Island County officials are applying for a large federal grant that would help very low-income homeowners in the community rehabilitate and weatherize their homes.

The Island County commissioners unanimously voted at their regular Monday morning meeting to approve the application for the $500,000 Community Development Block Grant. The specific grant is available on a competition basis to cities with less than 50,000 people and counties with populations less than 200,000.

Jackie Henderson, the county’s human resources director, said the county is partnering with the Opportunity Council, a private, non-profit agency serving homeless and low-income families and individuals.

If the application is successful, the Opportunity Council will administer the program, which won’t cost the county anything. The agency has a successful CDBG-funded program in Whatcom County.

On Monday, Commissioner Kelly Emerson asked about the average of $14,000 in loans or grants that will be given to at least 36 households under the program. She said the amount seemed high, especially since she priced window replacement at about $7,000.

Jon Martin, a development manager for the Opportunity Council, explained that window replacement is just a small part of what the grant money will do. It will funds things like roof replacement, foundation fixes, plumbing solutions and the repair of “really egregious safety problems,” like open sewers, faulty electrical wiring and lead paint.

Martin said the goal of the program is to help homeowners maintain their largest asset, which is their home. It also will help maintain the county’s tax base and provide some jobs to contractors.

During public comment, Clinton resident Rufus Rose asked questions about the source of the grant funds and questioned the wisdom of the program.

“It’s concerns me because it discourages personal responsibility,” he said.

But Freeland resident David Goldsmith said the program will help the growing population of aging folks who can’t afford large projects on their homes.

Henderson pointed out that the program will help prevent homes from becoming inhabitable. She said it’s more expensive for the community to deal with homeless families than to help them keep houses from falling into disrepair.

“It is most cost effective to keep people in their homes,” she said.