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Mayor Jon Mitchell and the City of New Bedford Office of Housing and Community Development today announced a new grant program for New Bedford homeowners who need to conduct emergency repairs to their homes.
The Emergency Repair Grant Program will help low and moderate income homeowners to make emergency repairs to conditions that threaten the health and safety of the occupants. The resident must own and occupy the residence, reside within the city limits and qualify financially.
The program is funded by the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and is designed to help improve the quality of life in city neighborhoods by assisting homeowners in addressing emergency conditions that pose an immediate danger to their health and safety.
Mayor Jon Mitchell said, “During these challenging economic times, it is more important than ever for the City to offer additional assistance to those households that would otherwise be unable to afford to conduct emergency repairs. This grant program exemplifies our commitment to improving the quality of life in New Bedford neighborhoods and our support for homeowners.”
A grant of up to $8,000 is available per owner-occupied home to assist with specific home repairs or activities that eliminate conditions detrimental to the safety and health of their residents. Eligible emergency repairs include, but are not limited to faulty roofs; unsafe electrical, heating or plumbing systems; or faulty porches and steps. All persons interested in applying for this program must meet HUD income eligibility, as well as other requirements and must complete an application with the OHCD prior to the commencement of any work.
“This is an excellent program that provides a streamlined grant process to help homeowners address emergency situations that impact their quality of life,” stated Patrick J. Sullivan, Director of the Office of Housing and Community Development.
The City of New Bedford’s Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) receives a variety federal funding through the CDBG and HOME Investment Partnership Programs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
These programs are geared toward providing funds to benefit low and moderate income individuals and families in the City by securing and/or improving their housing conditions. The OHCD administers several other housing programs, including First Time Home Buyer Down payment and Closing Cost Assistance Programs, Homeowner Repair and Accessibility Programs, as well as Lead Paint Removal Programs available through loans and grants to both owner occupants and investor owners who rent their properties to low income tenants.
For additional information on the Emergency Repair Program and other housing assistance, please contact the City of New Bedford Office of Housing and Community Development at 508-979-1500 or visit the City’s website at www.newbedford-ma.gov/cd/welcome.html.
Do they go over the income guidelines for assistance? Those guidelines are real low. My income puts me over, and my income only covers my mortgage, gas and electric, and food. I can’t even afford the taxes and insurance on my home. So I needed to get three jobs just to pay for that, and according to the guidelines, my first job puts me over. They have to realize the cost of keeping a home is high, let alone repairs. If they want the city to look nice, they need to help us homeowners by either keeping taxes down or finding assistance for homeowners that are a little over income guidelines, but their cost of owning the home are high.