By Sara Beth Williams–
The City of Citrus Heights Housing Rehabilitation Program is now accepting applications for home repair loans and grants.
Repair loans and grants are made available to very low-, low-, and moderate-income homeowners based on various criteria established by the city. Homeowners interested must fill out an application, and provide proof of income, home mortgage information, credit and debts information, and more.
Qualifying income levels are determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development as of May of this year.
Income must be 80 percent or lower than the median household income in the given jurisdiction and is determined by the size of the household. The city has listed qualifying income levels on their website, as follows:
- For a household of 1, qualifying income starts at $73,600.
- For a household of 2, qualifying income equals $84,100.
- For a household of 3, qualifying income equals $94,600.
- For a household of 4, qualifying income equals $105,100.
- For a household of 5, qualifying income equals $113,550.
- For a household of 6, qualifying income equals $121,950.
- For a household of 7, qualifying income equals $130,350.
- For a household of 8, qualifying income equals $138,750.
There are three different home rehabilitation programs the city offers, including single-family rehab loans, which can be up to $60,000 on a 30-year deferred loan; critical home repair grants for qualifying homeowners who own a manufactured or mobile home, which can be up to $20,000; and handicapped accessibility grants of up to $5,000, which are utilized for handicap-specific repairs or additions to the home, including ramps, rails, grab arms, and more.
Single-Family rehabilitation loans: The Single-Family Rehabilitation Loan Program provides financial assistance to help eligible homeowners complete critical repairs that “improve health, safety, and habitability,” the city said. Up to $60,000 is available for essential home repairs, including roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, water damage, dry rot, and more.
This loan program can cover repairs for owner-occupied single-family homes, condominiums, and detached half-plexes. Loans are offered as 30-year deferred with either a 2 percent simple annual interest rate or zero percent interest for very low-income households, seniors who are 62 and older, and/or those who are permanently disabled. The repair loan becomes due upon sale, title transfer, or if the home is no longer owner-occupied, the city said.
Handicapped accessibility grants: Up to $5,000 grants are available for eligible persons 65 years old or older and or qualifying homeowners who are permanently disabled. The program is available to help make improvements to the accessibility and safety of the home, including the installation of ramps, grab bars, visual alarms, and more. These grants are available for owner-occupied homes, including single-family, manufactured homes, condominiums, and half-plexes that are separate from adjoining structures.
Critical home repair grants: Up to $20,000 grants are available to eligible homeowners who live in a manufactured or mobile home. The grants are used for emergency health and safety repairs, such as roofing replacement, exterior windows, heating and air systems, and more.
To qualify for any loans or grants from the program, all properties must be owner-occupied and located within the incorporated limits of the City of Citrus Heights.
The applying homeowner must be a U.S. citizen as defined by the Welfare Reform Act and must permanently reside in the home in need of rehabilitation at the time of application, and also must agree to reside there for the full term of the loan. Only one funding award, whether a loan, grant, or combination of both will be permitted per household. Residents who are prior recipients of a rehab loan or grant are not permitted to receive another loan or grant in future years.
The program leverages federal funding sources, including funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, CalHome funds, Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funds, and program loan repayments/ The home repair loans are made available to help address critical health and safety repairs while extending the useful life of homes in the city.
For more information on the guidelines, visit the city’s website. To apply for any of the programs, an application is required and can be found on the city’s website.
