CITY OF WINTER PARK SENIOR AND DISABLED PERSONS HOUSING REHABILITATION GRANT PROGRAM

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1 CITY OF WINTER PARK SENIOR AND DISABLED PERSONS HOUSING REHABILITATION GRANT PROGRAM Funded by a Community Redevelopment Block Grant from Orange County, the City of Winter Park has developed a housing rehabilitation program to help improve neighborhoods, correct code violations and to assist in rehabilitating a homeowner s dwelling located within the municipal boundaries of Winter Park. The Housing Rehabilitation Program is designed to bring the eligible homeowner s dwelling into compliance with applicable, locally adopted housing standards and rehabilitation standards, to reduce ongoing and future maintenance costs, promote health and safety, promote energy efficiency, and to preserve decent affordable owner-occupied housing for seniors and disabled persons. Program funds are issued to contractors that perform specified repairs to the dwellings of eligible property owners. The Housing Rehabilitation criteria restrict assistance to owners of rental housing. Requests for grants will be handled on a first come, first served basis as funds are available. However, priority will be given in the following order if needed repairs fall into the following categories: 1) Emergency repairs 2) Code violations 3) Substantial renovations 4) Minor renovations Emergency Repairs: Any improvement or repair that requires immediate attention (within two business days) to ensure the ongoing health and safety of the occupants. Examples include but are not limited to damage from natural disasters, major flooding from leaks, loss of air conditioning, loss of power, substantial structural damage, and any living condition deemed severely unsafe or unhealthy by City Inspectors. Code Violations: Any improvement or repair that remedies an existing code violation as defined by the City of Winter Park Substantial Renovations: Any improvement or repair that is significant in scope costing over $10,000 to complete. Minor Renovations: Any improvement or repair that is minor in scope costing $1,000 - $10,000.

2 This program provides funding for the following: 1. Qualified emergency repairs and improvements to property 2. Qualified general repairs and improvements to property. The amount that the City of Winter Park will award for any single home address is a total amount not to exceed $20,000 with a minimum qualifying amount of $1,000. The program is intended to be for capital improvements and is not to be responsible for minor maintenance. All repairs provided under this program will be completed by a contractor and will be covered by a one-year guarantee period, with the exception of a roof repair which has a three year guarantee period. Applicants will be referred to Orange County if more work is needed other than what the Winter Park grant can offer. To Apply: Contact Vickie Shular, CRA Project Manager at Required Steps for participation in the grant process and eligibility requirements: Must be a Senior or Disabled person (see definition below) Must meet Orange County s Income guidelines for very-low, low, and moderate income The home must be located within the municipal boundaries of Winter Park Home must be owner occupied Property must be current on all taxes and liens Property must not have had prior rehab assistance under City of Winter Park rehab programs within the last five (5) years. (Exceptions can be made for emergency situations. See section below on Program Reuse.) Senior: Any individual aged 62 years or older Disabled Person: A person is considered to have a disability if he/she has a mental, physical, or developmental disability which is a) severe and chronic that is likely to continue indefinitely; b) results in substantial functional limitations in two or more of the following areas of major life activity: i) self care, ii) receptive and expressive language, iii) learning, iv) mobility, v) self-direction, vii) economic self-sufficiency; and c) reflects the person s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary or generic care, treatment, or other services which are of lifelong or of extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated. INCOME LIMIT QUALIFICATIONS 2

