The Weekly Calistogan tells MHProNews that the city received $500,000 from the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program. This is an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation loan program that assists low-income homeowners whose primary residence needs repairs, improvements or reconstruction.
The program does not require loan payments or assess any interest on the loan, repayment of which is deferred for 30 years or until resale.
The guidelines allowed the maximum loan amounts of $60,000 for a stick-built, single-family home and $20,000 for a manufactured home.
To date, 24 applications have been received, 22 are from manufactured home owners. The City of Napa Housing Authority is administering the rehabilitation program and reported that the loan applications for the manufactured homes involve buildings constructed in the 1970s, requiring much-needed work. In some cases $20,000 is insufficient to repair all that needs to be corrected in a home.
In one case cited by Lynn Goldberg, planning and building director, the bathroom floor of one unit had a hole large enough that the occupant could fall through it.
The council agreed to amend the program so that on a case-by-case basis the city manager may authorize an increase of up to $10,000 above the maximum loan amount for a manufactured home, if the repairs are necessary to protect the health and safety of the occupant.
The HOME funds were awarded to the city through a grant. ##
(Photo Credit: IntersectMoscow)
