This Escambia County program helps people living in homes beyond repair

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. ( WKRG ) — Long-time Escambia County resident Mary Simpkins is enjoying life in her new Cantonment home.

“Everything’s built nice,” Simpkins said. “I never had a home like this before.”

Simpkins received the keys to the brand-new home constructed through Escambia County assistance programs last week.

Simpkins experienced several issues in her old house to the point where it became uninhabitable and unsafe.

“I had this old home about 54 years,” she said. “Just rundown broke down home. It went down slow.”

She then moved into a trailer. But when that burned several years ago and she lost everything, a friend suggested she apply for assistance through the county.

So she did just that. Simpkins got her new home through the county’s Housing Demo and Replacement Programs.

The programs demolish deteriorating and unsafe homes and replace them with brand-new houses, providing a safer, less stressful environment to call home.

“They did everything for the home,” Simpkins said. “I love everything they did, and it gave me a place to stay.”

Assistance may be available for other income-eligible homeowners in Escambia County.

The county said funding is limited but, residents can contact the county’s Neighborhood Enterprise Division at ned@myescambia.com or 850-595-1642.

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