Two years ago, members of Wild, Wonderful, and Healthy Summers County (WWHSC) partnered with the City of Hinton to confront a challenge that touches families across our community: the need for safe, healthy, and livable homes.
Together, Patti Crawford, Shalom Tazewell, and Janima Bond designed a program with a simple purpose and a powerful promise: to help homeowners make essential repairs without facing an overwhelming financial burden.
That vision became Hinton Help for Homes, an initiative that provides up to $5,000 in critical home repairs for eligible applicants. The program launched with a generous $20,000 grant from The Center for Rural Health Development, matched by the City of Hinton, allowing the first round of projects to begin quickly and address real, pressing needs within the community.
Since then, Hinton Help for Homes has improved houses throughout the city by replacing unsafe flooring, repairing roofs, addressing structural concerns, and restoring basic necessities that allow families to live safely and with dignity. Every improvement has been funded directly through the program, ensuring homeowners receive quality work without the financial stress that major repairs often create.
Councilwoman Janima Bond reflected on the heart of the initiative:
“Hinton Help for Homes is about more than repairing houses. It’s about creating safe, stable places where families can grow, and where seniors can age in place with security, comfort, and peace of mind. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Each project is an opportunity to help a neighbor remain in the home they love, while strengthening the community we all share.”
With the second round of applicants nearing completion and the final repairs underway, the momentum is unmistakable. WWHSC and the City of Hinton hope to expand the program in the coming years by welcoming new applicants, engaging additional local contractors, and securing new funding sources to meet the growing demand.
The long-term goal is simple: to revitalize neighborhoods, strengthen community pride, and help ensure that residents have a safe place to call home. Because funding is limited, priority consideration is given to seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. However, all eligible homeowners are encouraged to apply.
Residents interested in applying, partnering with the program, or learning more about future application periods are encouraged to contact Hinton City Hall: (304) 466-3255.
