Letter to the Editor: Nonprofit asks questions about Mobile Home Roof Repair Pilot Grant Program

Dear Mr. David Merchant and City of Sumter's council members and Mr. Clarence Gaines:

This letter is being sent on behalf of The Family Unit Inc., with words of appreciation and gratitude to the City of Sumter, South Carolina's government for unanimously voting to allocate funding for the Mobile Home Roof Repair Pilot Grant Program.

It is extremely important that the mobile homes that have deteriorating and collapsing roofs cause in many cases, ceilings that are chronically saturated with water from rains over days, weeks, months and years. Therefore, it is going to be mandatory ceiling repairs including the replenishment of insulation that was irreparably damaged due to the leaking roofs of these mobile homes. That being said, the homes selected for participation in the Mobile Home Roof Repair Pilot Grant Program will need some very necessary repair of deficient, water-logged, moldy and mildewed insulation material and damaged structural materials located in the ceiling that has been damaged.

Please attend to the following questions:

(1) What is the amount of funds allocated for the Mobile Home Roof Repair Pilot Grant Program?

(2) How much funding is going to be allotted for each home that will be included in the Mobile Home Roof Repair Pilot Grant Program?

(3) Who makes the decisions as to which families are selected to have roof repairs or replacements?

(4) What plans are in place to address the collapsed or nearly collapsed ceilings that result from the chronically leaking roofs that are going to be repaired or replaced?

(5) Is there a "Triage System" in place at the Community Development Block Grant Program which makes assessments of the severity of the roof deficiencies and their sequela in the mobile homes that are experiencing collapsing roofs and ceilings endangering these mobile homeowners and their families?

Please expound on the reasoning behind the following requirements that are listed on the Mobile Home Roof Repair Application:

(1) What does a mobile homeowner's criminal history have to do with him or her being eligible to receive Mobile Home Roof Repair or Replacement?

(2) Of what significance are statements from mobile homeowners' former landlords?

(3) Why should mobile homeowners who live in their homes identify persons who may live with them in their homes in the future?

(4) Are mobile homeowners who have been incarcerated or imprisoned in the past ineligible for participation in the Mobile Home Roof Repair Pilot Program? If so, why?

The Family Unit Inc. appreciates your attention to the inquiry we are submitting to you at this time that has reference to the Mobile Home Repair Pilot Grant Program of the City of Sumter and are looking forward to receiving a written response to the said inquiry.

BRENDA C. WILLIAMS, M.D.

The Family Unit Inc., a 501(c)(3), non-profit, charitable organization

Sumter