SOUTH DEERFIELD — Town residents facing insurmountable costs of home renovations, such as handicap accessibility modifications, insulation needs and roof replacements, could receive financial assistance within the next year.
During a recent Selectboard meeting, members unanimously voted to apply for a housing rehabilitation program. Grant funding from the program can be used by income-eligible residents for a variety of home repairs and upgrades. The housing rehab program is part of the Community Development Block Program, a program that helps moderate and low-income communities with funding.
The grant is sponsored by the Mass. Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development as part of the federally funded Housing and Community Development Act. Town governments apply for the program as regions, instead of individual towns.
Before the vote, Frances Pheeny, executive director of the Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority, said the application process is very competitive; however, she also said she’s confident the housing authority can help put together a good case for the town.
“We think if we put the right communities together, apply for the right programs, we’ll be able to put together a strong application,” Pheeny said, adding that last year, the local housing authority helped put together two of the strongest applications for the program in the state.
As far as how the program works, Pheeny said the housing authority provides qualified residents in need of housing help with interest-free loans. Improvements include electrical and plumbing upgrades, accessibility modifications, structure, roof and window repairs, insulation or weatherization, and water systems repairs.
“It’s not free per-say,” Brian McHugh, senior rehab specialist for the local housing authority, explained during the board meeting. “They’re zero percent interest loans, deferred payment. It gets recorded as a lien or a mortgage against the property, so there’s no money going out the door on a monthly basis, but it will be paid back when it’s transferred ownership.”
In order to be eligible for the program, combined household income can’t be more than $46,000 per year for one person, $52,000 for two, $59,150 for three, and $65,700 for four (call the housing authority for info on larger households).
“We’ve done everything from septic systems, to windows, to roof repairs,” Pheeney said. “A lot of communities apply for different type of grants. In Montague, they used Community Block Grants for infrastructure upgrades. Deerfield is going to be part of a regional grant. They’ll be looking for a housing rehab and social service component.”
According to the state’s website, over the past seven years, the housing program has distributed $237 million through more than 300 grants statewide — funding that has rehabilitated more than 3,000 housing units, revitalized senior centers and upgraded playgrounds and other community facilities.
“These are critical funds for communities, particularly small rural communities,” Pheeny said. “Part of the grant will be some social service programs, too.”
Selectboard members identified fuel assistance as a social program residents in the town need.
Conway is among other towns that have signed onto the program.
The application will be submitted to the state next February. Towns will be notified about funding awards in June 2017.