HOPE — Hope officials are applying for a grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs for the Owner Occupied Rehab Program.
On Tuesday, the Hope Town Council approved applying for a $350,000 grant from the program to help fix and improve residential housing.
This program helps Indiana communities fund repairs or improvements to residential homes. It was created by the state to allow communities to improve their housing stock for low-income homeowners to age in place, have better mobility and make needed repairs for their comfort and safety.
Some repairs to homes in Hope include roof replacement, ADA accessibility up to the threshold of the home, heating and cooling replacement, lighting and electrical upgrades and water heater replacement.
Eligibility requirements are single-family owner-occupied homes, homes must be on permanent foundation, homes must be insured and contract sales are not eligible. Up to $15,000 can be granted.
There is also a household income eligibility for the program.
- For a one person house hold, the maximum annual income is $57,250
- Two person house hold, the maximum annual income is $65,400
- Three person house hold, the maximum annual income is $73,600
- Four person house hold, the maximum annual income is $81,750
- Five person house hold, the maximum annual income is $88,300
- Six person house hold, the maximum annual income is $94,850
- Seven person house hold, the maximum annual income is $101,400
- Eight person house hold, the maximum annual income is $107,950
“It’s a wonderful program,” said Hope Town Manager Jason Eckart. “We’ve received it in the past. It’s been five or six years ago the last time we did that.”
Hope applied for the grant two years ago and did not receive it, Eckart added.
The grant application will be submitted on Nov. 6. Residents will no longer be able to apply for the program once the grant application is submitted. Currently, the town has about 20 people who applied for repairs.
“Some of the community is low- to moderate-income,” Eckart said. “The town believes in helping as much as we can to assist those people that are in need of a safe, warm, comfortable home.”
