LEVERETT — Another round of housing rehabilitation grants could be offered to qualifying households in Leverett, as the Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority seeks up to $950,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding on behalf of the town.
Brian McHugh, community development director at the housing authority, told the Select Board Tuesday that the application for the funding is due on April 21, with the money to be awarded by the fall and available for applicants sometime in 2027.
There are currently 15 households on the housing rehabilitation waiting list.
The program offers 0% interest, declining balance loans that are discharged after 15 years, of up to $60,000 for income-eligible residents to improve the safety and energy efficiency of their homes and get their dwellings up to code.
For a family of four, those who earn $96,650 or less per year would qualify.
The $950,000 grant would cover about nine units, which would mean most of those on the waiting list would be in line to get the work done. McHugh said there is likely to be some drop off from the 15 households, with some no longer qualifying because they might have higher wages or move from town.
McHugh said the housing authority does the write up on all projects and checks on environmental regulations and other impacts.
Those seeking more information or requesting a pre-application should contact Bridget Phillips, community development administrative assistant, at 413-223-5203 or bphillips@fcrhra.org.
The housing authority started working on similar housing rehabilitations starting in 1992, with $911,000 in outstanding loans in town that are in the midst of being paid back.
As these get paid back, that is additional money that can be reloaned, but McHugh said there is currently no money to offer.
The last competitive CDBG grant for Leverett was awarded in 2017, with the money lasting about three years.
While the CDBG national objectives are also for eliminating slums and blighted areas and responding to urgent catastrophic events, McHugh said Leverett only qualifies for benefiting low- and moderate-income residents.