City’s 2011 Homeowner Repair Program to focuss on heating, roofs

News release from the City of Fort Wayne:

City’s 2011 Homeowner Repair Program to focuss on heating, roofs
Homeowners can call now for preliminary eligibility for low-interest loan

Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry invites city homeowners who need to replacement their roofs or furnaces to find out if they are eligible for the City’s 2011 homeowner repair loan program.

“This year’s focus on roof and heating replacement is designed to address primary systems within a home, which are not inexpensive projects and significantly affect those living there if not repaired,” Mayor Henry said. “The program will help homeowners who may have difficulty qualifying for a line of credit or loan for these repairs while also helping to rebuild credit.”

Specifically, this year’s eligible repairs consist of:

[list type=”black”]
[li]Roof replacement[/li]
[li]Furnace replacement[/li]
[li]Boiler replacement[/li]
[/list]

No other repairs will be considered for the 2011 program, which opens July 11.

The recorded pre-screening number is now open at (260) 427-8585. Homeowners are encouraged to call before the program opens to see if it is a good fit for them.

The Heating and Roof Program is limited to households earning 80 percent or less of area median income as established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For a family of four, the cap is $50,400. Program participants must have lived in the habitable house for at least one year and not received any other Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services assistance in the past 10 years.

Homeowners who are approved for the program will then work with OHNS staff to select a private contractor to perform the needed repairs. In addition to inspections as required by the Allen County Building Department, the City will ensure the replacements are completed to bid specifications.

The City is using federal HUD funds from the Community Development Block Grant. By making this year’s repair program a loan, funds will return to OHNS to be used in future initiatives.

The Community Development program opens July 11, but interested homeowners can call the pre-screening hotline at (260) 427-8585 for information about the 3-percent-interest loans. That same number will be used to complete a pre-screening survey starting at 9 a.m. July 11.

The complete HARP guide, including a pre-screening eligibility checklist, is available at www.cityoffortwayne.org.

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