Benchmark CMR Services is seeking Polk County applicants to rehab elderly residents homes.

The Western Carolina Community Action (WCCA) has been awarded a 2009 Single-Family Rehabilitation Grant for Polk County. WCCA has contracted Benchmark, CMR to administer this grant.

This grant is funded by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency with the goal of helping seniors or the disabled make repairs to their homes to ensure continued occupancy of the home as the resident ages.

Enough funds are currently available to rehabilitate 2-3 more homes, Benchmark officials say. Polk County received $200,000 in grant funding for the project.

Candidates are selected on a first come first to qualify basis.

Eligibility requirements:

Someone in the household is elderly (62+) and/or disabled.

The income must be less than 80 percent of county median. This income limit would cover approximately 90 percent of retired individuals or those who are living on disability.

The home must be an owner-occupied household.

The project is for site-built homes only (no manufactured houses).

Homes need to be in a relatively good condition but would benefit from energy efficiency improvements, handicapped accessibility, roof and foundation repairs and/or updated electrical, heating or plumbing systems. &bsp;

The funds for this work come in the form of a no payment, no interest loan to the owner which is forgiven at $3,000 per year. Expenditures are limited to $40,000 per dwelling. The loan is recorded by a deed of trust.

To apply, call Cindy Ramsey at Benchmark, CMR, 1-800-650-3925, and ask to apply over the phone. If Benchmark does not get enough applicants, it will not be able to utilize the funds which are designated to the citizens of Polk County and the funds will revert back to the State of North Carolina.