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By Chris Jensen
InDepthNH.org
LANCASTER – It was raining heavily, a bunch of soggy strangers were tromping around in her yard and Corinne Comeau, 84, was thrilled.
“I am positively, absolutely in shock. It pays to pray. It really does,” she said.
Chris Jensen photo
Corinne Comeau: “It all just happened, like a wonderful gift.” Photo by Chris Jensen
In this case the prayers were being answered through a United States Department of Agriculture program that helps low-income homeowners with crucial, health-related repairs.
Last year the program provided about $720,000 in 111 low-interest loans and grants throughout New Hampshire, said Pollaidh Major, the spokeswoman for the agency in Vermont and New Hampshire.
For example a single person with a maximum income of $25,000 could be eligible for a loan with 1 percent interest. Seniors may receive a grant for as much as $7,500.
Comeau came to the attention of the USDA because she gets some help from the Tri-County Community Action Program with heating expenses, said Janice Daniels, a USDA official who covers northern Grafton and Coos Country.
Heavy rain made repairs a soggy effort. Photo by Chris Jensen
Tri-County CAP officials told Daniels that Comeau was having some serious problems with her furnace. So, Daniels visited Comeau and eventually she got one of those $7,500 grants.
“But I saw there was a lot more that needed to be done than just a new furnace,” Daniels said.
And then Daniels began thinking about her annual project in which USDA gets together with businesses and other organizations to do more for a homeowner who is badly in need of help.
So, she got help from Eversource, Tri-County CAP, Sherwin-Williams Paints and the New Hampshire Departments of Energy and Environmental Services.
Clothes were soggy, but spirits were high and dry. Photo by Chris Jensen
That’s how on a recent rainy Friday Comeau’s house was surrounded by staff and volunteers doing efficiency updates, adding insulation, doing lawn and garden work, removing a broken-down shed, emptying the septic tank and making exterior repairs to the home including siding and painting.
“I never in a million could afford it,” said Comeau. “They’ve done all kinds of fabulous, wonderful things. “I didn’t beg or plead or ask. It all just happened, like a wonderful gift.”
Photo by Chris Jensen
The USDA Rural Development program is among those targeted for cuts under the 2018 budget proposed by President Donald Trump, although the budget doesn’t provide details.
Information on grants statewide is available by calling (603) 223-6035.
Photo by Chris Jensen
Corinne Comeau has lived in Lancaster since 1969. Chris Jensen photo.
InDepthNH.org is NH’s nonprofit news website published online by the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism. Veteran journalist Chris Jensen covers the North Country and can be reached at christopherjensennh@gmail.com