Committee reports $544,000 Neighborhood Assistance Program budget; 35 homes repaired in FY2025

Town staff reported that fiscal year 2025 closed with a Neighborhood Assistance Program budget of $544,000, including a $400,000 allocation approved by the town council and a $144,000 grant from the Beaufort-Jasper Housing Trust. "The budget for the neighborhood assistance program for fiscal year 2025 was approved at $400,000 by town council," a staff member said, and the grant brought the overall budget to $544,000.

The staff member told the committee that 35 homes received repairs in FY2025 at a total cost of $342,004.64 and that the program recorded 48 repair jobs overall (some homeowners required repeat interior and exterior work). "So overall, that's not 48 homes to say. That's 48 jobs that we have serviced," the staff member said.

The staff member also said two jobs are currently encumbered for $11,200 and that one home was demolished after damage in Hurricane Alene. As of May 29, staff reported 10 homes were actively being worked on.

Committee members asked for additional context to compare current prices and invoices with previous years. A member requested a year-over-year analysis (including mobile homes vs. stick-built) and staff said it will prepare that data for the next meeting.

The staff member credited partnerships with nonprofits for extending the program's reach. "Save the Shutters have done five for us so far," the staff member said, noting the nonprofit helps the program with jobs that require deeper scope.

The committee did not take a formal vote on program policy during the meeting; members asked staff to provide cost-comparison data and scheduled follow-up briefings and guest appearances from partner organizations.