By Kelley Kepler
Catholic Herald
Housing fair provides wealth of information
|
Barbara Certa-Werner, director of Harbor House Crisis Shelter, brought her daughter Hannah, 18 months, and son Thanael, 5, to the community housing fair. The annual event is sponsored by the housing counseling program of Catholic Community Services, a Catholic Charities agency. Certa-Werner's camera-shy daughter Julianna, 3, hides behind her mother. (Photo by Kelley Kepler) |
SUPERIOR --Mariner Mall was the site of Superior's eighth annual community housing fair, an event that drew 46 exhibitors and many community members on Saturday, March 1.
Sandy Al-Qudah coordinated the event through the housing counseling program of Catholic Community Services, an agency of Catholic Charities Bureau. She called the fair a "one stop shop" for affordable housing, ideal for anyone thinking about buying or selling a home, remodeling or renting.
With its wealth of housing information, the annual fair attracts people with a wide range of incomes and interests, many of whom return year after year.
Gail General, of Superior, attended with her husband Max, She said they learn new things each year. "We've utilized the programs over the years, and it's wonderful."
Those who attended the fair could speak to representatives from local home improvement businesses about a wide variety of products, anything from windows to doors, bathtubs, water purifiers and interior decorations.
They could also speak to landlords, realtors, representatives from home inspection services and lenders offering grants and low-interest loans. Representatives from the Superior Housing Authority, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and the City of Superior were also at hand to provide information and assistance.
Some of the exhibitors represented nonprofit and volunteer organizations in the community.
* Volunteers Helen Jacobson and Shirley Sorensen introduced the service opportunities available through RSVP, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.
RSVP develops and supports volunteer opportunities for adults over 55 and encourages them to share their talents with their communities by volunteering at their own pace. A few of these programs include volunteering at nursing homes, crocheting blankets for hospital gift programs, volunteering as foster grandparents, tutorsing, and helping at food pantries and homeless shelters.
For information call 715-394-4425.
* North Country Independent Living is a private, non-profit agency that serves people with disabilities in northwestern Wisconsin. Representative Scott Anderson said the agency's goal is to help disabled persons be as independent as possible by providing them with information, referrals, advocacy, skills and funding. It also helps them get funding to make handicap accessibility modifications to their homes.
For information call 715-392-9118.
* Representatives from CAFH, the Coalition for Advancement of Fair Housing, provided information on fair housing law and help for victims of discrimination. CAFH also leads an educational seminar each fall.
For information call 715-394-6617.
* Habitat for Humanity volunteers also attended the fair. Habitat is a self-help organization dedicated to building and maintaining homes for low income families that don't qualify for conventional financing.
For information call 715-392-2118.
* Barbara Certa-Werner spoke about Harbor House Crisis Shelter, which is a ministry of United Methodist Church. The nonprofit organization provides temporary emergency housing to homeless women or men with legal custody of minor children.
For information call 715-394-9608.
* Representatives from the Douglas County Health Department spoke about safety in homes and distributed information about lead risk assessment, mold inspections and water quality testing.
* Representatives of Focus on Energy, a statewide program that educates people about energy efficiency and conservation, spoke about the benefits of fluorescent light bulbs, that use one-fourth the energy of traditional bulbs and last ten times longer. They also gave out information on insulation and energy efficient appliances for homes.
Their Web site at www.wifocusonenergy.com has a wealth of information on energy conservation or call 888-509-3247 for more information.
In addition to the exhibits, some local professionals offered 30 minute seminars throughout the day. The sessions were aimed at teaching people the basics in making wise buying decisions. One session was titled, "What every tenant and landlord should know;" others provided information to home buyers, explained Superior's new property maintenance codes implemented Sept. 1, and others educated seniors about reverse mortgages.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2003