A HELPING HAND: CREWS PITCH IN TO PUT ROOF ON WOMAN'S HOUSE

Elnora Harris, 71, has battled the elements in her home at 1017 N. Frederick often during the past 35 years.

Her battle is nearly over, however, thanks to the volunteer efforts of two local agencies.

The East Missouri Action Agency and Arkansas-Southeast Missouri District Council of Carpenters are working together to put a new roof on Harris' home. Apprentices from the carpenters' union are providing the labor for the roof free of charge, while the EMAA weatherization program will cover the costs for new insulation and aluminum siding.

"I'm just thankful they're doing this for me," said Harris, a homemaker and widow. "For the past three days I've just been miserable with the heat and all."

Actually, Harris has been experiencing weather changes within her home for several years. When temperatures dipped below freezing briefly last winter, she avoided the cracks in her doors and walls and kept warm by sitting near a small heater in her living room. When the cold gave way to spring thunderstorms, she put away her blankets and set out pans to catch the water that leaked through the often-patched roof of her home.

Now as the region sits in the grips of a heat wave, Harris is afraid to hook up her window air conditioner because she believes exposure to water and other weather has affected her wiring.

"I just almost froze this past winter, and I don't want to use the air conditioner now because I don't know what might happen with that wiring," she said. "I'm just making do with fans and trying to stay in the house."

Local EMAA assistant executive director Debra Hamilton said her agency became aware of Harris' needs after she applied for the agency's weatherization program, which helps elderly and needy people improve energy efficiency in their homes. After a home inspection for the program, employees began contacting various organizations in town to see if anyone would be willing to help fix the roof, which isn't covered by the weatherization program, Hamilton said.

A recent policy change in the weatherization program made Harris' wood-shingle home the first in the city to receive siding.

"We made some calls to the local carpenters' union, and their apprenticeship program agreed to take on the project," said Hamilton. "It's taken a lot of cooperation and volunteerism from other agencies to get this accomplished for her."

Bruce Bird, coordinator of the carpenters' apprenticeship program, said replacing Harris' roof is a big project because several layers of asphalt shingles needed to be removed and additional support provided before the new shingles could be put on. The roof was in terrible condition, he said.

"It had so much on there, there was a weight problem to consider," said Beard. "I'm surprised it wasn't leaking worse than it was."

Beard said other businesses and organizations also donated equipment and supplies for the project, which is expected to take about two weeks to complete. He estimated the cost of the job to be about $4,000.