North Vernon Clerk/Treasurer Shawn Gerkin said a state housing repair grant the city received last week is expected to fund needed repairs to about 15 residences in the city.
North Vernon and Seymour recently each received a $250,000 state grant for programs to help low- to moderate-income homeowners who need financial help with home repairs.
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs on Monday announced the cities were among four Hoosier communities that have been awarded owner occupied rehabilitation grants totaling $1 million.
The grants will be used to allow communities to directly fund income-qualifying homeowners to make needed repairs on their homes, according to a news release from OCRA.
“Having a safe and livable home contributes immensely to overall quality of life,” Crouch said. “This funding will greatly benefit these four Hoosier communities and will provide assistance to those in need in making necessary repairs to their homes.”
Lawrenceburg and Jefferson County also each received $250,000 grants.
North Vernon clerk/treasurer Shawn Gerkin said the city is getting a 9-to-1 dividend on its $27,778 local match to the state grant.
“We hope to have around 15 awarded applications with work being done at about $15,000 each,” Gerkin said.
He said applications for home repair grant assistance will be available on the city’s website and Facebook page, or applications may be picked up at the clerk/treasurer’s office in North Vernon City Hall.
“We hope it will help older and fixed-income residents to stay in their home, and from the city standpoint, it also helps with blight,” Gerkin said.
Applicants must meet income eligibility requirements, which begin at a maximum yearly income of $41,750 for a single resident and increase from there based on the number in the household.
Homes also must be owner-occupied, within the North Vernon city limits and have a permanent foundation and cannot be mobile homes, among other requirements.
Eligible repairs include roof repair or replacement, ADA accessibility, heating and cooling replacement, lighting and electrical upgrades and water heater replacement.
“The goal of this program is to help Hoosiers stay in their homes and raise their families in a safe environment,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “Through these grants, communities provide the financial resources to homeowners to assist them in making critical home repairs. This investment increases not only their quality of life but that of the community, as well.”
The Seymour City Council agreed to apply for the grant, which likewise required $27,778 in local funds, in late October.
At the time, Tara Hagan, a grant and project manager with Administrative Resources Association, told the council the city had already received more than 30 applications for assistance of up to $15,000 each after an Oct. 11 public hearing about the grant proposal.
She said the city was continuing to accept applications.
“What we have had happen in the past in communities where we have helped with these programs is as we get through 15 to 18 or 20 homes, we will go back in and apply for funds again,” she said.
Hagan said applicants have to own the home or be purchasing the home through a loan.
“It can’t be a contract sale,” Hagan said.
She said ARA, which is owned by 11 southern Indiana cities and provides assistance in the planning and financing of community and economic development projects, is anticipating being able to help at least 15 city homeowners with repairs.
Seymour has participated in similar programs operated by different state agencies in the past, she said.
