Beauregard Street resident Vondell Brown left a Lincoln CountyBoard of Supervisors public hearing Monday hopeful her home wouldbe one selected for renovations or reconstruction under a homeimprovement program.

“It don’t leak in my house, it rains now,” she said.

Brown said she had been selected for the program previously, butthose funds were diverted following Hurricane Katrina.

“They were going to tear it down and rebuild it,” she said. “Theroof was leaking before the hurricane, but (the storm) nearlyripped it off.”

Brown said she cannot afford to make the needed repairs becauseshe is on a fixed income for disability.

“Everybody’s been trying to help me out because it’s so bad,”she said, citing involvement by public officials and charitableorganizations.

Brown’s plight is similar to that of several in Brookhaven andLincoln County, said District One Supervisor the Rev. Jerry Wilson,who led efforts by the county to pursue the grant.

The county is seeking a $125,000 to $375,000 grant to renovateor reconstruct homes for low- to moderate-income individuals orfamilies living in substandard housing.

Monday’s public hearing was also the deadline for applicants toapply for the program.

Jim Mangum, a representative of Southwest Mississippi Planningand Development, said grants would be awarded based on a ratingsystem that scores need using factors like the owner’s level ofincome and the condition of the house.

To be eligible, a single occupant cannot make more than $22,050annually. Eligibility increases along with family size so that afamily of eight could have an income cap of $41,600.

There is no set number of applicants who will benefit from theprogram, Mangum said. Houses will continue to be renovated orrebuilt until the money is gone.

In other matters, the board appointed Steve Melancon as theLincoln County veteran services officer on a 4-1 vote. Wilson saidhe did not oppose Melancon, but favored another candidate for theposition.