RT-LC resets Ramps-For-All program
An example of an aluminum ramp installed by Rebuilding Together-Lincoln County. Courtesy of Jack Herger
An example of an aluminum ramp installed by Rebuilding Together-Lincoln County. Courtesy of Jack Herger
When Rebuilding Together - Lincoln County (RT-LC) rolled out its Ramps-for-All program last month, they knew it would be popular but not as popular as it turned out to be. As a result, the non-profit organization is resetting its ramps program to maintain focus on low income Lincoln County residents.
“We initially removed financial needs requirements from our ramp application process and opened the program to renters” said RT-LC Vice President Jim Stevens. “To be honest, we didn’t anticipate the volume of requests from people whose income exceeded our normal qualifying levels. As a result, we ran out of ramps really quickly.”
Stevens noted the cost of a basic aluminum ramp unit like RT-LC uses averages between $3,000 and $3,500. “We originally thought we might have to expand our inventory slightly,” he said, “but it became clear if we didn’t get back to our normal financial needs requirements, we’d have to expand inventory way beyond our financial comfort level.”
RT-LC’s primary mission is providing home repairs for local homeowners who, because of financial need for physical handicap, can’t afford or manage repairs themselves. Expanding the organization’s ramp inventory to match the initial demand would have taken too much money away from the home repairs budget, a move the organization couldn’t justify.
RT-LC will still offer ramps. However, applicants will now need to complete a financial needs assessment to qualify. RT-LC normally requires clients to be homeowners but the ramps program will remain open to qualified renters who have landlord approval.
The Ramps-for-All program is offered on a first come, first served basis and inventory is limited. The ramps and attendant components remain the property of RT-LC. RT-LC’s all-volunteer Gold Teams install the ramps and remove them when they are no longer needed.
To inquire about ramps, please contact RT-LC at 207-380-5719 or email ramps@rebuildingtogether-lc.org
To make a tax-deductible donation to RT-LC, please visit rebuildingtogether-lc.org and click on “Donate.”
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