NORWICH – For several years, the City of Norwich has offered a little known program to help low-income home owners in need of emergency repairs. Now, in an effort to replenish the funds for that program, the city will be applying for a $60,000 grant that could keep it going.

City of Norwich Community and Economic Development Coordinator Todd Dreyer explained that the city has submitted a pre-application to the USDA Office of Rural Development. The application is for a Housing Preservation Grant. The $60,000 the city is requesting would be used to replenish the funds in the Emergency Home Repair fund.

Although the city has offered the Emergency Home Repair program for several years, the program was first utilized in November of 2008. The purpose of the program is to assist city homeowners in need of emergency repairs. The program offers assistance if there is “a condition that threatens human health or safety,” Dreyer said in a previous interview.