$1.9 Million in Homeowner Rehab Grants Now Available

October 19, 2011

by KHRC

Category: News || Grants, Housing & Development | 1 Comment

Kansas Housing Awards Funds to 11 Communities to Renovate and Weatherize Unsafe Housing

TOPEKA, KS – October 19, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) has awarded approximately $1.9 million in Homeowner Rehabilitation (HR) grants to eleven communities to facilitate the renovation, accessibility and weatherization of unsafe housing. The grants, funded by the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program, help low-income residents make home improvements, bring houses up to code and eliminate other health and safety hazards.

“The rehab grants announced today will provide an affordable way to help qualifying tenants and homeowners protect their quality of life, and turn a house into an accessible and comfortable home,” said Barry McMurphy, KHRC’s Homeowner Rehab Program Manager.

Local municipalities distribute the grants in the form of deferred loans. Homeowners are allowed to make emergency and exterior repairs, however cosmetic improvements are not permitted. The loans are non-interest bearing, requiring repayment only if the property is sold within three-years.

The following is a list of the 2011 Homeowner Rehabilitation Award Grantees.

2011 HOMEOWNER REHAB GRANT AWARDS

City of Arkansas City $150,000

City of Emporia $100,000

City of Fredonia $150,000

City of Holton $175,000

City of Lyons $100,000

City of Manhattan $150,000

City of Oswego $100,000

City of Pittsburg $220,000

City of Reading $250,000

City of Salina $250,000

County of McPherson $225,000

TOTAL $1,870,000

Home improvements may include repairs to mechanical or structural items that present an imminent health and safety problem, such as:

1) Roofs
2) Mechanical systems (e.g., furnaces and hot water heaters)
3) Plumbing, water or water/sewer laterals
4) Windows, foundations and/or siding
5) Essential energy related repairs
6) Improvements to bathrooms and kitchens
7) Accessibility modifications

The HOME Program is a federal block grant program directed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is designed to create affordable housing for low-income households. KHRC provides HOME funding to community housing development organizations and local units of government throughout the state of Kansas, with the exception of Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka, Wichita and Johnson County, communities which receive HOME fund allocations directly from HUD.

The goals of the HOME Program include expanding the supply of safe, sanitary and affordable housing for very low-income and low-income Kansans; strengthening the abilities of local governments, public housing authorities and community housing development organizations to implement strategies for achieving an adequate supply of affordable housing; and providing participating entities with various forms of federal housing assistance.

For more information about the Homeowner Rehabilitation Program, contact Barry McMurphy at 785-296-6836, bmcmurphy (at) kshousingcorp (dot) org. Applicants may also visit KHRC’s website www.kshousingcorp.org for more details.