Amid the houses built with the help of Habitat for Humanity, work is underway to help current homeowners who are struggling to maintain their home.

Habitat for Humanity of Island County is developing a program to make exterior repairs to homes owned by people struggling to maintain them.

“The intent is to try to help people do exterior repairs to their homes to keep them livable,” said Calvin Hewitt, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Island County.

He said the program has completed three projects so far, but a lot of work remains concerning the configuration of the program.

Officials are still working out details about how the Home Preservation Program will work. Such details include funding, how an applicant will be involved and how much “sweat equity” a person would have to provide. Hewitt said the support could be anything from helping with repairs to providing a welcoming environment for volunteers and serving them coffee.

The eligibility requirements to participate in the upkeep program will be similar to Habitat’s house program, which includes demonstrating a need, being a resident of Island County and having an income that is 25 percent to 50 percent of the area median income of Island County.

Although organizers are hashing out the details, volunteers have completed a ramp replacement and a deck replacement. They are scheduled to replace another handicap ramp later in October.

The Habitat for Humanity home improvement program is at least the third one operating on Whidbey Island.

Hearts and Hammers on South Whidbey and Central Whidbey holds a project day each May. During that time, scores of volunteers descend upon homes on Central and South Whidbey Island to make repairs in one day. Until Habitat’s program started, there wasn’t a similar program operating on North Whidbey Island.

Hewitt said he’s talked to people from both Hearts and Hammers groups. He said that Habitat’s program isn’t intended to compete with the two groups. However, Habitat may be able to step in should an extensive project or a need at other times of the year arise.

Habitat for Humanity is still building houses in the area. Volunteers and owners have built 32 houses since 1999 and 10 houses have been constructed since 2010. The organization currently has a home being built in the Frostad Pond development near Oak Harbor.

When a person is selected for a house, he or she has to contribute 500 hours.

For information about Habitat for Humanity, contact 679-9444.