The Neighborhood Team is said to provide free home improvement services to qualifying St. Pete homeowners who are elderly, disabled, or low-income.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Like many Americans, 71-year-old Joanne Newton is searching for mobility solutions as movement has gotten tougher over the years.
“Knee trouble, back trouble,” Newton said. “I had several injuries.”
Newton says, each day, she’s had to pay more attention to what areas are accessible and mobility friendly.
For neighbors like Newton, St. Pete’s most recent newsletter highlighted “The Neighborhood Team” to help folks impacted by mobility issues.
It’s a group that’s said to provide free home improvement services to qualifying St. Pete homeowners who are elderly, disabled, or low-income and are unable to make repairs on their own.
That includes materials and labor for items like ramps, handrails, and grab bars.
David Kuper of Suncoast Medical Supply says this local program, coupled with new changes to a federal law, could be a life-saver.
Before, if you had a disability diagnosis prior to the age of 26, you would be eligible for a tax-free savings account to cover certain disability expenses.
Now, that age has been bumped up from 26 to 46, opening the benefit to a new range of Americans.
“It’s wonderful,” Kuper said. “Any help that they can get really goes a long way.”