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HARP notes language and communication issues during 1027 West Main application
Summary
During the 1027 West Main application, the applicant's representative said the homeowner's daughter handled the grant and that language barriers complicated communication; the panel and staff described efforts to brief the family and provide handouts.
During the discussion of 1027 West Main, the applicant's representative, Judy Memberg, said the homeowner's family speaks Spanish and that the applicant's daughter had been the primary contact for the grant application. Memberg told the panel that "the daughter was the one that applied for the grant," and staff explained they had provided handouts and briefings but encountered communication challenges when the daughter could not attend.
Panel members and staff noted the neighbor and staff assisted in translating and that the homeowner attended with a neighbor who speaks some English. The exchange underscored communication gaps in the application process and the need for clear outreach when grant or treatment programs involve non-English-speaking residents. The panel did not change its recommendation based on this matter but recorded it as part of the application context.
