The City of Middletown has been seeking effective and efficient ways to deliver emergency home repair services to low-income homeowners. Effective is measured by quick response and meeting homeowner needs.
Efficiency is measured by minimizing administrative costs in the delivery of the services.
Middletown uses a local nonprofit organization, Middletown Giant Step, Inc., for the implementation of the city's emergency home repair program. Giant Step is a group of dedicated volunteers who have an interest in improving the community and helping the underprivileged. The Giant Step volunteers are mostly retired executives who have several hours each week to spend helping with the implementation of the emergency home repair program. All program funds go directly to pay for the cost of construction. It also uses donated funds to do minor or immediate emergency repairs in which normal bidding with CDBG funds would be too cumbersome or restrictive.