HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 09-15 Home improvement grants available in Maplewood THE REVIEW Home improvement grants
available in Maplewood `'/%7(0
The City of Maplewood in cooperation _your expected annual income must be deficiencies or defects and will make your
with the Metropolitan Council H.R.A.and $5000 or less (after some deduction home safe and habitable.
the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency allowed by MHFA). Pension checks, —Improvements which may increase
have made available$22,289.85 for home Social Security, and other regular your property's compliance with ap-
improvement grants to Maplewood payments such as child support are plicable housing codes.
residents.The basic goal of this program considered part of regular income. —The proceeds of the grant cannot be
is to hlep lower income homeowners —The gross value of your assets must used to refinance any existing mortgage
correct problems in their dwellings. be no greater than$25,000.(This excludes or debt.
Listed below are some basic questions "personal" property and homestead WHO DOES THE WORK?
and answers to help you better un- property being improved.) It is your responsibility to choose
derstand this program. WHAT REPAIRS CAN YOU MAKE? qualified tradesman or contractors,who
WHAT'S A GRANT? —Basic improvements which make must sign a MHFA warranty on work-
A home Improvement Grant is a sum of your property reasonable efficient in manship and.all materials. Some
money paid by the State of Minnesota for saving energy, if it is not already assistance will available in obtaining
correcting defects in your home's energy equipped with these features. work write-ups and cost estimates or you
usage,safety,and habitability.It is not a —Other basic and necessary im- may appropriate skills and experience.
loan;it does not have to be repaid,unless provements which will correct All homes will be inspected before im-
you move or transfer title to your provements begin and after they are
property within five years. completed.Interim inspections may also
The amount of the grant depends on the be made.
cost of eligible improvements with a DOES THE GRANT HAVE TO REPAID?
maximum amount of$5,000. Your grant will have to be repaid if you
PRIORITIES move, sell, or transfer your improved
Energy-The increasingly high cost of property within five years from the grant
home heating is an especially difficult date according to this schedule:
burden for lower income people.In this Year property transfered : one, 100
program, special emphasis has been percent; two,80 percent; three,60 per-
placed on energy-saving home im- cent;four,40 percent;five,20 percent;
provement, and all homeowners are six or more,no repayment.
encouraged to upgrade inadequate in- HOW TO APPLY
sulation,weatherstripping and caulking. The City of Maplewood Community
Elderly-Many elderly citizens living on Services Department will begin taking
fixed incomes find it difficult to maintain applications on Thursday,September 16.
and upgrade their homes.A major protion City Hall is located at 1380 Frost Avenue.
of the funding available to make grants Our offices are open from 8 a.m.to 5 p.m.
has been reserved for elderly households Imformation you will need to fill out the
(at least 62 years of age). application includes such things as social
DO YOU QUALIFY? security number, combined income of
—You must own and occupy the family,listing of assets,any mortgage or
property you want to improve. contract for deed information and a list of
—Your home must be a one or two the desired improvements you wish to
family structure, and comply with all make.For further information call 777-
local zoning and land use guides. 8131,Ext.41.