GR HOUSING REHAB PROGRAM WORTHY OF DUE ATTENTION

by Chucky Daniels

Grand Rapids, MI - Tuesday's Grand Rapids City Commission meeting offered a glimpse into one of the city's finest programs. The Housing Rehabilitation Program was established in 1998 as a means for low-income to moderate-income homeowners to make necessary repairs on there homes by obtaining a low interest loan from the City. Though there are some varying qualification standards, the intent of the loan is to assist working class homeowners who wish to make upgrades to their home due to health/hazards or simply to keep it up to code, among other reasons.

My first response when reading about this program (found on pg. 115 of the June 23 City Commission Meeting Packet) was “Say What?!?. I guess I was just surprised that our city’s liberal tendencies actually offered a solid, frugal and conservative option for people who need it the most. This programs represents a good function for government. It offers low-interest loans to folks who have made an investment in our city, but likely live paycheck to paycheck, and whom are required to pay the loan back. The minimum loan amount is $1,000 and the maximum loan amount is $24,000 paid over 180 months.

There are some pretty solid stipulations that provide a more principled-friendly component along with some more modern environmental and health concerns. “Repairs completed through the Housing Rehabilitation Program are intended to remedy housing conditions which are threats to health and/or safety, have a positive effect on the surrounding neighborhood, decrease environmental hazards, increase water and energy efficiency, and improve the overall livability of the home.”

The fact that it is geared to a specific lower-income segment, to me, is aided in that participants must be on good payment standing with the city. “The participating property owner may not have any past due property taxes, special assessments, nuisance assessments, water bills, fines, or other past due debts or obligations owed to the City, or any other delinquent liens of the subject property.” Furthermore, homeowners must have outright title, homeowners insurance and have at least one year established ownership.

Here are some other details I found interesting, which I also feel make this a viable program worthy of government time and attention:

Participants in the Housing Rehabilitation Program must agree to the following categories of required repairs, as further described in the Administrative Guidelines.

1. Immediate health and/or safety concerns;

2. Exterior Housing Code deficiencies;

3. Treatment of lead based paint hazards and causes of paint failure as required by HUD in 24 CFR Part 35, and removal of asbestos hazards.

B. Exceptions to Required Repairs. Partial repairs of immediate health and/or safety concerns and/or exterior Housing Code deficiencies may be allowed provided the repairs are

1. Of an emergency nature

2. Of a major exterior housing code violation

3. Necessary to maintain the historical character of the building

4. Necessary for handicap accessibility into the unit

5. Essential to the long-term structural integrity of the building.