The city of Columbus is now accepting applications for a federally-funded housing improvement program.
On Tuesday, the city council approved the contract for the program, which could use up to $255,000 to help qualifying homeowners repair their homes.
George Irby, the city’s assistant director for community development, said more than 140 people expressed interest in the program, though only about 40 live within the qualifying portion of the city. Now, Irby said, the city is sending applications to those potentially-qualifying homeowners and is taking more from other interested homeowners.
The program is geared toward owner-occupied homes — especially those belonging to elderly homeowners — that need health and safety repairs for things such as plumbing, roofing, electricity and other issues.
Irby said the city will host a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 in the Municipal Complex where applications will be available. The city will take applications until mid-November, he said. Then it will review applications to select which homes to address with the funding.
Irby said the program should fund repairs to up to 20 homes.
“We were approved to spend $17,000 on each structure, but if a structure does not need $17,000 worth of work, then we can add what’s left to some other houses,” Irby said.
Director of City Planning and Community Development Christina Berry said the program is administered through the Federal Home Loan Bank. The city applied for the funding through Renasant Bank.
The program will address qualifying homes in Housing Revitalization District 1, which the city created in September.
Irby said the districts falls in an area that’s eastern border is formed by 22nd Street, northern border by Highway 82, western border by the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and southern border by Ninth Avenue South.
Per program regulations, Berry said the district is in a census tract that contains very low-to-moderate income households. The home improvement project will be geared toward offering repairs to people who earn less than the city’s median income — which is $29,335 annually, according to the U.S. Census Bureau — and who can’t afford them otherwise.
The city is funding the program with $105,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank, in addition to a $150,000 left over from an old, similar project.
Housing Revitalization District 1 touches several wards. Wards 4 and 5 make up a significant portion of the district, and councilmen for both wards said they’re excited about the project.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones. “Ward 5 has some of the oldest homes in the city. This will help in the long run in several areas. If we can get the homes nicer, it helps with the look of the city, and we can also help with utility bills if we can get them insulated. It’s a great program to help give back to the elderly in the area.”
Ward 4 Councilman Marty Turner said he’s especially pleased to see the project include some homes in north Columbus.
“It’s very great,” Turner said. “I have probably about four homes in my area that are going to submit applications. The families will greatly appreciate it.”
For more information on the program or getting an application, call the office of Planning and Community Development at 662-245-5061.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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