Sharon city officials are hoping residents will take advantage of the city's housing rehabilitation program to keep the program functioning.

At one point, the city had a three-year waiting list for the rehabilitation program but the list has dwindled, said Marrianne Maurice, city rehab housing specialist.

"We really need to get more people on our list. It's a good program. It's just that we need to get more homeowners interested," she said.

No-interest loans of up to $5,000 are available for people to do rehabilitation work on their homes. The loans are repaid over 20 years, so the monthly payments are about $20 a month, Mrs. Maurice said.

Homeowners who previously received the loan can get their names on the rehabilitation list again, she said.

Rosette Fisher, assistant director of community development, said she doesn't want to see the city end the program because of lack of interest.

The loans can be used for a variety of home improvements including window replacement, door replacement or vinyl siding. The loans are also for emergency repairs to hot water heaters, roofs, water supply lines and for other repairs needed to eliminate dangerous emergency situations.

There are special exemption items the loan money can be used for, including handicap bathrooms, ramps, toilets, shower stalls or other repairs needed to eliminate unsafe conditions for elderly or disabled residents.

The federal government requires lead-based paint testing on all rehabilitation jobs.

Daniel Casciato Jr., an environmental specialist with Affordable Services Inc., Pittsburgh, will do the lead-based paint testing on all homes in the city that are scheduled for rehabilitation work. Casciato said if lead-based paint is found, he will make recommendations to the contractor on how to handle the work.

Anyone who gets a rehabilitation loan will also qualify for up to a $10,000 forgiveness loan to cover the abatement work on the lead-based paint, Mrs. Maurice said. The loan is forgiven after five years, if the homeowner still lives in the house, she said.

Contractors must present homeowners with a pamphlet explaining the dangers of lead-based paint and work involving the paint, Casciato said. The homeowner must sign the pamphlet and return it to the contractor, he said.

All contractors, their employees and subcontractors who work in a lead-based paint area must be trained for the work, Casciato said.

A free course will be offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 7 at the Sharon City Building for lead-safe work practices for renovations and rehabilitations. Anyone interested in the free course may register by calling (866) 483-1012 or go online at: www.leadlisting.org

Eventually, contractors doing private renovations will also have to follow the lead-based paint guidelines, Casciato said.

Mrs. Fisher said residents should take advantage of the city's rehabilitation program while they can have the abatement work done for free. In a few years residents will have to incur the extra costs to contain the lead-based paint, she said.

Current income guidelines for the program weren't available. Under the March 2001 eligibility guidelines the income for a one person household was $21,950, two people was $25,100 and three people was $28,200. The amount continues to increase for the number of people.

For more information about the city's home rehabilitation program call Marrianne Maurice, (724) 983-3230 Ext. 329

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharon-herald.com