Columbus has amended a city housing improvement program to offer a range of services to certain eligible elderly and disabled homeowners.
The expansion allows the city to issue forgivable, three-year, interest-free loans to low-to-middle-income city homeowners who are at least 55 years old to make their homes more accessible and allow them to stay in their homes instead of moving into assisted living facilities, said Robin Hilber, the city’s community development programs coordinator.
Some of the services include grab bars in the bathroom, wheelchair access, installing handrails, among several others. Previously, assistance was limited to roofs, water heaters and HVAC systems, she said.
“This will allow us to expand so that when somebody calls and says, ‘my husband is wheelchair-bound but can’t fit through the doorway,’ we can help,” Hilber said. “Now we can expand doorways, we can put in elevated toilets, grab bars in the shower, things like that.”
The services are offered through the federal Community Development Block Grant program, which seeks to benefit low-and-middle income residents, reduce blight or meet an urgent need that is a “detriment to the health and safety of the general public,” according to the Columbus Planning Department’s website.
The maximum amount the city can loan to one household is $15,000, according to the city’s amended Columbus Housing Improvement Program agreement. However, the city can award up to $25,000 for certain emergencies, including a leaking roof or no heat or hot water during the winter. Hilber said the city strives to keep all loans under $15,000 to “spread the money around more.”
The loans will be forgiven if the homeowner continues to occupy the house for three years, Hilber said. If the homeowner moves before then, the city will recover the funds from the proceeds of the sale of the home. The amount the city recovers would be proportional to the length of time the homeowner lived in the house after the improvements were made, Hilber said.
Currently, the city will have around $50,000 available for these types of projects this year, according to city estimates.
To qualify for a loan through the program, homeowners must meet guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, including being owner-occupied or being located within a 100-year floodplain. Typically, mobile homes are not eligible for funds.
Additionally, the home must be located within the city limits and household income cannot exceed 80 percent of the median household income in Bartholomew County. Currently, the cut-off is $39,850 for a one-person household or $45,550 for a two-person household, according to city figures.
“We really think it’s important to help seniors and people stay in their homes as long as possible,” said Mary Ferdon, executive director of administration and community development, who also serves on the Columbus Board of Public Works.
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Contact Robin Hilber, Columbus community development programs coordinator, at 812-376-2520 for more information about the program or to apply for help.
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