The Berrien County Land Bank is now taking applications for the Community Development Block Grant Homeowner Improvement Program.
Berrien County Assistant Community Development Director Katie Montoya tells us the federally-funded CDBG program pays for home repairs for those with low to moderate incomes. It’s funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Montoya says funding for Berrien County dried up for a few years, but it’s now received support again.
“Under the state of Michigan housing plan, they’ve kind of refocused and put an emphasis on utilizing Community Development Block Grant funds through Michigan State Housing Development Authority,” Montoya said. “So, they have created more opportunities for various local units and agencies that are eligible to be able to access these dollars to submit under the My Neighborhoods Program.”
Montoya says Berrien County has received more than $700,000 in CDBG funding, $600,000 of which will be used to help residents with home repairs.
“We had some funding a few years ago that we are close to wrapping up and we just requested for additional dollars and have been able to secure that for this year.”
Montoya says the home repairs that can be paid for with CDBG funding vary.
“The types of repairs can consist of roofing and gutters, hiding doors and windows, HVAC systems, water heaters, some minor and minor electric upgrades and plumbing. There can be things such as maybe some accessibility modifications.”
Montoya told us more about the income requirements to qualify for the program.
“The program is designed to assist low income homeowners, low to moderate household income, and that is determined by HUD’s income limits of 80% or below the area median income. That is determined by the number of people in a household.”
Qualifying homeowners can receive support for home repairs running between $1,000 and $40,000. The support comes in the form of a grant if the repair is less than $10,000, or a five-year, forgivable loan if it’s more than $10,000.
Montoya notes when the county is running the Community Development Block Grant Homeowner Improvement Program, it always gets more applications than it can approve. So, now is the time to apply. The deadline is May 20.