Assist

ASSIST Inc is an independent nonprofit Community Design Center founded in 1969 by the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Utah and the Utah Society of the American Institute of Architects. For the past 50 years ASSIST has been providing architectural design, community planning and development assistance to nonprofit and community groups; housing repair for low income households; and accessibility design assistance to people with disabilities. ASSIST operates an Emergency Home Repair (EHR) program in thirteen cities and the unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County and provides Accessibility Design Assistance throughout the State of Utah.

ASSIST was founded in 1969 by architects in private practice and at the University of Utah who wanted to provide design and planning services to lower income households and neighborhoods. The design and planning work grew to include the regional issues of growth and change throughout the Wasatch Front. Over the past 45 years ASSIST has sought to foster projects in the public interest that bring good design and equitable benefits to all communities.

In 1972 ASSIST surveyed central city residents in Salt Lake City and found that many long term, low income homeowners had similar concerns about the future. Many were worried that, with limited or fixed income, they would not be able to maintain their home if a serious housing repair problem occurred. The Emergency Home Repair (EHR) program was started to address these housing concerns by focusing on housing conditions that affect the health, safety and well being of low income households. More recently we developed the Bright Ideas for Home Improvement resource for the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative of Salt Lake County and have developed a Home Owners Checklist for Aging in Place Features.

ASSIST is a private non-profit that was founded in 1969. We provide emergency home repair assistance to low income families and architectural design assistance to persons with disabilities or other needs. Our organization provides grant assistance to over 600+ families per year addressing numerous housing repair issues. We receive funding through the Federal Government via CDBG grants - Community Development Block Grants. Women and minority owned businesses are encouraged to apply. Basic requirements include completing the attached "Contractor Qualification" form, the attached "Section 3" form, and providing certificates of insurance for General Liability and Worker's Compensation, with ASSIST Inc named as a certificate holder.

The Carl Inoway Community Design Scholarship provides $1,500 to a full-time student in architecture, urban planning or community development, attending a Utah institution of higher education who demonstrates experience or interest in community design issues such as community based planning, affordable and accessible housing, and social, economic and environmental justice. ASSIST Inc is a nonprofit Community Design Center founded in 1969. ASSIST provides architectural design, community planning and development assistance to nonprofit and community groups; and housing repair assistance to low income home owners; and accessibility design assistance to people with disabilities.