S.A. homeowners get assistance from repair fund

The damage happened slowly and invisibly. It burst into the open a full month after February’s winter storm.

Celia De La Rosa came home from work March 18 to find a collapsed roof, burst pipes in the ceiling and a flooded house.

Ruined tile in bathrooms had to be pulled out. Soggy sheetrock had to be removed. De La Rosa, 45, had to shower at friends’ homes.

She was at wit’s end. Then she found out about the San Antonio Water System’s Community Pipe Repair program.

Contractors working under the program’s auspices repaired some of the burst pipes. De La Rosa said a representative of the program has been in touch with her to schedule repairs to leaky fixtures.

“I’m thankful she’s been calling,” said De La Rosa, who works in a pharmacy. “I’m just trying to get back to a normal life. It’s bad enough with COVID. It’s been a struggle.”

Donations to the SAWS program are helping residents such as De La Rosa restore water service and repair damaged pipes.

Since early March, residents, businesses and philanthropists have donated nearly $867,000. Of the total, nearly $50,000 was in small donations from SAWS customers who want to help fellow San Antonians.

More than 1,000 households have applied for assistance.

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Foundation played a key part in creating the program. Corporate donors have included Spurs Give, Toyota, NuStar Energy, the Greehey Family Foundation, the Frost Charitable Foundation, the Schultz Family Foundation, the Latino Foundation of San Antonio, Broadway Bank and

Wells Fargo.

Owners of single-family homes with a 2019 value of $140,000 or less are eligible for assistance. Residents whose homes are valued at more than that may still apply; they may qualify for help, depending on family size and income.

Renters may also apply if the property owner signs a waiver of damages and agrees to the terms of the program.

Customers can apply online at saws.org/CPR. Residents can also apply by emailing CPR-SA@saws.org or calling 210-233-FIXX (3499).

Mayor Ron Nirenberg helped secured corporate donations to the fund.

“The winter storm dealt a blow to many residents who already had spent the past year coping with the pandemic,” Nirenberg said. “Many of our neighbors can’t afford to repair stormdamaged pipes, but they can’t afford not to. The best of San Antonio invariably surfaces to combat tough situations. Neighbors helping neighbors is the San Antonio way.”

To donate to the program, go to saafdn.org/cpr.

Bexar County has a separate plumbing assistance reimbursement program related to the winter storm. The deadline to apply is April 30. Residents in unincorporated areas and any of the suburban cities in the county are eligible, regardless of their water supplier. Those who rely on private wells also are eligible.

Reimbursement is available for up to $1,500 for repairs related to water supply, such as broken pipes; water damage to floors and walls is not covered.

For more information or to apply, go to bexar.org/plumbing. The application and information are also available in Spanish.

Billy Calzada / Staff photographer Plumber Alex Ortega of Beyer Boys works on ruptured pipes in the Stone Oak area Feb. 19.