||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER |||


Orcas Senior Center is recruiting for a part-time independent contractor as a coordinator for its Home Maintenance & Repair (HM&R) pilot program. The HM&R Coordinator will be responsible for receiving HM&R requests, facilitating agreements with contractors, and assuring that work is done well and in a timely manner for seniors and adults with disabilities.

Successful candidates will be licensed, bonded, and insured. In addition, candidates must pass a background check and be willing to additionally insure Orcas Senior Center of at least $1,000,000 through their liability insurance

The HM&R project stems from a critical need discovered as part of a HM&R Feasibility Study (2017-2019), an assessment funded by a grant from the Orcas Island Community Foundation. It illuminated the fact that many seniors and adults with disabilities are unable to keep up with home repairs and ranked this higher than health concerns. Today, the problem is compounded by the fact that many contractors in the San Juan Islands are currently too busy to take on small projects.

The one-year HM&R pilot program will connect seniors and adults with disabilities with licensed, bonded, and insured contractors to perform maintenance and repair work, allowing them to age safely in their homes. Homeowners will pay the contractors directly for all repairs. In the future, program resources may also include an HM&R Assistance Fund to subsidize home maintenance, repair, and safety modifications for lower-income seniors and adults with disabilities.

For more information and to apply for the HM&R Coordinator position, please contact Orcas Senior Center at (360) 919-9312 or admin@orcasseniors.org by Saturday, January 15, 2022.


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