ORANGE PARK — The Town of Orange Park completed repairs to 21 homes through its ARPA Builders Care Home Improvement Program this week.

The program started in June 2022 using the American Recovery Plan Act Funds. It targeted low-income, disabled, or elderly homeowners to improve their safety concerns. The Town received 39 applications, of which 21 met the program's qualifications.

The Town partnered with Builders Care of Northeast Florida to complete the work. Builders Care is a faith-based nonprofit construction contractor whose mission is to provide affordable to no-cost construction services to the elderly, disabled, veterans, and other nonprofits in Northeast Florida to build a better habitat for all. They combine purchased and donated materials with volunteer and professional labor to provide cost-effective construction to those in need.

Executive Director Krissy Barkas said, “We were grateful for the opportunity to participate in an exceptional program where we assisted over 20 homeowners in making necessary repairs beyond their financial means. The program was highly successful and well received throughout the community.”

Town Manager Sarah Campbell worked closely with  Barkas to inspect each home and identify appropriate projects. Through the program, 13 new roofs were installed. Other homeowners received help with plumbing, electrical systems, heating and air conditioning systems, and new doors and windows. The Town invested more than $275,000 in the repairs and improvements.

“We were excited that the Town Council approved a program utilizing ARPA funds to provide much-needed assistance to some of our senior residents; we must support our community's most vulnerable members," Mayor Randy Thompson said. "We are proud to have been able to offer this support and will continue to seek ways to aid our residents where we can.”

Stephen Smith, Director of Economic and Community Development, said, “The ARPA Builders Care program was a successful public/private partnership. It met a documented need for these Town residents, and the improvements should last many years.”