Critical Home Repair
Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that everyone should have a safe, decent, affordable place to live, and we recognize the need in our community for assistance to low income homeowners who have urgent home repair issues but are unable to afford the cost of the labor, materials, or both.
What is considered a Critical Home Repair? The Critical Home Repair Project provides urgent and major home repairs focusing on safety, security and accessibility, weatherization, and keeping houses up to building codes to prevent homeowners from suffering injury, accidents, or having to move out of their homes and so they can maintain a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. Eligible repairs include: roof, floors, windows, doors, furnace, water heater, insulation, handicap modifications, plumbing, electrical etc.
How long is this project for and where did funding come from? We are able to start the Critical Home Repair Project in 2022, due to granted funds from the Roscommon County American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funding. Granted funds are distributed on an annual basis, so there is a chance we will run out of funding mid-year and funding is not guaranteed each year. ARP funding is through 2024; the project may or may not extend beyond that dependent on future funding.
Can anyone apply for the Habitat Critical Home Repair Project? Yes. Habitat follows a nondiscriminatory policy of homebuyer selection. We serve people in need of housing regardless of race, religion, age, gender, origin, ancestry, disability, familial status, or any other legally protected class.
What are the qualification requirements for the Critical Home Repair Project? Applicants must:
- Have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Own and live in the home in Roscommon County, Michigan for at least one year
- Be current on property taxes for the property
- Have an active homeowners insurance policy
- Meet low-income qualifications
- Be willing to partner by completing sweat equity requirements
- Be able to provide all application paperwork in a timely manner
How have families been impacted by COVID? Many people have lost their jobs, some are able to draw unemployment benefits while others cannot, people are struggling to make payments with reduced incomes, and some are indeed close to losing their housing. Essential workers have been working overtime and may not have had the time for home projects like they used to. Many families have been infected by the COVID-19 virus and incurred hospital or medical bills.
What is sweat equity? ‘Sweat equity’ means they help with the project in their own home or the homes of others in Habitat for Humanity programs, or volunteer at a Habitat ReStore. Families will contribute these prerequisite hours of ‘sweat equity’ based on the dollar amount of the home repair (10 hours per $5,000), which can be on the home repair project itself, in the ReStore, or on other community projects. As with the homeownership program, sweat equity helps provide a meaningful interaction between partner families, affiliate representatives and Habitat volunteers, it gives families pride in homeownership, and it helps develops skills and knowledge that they can use in their home in the future.
Will I need to pay for the repairs to my home? No. Other than the sweat equity hours, there is no repayment required with this current program that is funded by grants.
How do you apply for the Habitat Critical Home Repair Project? It is easy to begin the process. Click on the button below for the Critical Home Repair Application. It might be best to print it, fill it out, then mail or bring it in to the office. Applicants will be selected based on need, our ability to perform repairs, and funding availability.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.