EOB helping seniors with household repairs

Monday, July 8, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County has launched a program to help seniors who cannot do minor household repairs or afford to hire electricians, plumbers and other technicians.

"The word 'minor' has to be stressed -- and also, this is not a free service, but it is affordable," said John "L.J." Gerena, director of the EOB's Senior Home Repair Service, which began July 1 with more than 40 inquiries that day.

"There was some confusion (the first day) because people thought we do this work for free. It costs $15 an hour for labor plus parts."

However, Gerena said the cost of hiring a commercial firm would range from $30 to $50 an hour. Also, the parts provided by the EOB program are at wholesale cost to the consumer -- "we make no money on the parts," he said.

Gerena said the EOB program is not intended to compete with commercial building, home repair and maintenance firms because the service, available to any Clark County homeowner 55 or older, addresses only minor problems.

"We won't replace an air conditioning or heating system or do major electrical work," he said. "We have an in-house technician and a repair vehicle stocked with supplies to do the small jobs."

Among those jobs -- and the most requested ones among the early inquiries -- are to fix dripping faucets, broken windows and doors that will not close properly.

The service is not available to apartment dwellers, as their landlords should provide this type of maintenance, Gerena said.

It also is not available to elderly landlords seeking a cheap means of repairing their properties. A senior must reside in the residence that is in need of repair, Gerena said.

Although this program is available to people as young as 55, "it is designed for the older senior, who, in his younger days could have taken care of these annoying breakdowns, but can no longer do these jobs (because of physical problems related to aging) or afford to have it done because they are on a fixed income," Gerena said.

The service is one of several available from the EOB, a nonprofit organization with 32 years of service in Southern Nevada.

To schedule an appointment with the EOB's Senior Home Repair Service, call 646-2656, Ext. 102.