3 Applicants must meet Orange County s guidelines for very-low, low, and moderate income. Please see the attached Orange County Income Limits Chart for details. APPLICATION PROCESS 1. Application Affidavit 2. Copy of Deed or proof of ownership 3. Income Determination 4. Eligibility Determination SPECIFICATIONS A survey of the dwelling unit will be performed by City Staff (Rehabilitation Specialist & City Inspector) in order to determine minimum rehabilitation requirements and prepare an itemized scope of the needed improvements. CONTRACTOR SELECTION Contractor selection is made with homeowner s knowledge and is selected through the bid process. All contractors will be part of an approved list of contractors that carry appropriate insurance, qualifications, and expertise. CONTRACT SIGNING Contract is signed between homeowner, contractor and City. 5 YEAR RESTRICTION ON SALE To keep applicants from using the rehab program as a way to personally profit, homeowners awarded funds through the program will not be able to sell or transfer ownership of the property for a 5 year term without incurring a repayment penalty. For each year that passes of the 5 year agreement, 20% of the repayment penalty, which is 20% of the value of the grant, will be forgiven, and no repayment penalty will be due after the 5 year term. This is not a lien but gives the City the right to pursue any homeowner that sells their home prior to the end of the 5 year period. If the home ownership passes to another relative, that person must also meet the income limit guidelines or be subject to repayment. COMMUNITY SERVICE Community service of 2 hours for every $ of grant money awarded will be required. Community service work must benefit the City of Winter Park and 3

4 may be served through churches, nonprofit organizations and the City of Winter Park Public Library. City Staff will work with the applicant to organize a approved service plan. For disabled applicants unable to perform community service, this requirement will be waived. PROCESS & TIMEFRAME Homeowner gives authorization to begin the work specifications detailed in the scope of work attached to the contract. Once a contract is signed the Contractor has seven (7) days to receive permits and thirty-five (35) days to complete the contracted repairs and improvements. An extension will be given to the contractor only if the contractor experiences a manufacturer s delay of materials ordered for the job. INSPECTIONS Regular inspections are made by staff and a City Inspector to coordinate and direct the work of the contractor. Inspections of completed work will be made by the City Building Division Inspector for permitted work. All work will be approved by the applicant and the City staff. FINAL INSPECTIONS City staff and a City Inspector will inspect the dwelling unit to determine quality of work, and if the specifications requirements have been met. AUTHORIZATION OF PAYMENT Upon approved final inspections, City staff will authorize payment to the contractor at City Hall upon contractor completing and delivering a Release of Liens form (and other necessary forms as required by the City). ITEMS THAT CAN BE COVERED UNDER CITY OF WINTER PARK HOUSING REHAB CDBG PROGRAM: Exterior (only as part of larger project) & Interior painting (only as pertains to damage during construction) Handicap ramps/railings/ramp reconstruction Smoke detectors Safety tread on floor of bathtub Grab bars Windows, doors, screens and weather stripping (replacement of broken items only) Tree trimming, removal, & replacement (only if deemed an immediate safety issue by City Inspectors) 4

5 Roof system repair Insulation Drywall repair/replacement Air Conditioning/ HVAC Security lights Plumbing repiping, gas/electric water heater Bathroom fixtures repair/replacement (if broken or safety/health hazard) Sheds - limited to 8x10 (Vinyl) for homes where utility area is currently part of the dwelling space and an exterior utility space is needed. Flooring vinyl or linoleum only, will replace existing carpet only if the applicant will benefit from such installation due to medical reasons (must present physicians note) Electric connectivity fee (this fee will be covered when home is a part of the City s Electric Utility Underground project) Termite treatment initial treatment only Electrical Installation of GFI receptacles in baths and kitchen (if none exist) & new wiring if deemed a safety hazard. Any remodels or repairs deemed appropriate by the City to retrofit homes for use by senior or disabled persons. Any repair or remediation deeded appropriate by the City to ensure the safety and health of the occupants. * Disclaimer: City reserves final right to approve or disapprove of qualifying repairs and replacements. PROGRAM REUSE A property that has participated in a Winter Park housing rehab program may not reapply for future assistance for a period of five (5) years. Exceptions will be made for emergencies where households with homeowner s insurance are unable to pay the deductable (eg Hurricane causes severe roof damage). In the case of major repairs needing to be made to a home, and in which the homeowner has home insurance for their property, applicants may apply to the Program regardless of past participation in housing rehab programs. PROGRAM FUNDS AVAILABILITY Due to the uncertain nature of budget availability in any given year and the uncertainty of future grant awards the City of Winter Park cannot guarantee that funding will be available in future years for home rehab. In no way will the City of Winter Park be required to offer funding for any home rehab work outside of officially established funds budgeted specifically for housing rehabilitation. 5