Mayor Sarno states, “CDO Tim Sheehan and I are pleased to allocate $5 million of ARPA funding to the Office of Planning and Economic Development to support and expand the city’s Health Homes Rehabilitation Program and the Exterior Repair Program that will offer eligible residential homeowners the assistance they need to make repairs and rehabilitation to their homes, which strengthen our neighborhoods.”
Healthy Homes Program
The Healthy Homes Program provides funding for homeowners to rehabilitate their 1-4 unit properties in Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs). The Healthy Homes Program is a “whole home” rehab program that seeks to correct all housing deficiencies that impact the safety and health of the dwelling. The program includes lead abatement, removal of asthma triggers, weatherization/energy efficiency upgrades and elimination of trip and fall hazards. Funding is provided in the form of an interest-free, forgivable, payment deferred loan that will be forgiven over five years if the owner continues to maintain the property as their principal place of residence. The program is available to income-eligible households.
The Healthy Homes Program was initially funded as a pilot program by a $5 million HUD disaster resilience grant and was limited to two City neighborhoods. The allocation of ARPA funds support expansion of this program to additional eligible areas. The QCTs are located in portions of the Indian Orchard, Liberty Heights, Memorial Square, Brightwood, Metro Center, McKnight, Bay, Pine Point, Upper Hill, Old Hill, Six Corners, South End and Forest Park neighborhoods.
Interested homeowners can check their eligibility or apply online at the Office of Housing website at: https://www.springfield-ma.gov/housing/home/housing-rehab-repairs/healthy-homes-program
Exterior Home Repair Program
The Exterior Home Repair Program is a new program that provides homeowners with up to $40,000 to fund exterior home repairs, including roofs, windows, porches, siding, and painting for residential properties with 1-4 units. Funding is provided in the form of a forgivable, interest-free loan, forgiven over five years if the owner continues to occupy the home as their principal residence. The program is available for income-eligible households city-wide.
Interested homeowners can obtain more information about the program or apply online at: https://www.springfield-ma.gov/housing/home/housing-rehab-repairs/exterior-home-repair-program
Income eligibility for both programs is based on household size and is the higher of either 65% of Area Median Income or 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Maximum household income amounts are detailed below:
Household Size | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person | 7 Person | 8 Person |
Income Cap | $42,835 | $54,930 | $69,090 | $83,250 | $97,410 | $111,570 | $125,730 | $139,890 |
Funding for both programs is limited and is on a first-come-first-serve basis. Homeowners will not be approved for funding until a complete application is received by the Office of Housing.
The programs are being jointly administered by the Office of Housing and the Office of Disaster Recovery. Additional information regarding both programs is available at the Office of Housing website at: https://www.springfield-ma.gov/housing.
Homeowners needing assistance or seeking additional information should contact Maricely Vega at: (413)787-6500. Applications are also available in person at the Office of Housing, 1600 East Columbus Avenue, Springfield, MA.
Homeowners who have already submitted ARPA applications for individual/household assistance requesting funding for household repairs that are likely eligible for either of the ARPA funded housing programs do not need to contact the City regarding the status of their application. These applicants will be contacted individually by the Office of Recovery and Business Continuity and/or the Office of Housing to advise them on the process for transferring their application to the available home repair programs.