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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 28, 2014 Page 3 concentration. She stated other benefits include reduced congestion around schools and the potential to reduce transportation costs as well. She stated the SRTS program aims to reduce the barriers that prevent kids from walking to school and their model focuses on engineering, education, enforcement, and encouragement. She also discussed the role of schools and the community in promoting physical activity and how the SRTS program is a model for success. Mayor Faust stated that the City and the City Council are committed to the SRTS program and expressed the City Council's thanks for the SRTS grant. 10 B. Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHCI/Aging in Place. Suzanne Snyder, 11 GMHC. presenting. 12 13 Mayor Faust introduced Suzanne Snyder from the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation. 14 15 Ms. Snyder explained that GMHC has partnered with Access Solutions to provide the Home for 16 a Lifetime: Aging in Place project, which is funded by a grant from the Minnesota Department of 17 Human Services. She stated the program provides information and outreach to consumers about 18 Aging in Place to help older adults continue to live independently for as long as possible and 19 aims to enhance the qualify of life for older adults by providing home safety assessments as well 20 as information and resources on additional services that promote aging in place, and assistance 21 identifying and securing funding to implement aging in place modifications. She stated the 22 program also provides education about universal design and aging in place through outreach at a 23 variety of settings and provides educational materials to industry professionals. She explained 24 that any St. Anthony resident age 65 or older who own their home are eligible for the program 25 and they receive a free home assessment and written recommendation, a $500 grant to use for 26 home modifications, and assistance with implementing any home modifications. She stated they 27 have identified 21 homes to participate in the project and there are four slots available for grant 28 participants. She reported there will be a community education session on February 4th at 10:30 29 a.m. to provide information about the project. She stated that residents interested in learning 30 more about participating in the grant program should contact Alyssa at (612) 238-5429. 31 32 Mayor Faust stated that residents can also call City Hall with any questions. 33 34 Ms. Snyder then provided an update regarding GMHC's Housing Resource Center program and 35 explained that GMHC offers a Revolving Loan Fund that provides home improvement loans up 36 to $10,000 at 3% interest and is available to any St. Anthony homeowner and there are no 37 income restrictions. She stated they also offer a rebate program where homeowners can get a 38 10%, 12%, or 15% rebate of the total cost of improvements up to $3,000 per household. She 39 stated that over the course of this program there have been a total of 87 rebates with a total 40 investment in home improvements of $793,000, adding that for every dollar the City has put into 41 the rebate program, there have been $10.70 in improvements made. She stated GMHC also 42 offers a home improvement loan up to $50,000 at 5.99% interest with an income limit up to 43 $96,500. She indicated that during 2013, GMHC served a total of 46 households, provided 44 financing to three households, and provided information and referrals to 36 residents. She stated 45 they are continuing these programs in 2014 and their spring seminar is scheduled for May 14th. 46 47 Mayor Faust thanked Ms. Snyder for the update.