or multiple-family dwellings are. . eligible for some programs regardless of income. Most of the loans offer long terms and low payments. Some of the other home improvements im-provements covered under these programs are: attic and wall insulation, insula-tion, new - windows, outerwall siding, security doors and locks, window guards, sidewalks and masonry work, bathrooms and kitchens, electrical and plumbing work, new roofs, gutters or down spouts. . |