As winter nears, many residents in Aurora, Colorado, face costly home repairs that can impact their health and safety.
The Essential Home Repair Program aims to assist homeowners struggling with these expenses, providing financial aid to those who might otherwise have to choose between urgent repairs and daily necessities.
Essential Home Repair Program Overview
The Essential Home Repair Program offers grants to help cover expensive home repairs.
These grants can provide up to $12,000 for issues that do not involve sewer or water lines, and up to $15,000 for more extensive repairs like those involving damaged sewer or water lines.
This program is specifically targeted at homeowners who earn up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or below.
Over the past three years, it has helped 30 homes in Aurora, maintaining a high satisfaction rate of 95% among those assisted.
Challenges Faced by Residents
Many elderly homeowners in Aurora find it difficult to afford necessary repairs due to limited income.
With repair costs ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, they often have to make tough choices between getting repairs done or spending money on other essential needs.
Common issues that need addressing include malfunctioning furnaces, broken water heaters, and damaged sewer or water lines.
These problems can be dangerous, particularly when homeowners are unaware of the risks they pose, such as carbon monoxide leaks or frozen pipes.
Application Process and Criteria
To qualify for the Essential Home Repair Program, applicants must meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) low/moderate income guidelines and must own and occupy their home.
The program is available to homeowners within the city limits of Aurora.
They must also have a solid history of mortgage payments and current homeowner’s insurance.
The application review process typically takes about one to two weeks, and participation is limited to one grant per applicant to ensure funds are available for as many residents as possible.
