A local homeowner receives a new roof from the help of The Impact Project. The Impact Project is a local non-profit organization, located in Greene, dedicated to serving surrounding communities with home repairs and handicap accessibility modifications, allowing homeowners to stay in their homes and is now reaching out for additional collaborative support. (Submitted photo)

GREENE — During recent health awareness meetings, The Impact Project Executive Director James Willard III was asked to speak to many organizations and agencies on the county housing crisis.

The Impact Project is a local non-profit organization, located in Greene, dedicated to serving surrounding communities with home repairs and handicap accessibility modifications, allowing homeowners to stay in their homes.

In Willards interview with The Evening Sun, he conveyed his concerns addressed during the previous meetings and gave insight to his organization, county demographics and over-all housing needs plaguing the county.

“We’re trying to keep people in their houses, plugging a hole, so to speak, yet some are finding it no longer safe or affordable and are leaving the area,” Willard said.

“We are an organization dedicated to helping our community, saving one home at a time,” he added.

Willard expressed his appreciation toward all of the volunteers through the years and those that have partnered with the Impact Project and said although the organization has completed its 284th project. He also thanked the supportive companies and businesses who have been key in, saying without them they the group wouldn't have been able to reach that number as readily as they did.

“Without the support from many businesses, organizations, volunteers, we would not have been able to help as many homeowners as we have and for that I am so very thankful,” he said.

“But, now we are at a crossroad, where we need additional volunteers and financial recourse,” Willard continued, “We need more collaboration from organizations and businesses to partner with us and bring their resources.”

“And we can help in return,” Willard said. “We are all in this together.”

“Across the bottom line,” Willard continued, “This crisis in our county is a cancer that is quickly gutting us- on a commerce, health and demographic level, it's just gutting us.”

According to Willard, the vacant homes in the county total about 6,400 with about 400 of those homes in the Greene area and about 6,000 in Chenango County.

“The national average for vacancies in a county is 13.96 percent and Chenango County is at 25.2 percent,” Willard said.

He noted the average income of a Chenango County family is about $60,000 with approximately 68.7 percent of homeowners income going directly to mortgage payments and maintaining their homes.

Willard said the Impact Project offers financial assistance for home repairs when homeowners qualify under the New York State HEAP guidelines. Loan amounts can go up to $15,000 at only a 0.5 percent interest rate.

“We have donors that help with financing and some materials and loans from the HEAP Program help out but the need for additional support and funding is off the chain,” he said.

“I’ve been saying this for years, conditions people are living in is terrible,” Willard said. “The desperation and need is beyond words.”

Willard pointed to the costs of construction rising being one of the main factors that many homeowners cannot repair their homes and said it’s enough for them to just put food on the table.

“Increasing costs were generated within the last five to seven years, the COVID hit and prices in goods and services are not declining,” he said.

“If a family didn’t have the money to re-roof their home ten years ago, they certainly won’t now due to the cost of materials and labor,” Willard said.

He noted a handicap accessible ramp used to cost about $1,000 to install and now that same ramp cost is $3,600.

“The need is off the chain,” he said. “Across the bottom line, this crisis in our county is a cancer that is quickly gutting us- on a commerce, health and demographic level, it's just gutting us.”

“I'm concerned with the high cost of materials, now being three times more than last year, that may not have enough funding to provide for all the projects still in line,” said Willard.

“In 2024, total building material for our projects that year, came to about $120,000,” Willard continued. “This year, we’ve already exceeded $300,000.”

Recently, Willard said a homeowner was without heat and applied for assistance. He and his assistant went to evaluate the situation.

“The homeowner had no heat,” Willard said. “And was sitting under a blanket with a heating pad. There was no television and nearly nothing left in the HEAP account.”

He also added, “the perimeter around the house was rotting out and the roof is collapsing.”

“And this is just one person out of about 40,000 in our county that is struggling,” said Willard.

According to the Impact Project website, The Impact Project has been dedicated to serving homeowners in Central New York in the name of Christ since 2004.

The organization can help with major home repairs and handicapped accessibility with the goal that the homeowner is able to keep up with regular home maintenance on their own.

To apply for assistance with the Impact Project, visit their website at theimpactprojectgreene.org.

Applications can be downloaded and mailed to The Impact Project 4 Clinton Street, Greene, New York, 13778.

For further questions, to donate, or to receive an application to fill out, call the office at 607-656-9499 or 844-586-1055.