Low- to moderate-income individuals and families can qualify for grant assistance through designated state and local government organizations. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides government-sponsored house repair programs through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), founded in 1974. CDBG grant monies issued are allocated on an annual basis for different community-building projects. Does this Spark an idea?
Local Grant Programs
Eligibility for local grant assistance is based on population numbers within a given area. Rural and county areas with populations of 200,000 or less may qualify, as can cities and metropolitan areas with populations of 50,000 or less. Local grant programs provide a means for communities to rehabilitate rundown areas through home and building repair projects, according to HUD. Monies are used toward interior and exterior home improvements, including foundation and roof repair as well as electrical and plumbing repair. Applicants can also use award monies toward for-profit ventures in terms of renting or selling a restored property.
Disaster Recovery Grant Programs
Disaster recovery grant programs are issued in areas where a natural disaster has struck and the president declared the area a disaster zone, according to HUD. Grant monies go through state and local agencies, which must allocate a minimum of half the monies to low- and moderate-income individuals and families whose homes the disaster has impacted. Repair projects work to restore homes according to local housing code requirements in terms of electrical, sewage and structural. Individuals and families whom a disaster has displaced can also receive help with financing the down payment for a new home as well as assistance with mortgage loan financing.
Community Grant Programs
HUD issues entitlement grants to cities, metropolitan and rural areas that fall outside the guidelines for local grant programs. This means cities and metropolitan areas with populations of 50,000 or more and rural or urban communities with populations of 200,000 or more may qualify for grant assistance. State and local governments distribute available monies according to program guidelines, which target deteriorating areas or neighborhoods for renovation and repair projects. These projects target homes in which unsafe living conditions are present. Unsafe conditions can appear as faulty electrical wiring, exposure to hazardous materials or structural damage.
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