The findings and recommended next steps identified by the task force are summarized below. The population consists of elderly households on a fixed income who have lived in their current residence for a long time and low income family households some of whom may have suffered some form of economic displacement. For all of these people the home remains their greatest asset. However, other basic needs such as food, transportation, utilities consume the majority of limited disposable income. This results in home maintenance and repair being deferred.
Verifiable numbers are sketchy as they are based on nine year old census data.
Using assumptions about unincorporated residents, income levels, ownership rates, and mobile home residency, it is estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 very low income or poverty level rural homeowners have some need for assistance with rehabilitation or repair. Homes are less concentrated and reaching them for assessment or contracting is therefore much less efficient. Fewer service providers are available, and costs of delivery are much higher as crews are spread across fewer sites. There are also less resource options available compared to more concentrated population centers. Therefore, public sector financing for single family owner occupied rehabilitation in rural areas is limited.