01/13/2005
from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors is kicking off 2005 with a continued commitment to reach out to those individuals most often targeted by unscrupulous, unlicensed contractors – senior citizens. Through our various initiatives, we have found that seniors in particular have been hit the hardest by home contracting scams. This year, the ROC is continuing to proactively reach out to all homeowners, particularly seniors, in an effort to educate them and deter unlicensed contractors seeking to take advantage of them.
We recently joined forces with the Area Agency on Aging to assist us in our efforts. The AAA is a private, non-profit corporation that delivers services for seniors and adults with disabilities and long-term care needs. This partnership will assist the ROC in educating elderly homeowners through presentations and printed information delivered to their homes, and assist the AAA in its efforts to serve its clients and protect them from the unfortunate and costly consequences of home contracting scams.
Another educational tool the ROC is using to keep unlicensed contractors out of neighborhoods is the Neighborhood Ambassador Program. The agency's quarterly Neighborhood Ambassador Academy gives neighborhood leaders the resources and information they need to protect their neighborhoods from fraudulent contracting scams. Any community group or agency can request a NAP presentation at its neighborhood or community meeting. For example, a recent partnership with the Mesa and Phoenix police departments proved to be a successful way to reach homeowners involved in crime prevention in their neighborhoods. Your association can do the same by contacting the ROC Neighborhood Ambassador Program at (602) 542-1525, ext. 7115, or visiting our Web site.
Additionally, we began this year with the launch of the Helping Hands for Seniors Program. The ROC is teaming up with the ROC Labor Advisory Council, AARP Arizona and the ROC Consumer Advisory Network to offer the program, which provides free home modifications for low-income seniors who live in Metro Phoenix and Tucson year-round. The program was designed to assist seniors with minor repairs that will improve their quality of life. The first successful HHSP Community Day was held Jan. 8 in Tucson. The Phoenix Community will be held Feb. 5.
With the new year also comes a continued commitment by the ROC to halt unscrupulous, unlicensed contractors in their tracks. Last year's efforts, including statewide undercover sting operations, neighborhood unlicensed contracting sweeps, the Neighborhood Ambassador Program and other partnerships with community groups, proved to be successful in protecting many homeowners from predatory, unlicensed contractors.
In 2005 we look forward to once again forming alliances with neighborhood groups, law enforcement agencies and community advocacy groups that will help strengthen our efforts to safeguard homeowners and give communities useful tools to put an end to unlicensed scams. Look for the ROC information booth in January at the Lovin' Life Expos around the state Jan. 14 in Tucson, Jan. 20 in Mesa and Jan. 25 in Sun City. For more information about these events, call (602) 542-1525, ext. 7105. We'll also be at the Maricopa County Home and Garden Show Jan. 14-16, so stop by our booth and pick up some tips on how to make your next home construction, repair or remodeling job a successful one by hiring legitimate, licensed contractors to do the work.
I wish you all the best in 2005!
Israel G. Torres, Director, ROC
