The city of Creston is seeking applicants for one final project home within the target area shown to participate in their CDBG Owner-Occupied Housing Rehab Grant Program.
The key features and benefits of the program are:
• Homeowners can secure up to $32,000 in forgivable loan funds, essentially a grant, from the federal government to make major repairs on the home. If work can be done within this total budget, there is no cost to homeowners to participate.
• All homes, when finished, will meet safety standards for plumbing, electrical and lead-safe housing and will be more energy efficient. Also, home will have radon gas mitigation, if necessary.
• Work may include, but not be limited to roofing, siding, painting, foundation and wall repair, window and door replacement, heating and central air upgrades, electrical and plumbing upgrades, weatherization and insulation and related work as identified in a program inspection. Note that, while this program may help with your goals to modernize the homes, it is not designed merely to do remodeling. The program is designed to fix deficiencies.
• Homeowners will have some choice in the scope of work, such as paint colors and some optional work items.
Applicants must own their home, outright or with a mortgage, meet federal income limits, reside in the home full-time, be current on property taxes and maintain continuous homeowner’s insurance. The home must have a need for rehabilitation to fix deficiencies. This is not merely a remodeling or modernization program.
Applications can be picked up at the Southern Iowa Council of Governments office, 101 E. Montgomery St., from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. For any questions about the program or the application process, contact Joel Lamb at SICOG at 641-782-8491 or lamb@sicog.com.