The City of Topeka has been awarded a $750,000 grant from Federal Home Loan Bank for the Property Maintenance Violation Rehabilitation program. The program will work with low-income homeowners with housing violations with the Property Maintenance Division and use the funding from the grant to help them restore their properties. The funds for the Property Maintenance Rehabilitation program will be available approximately January 1st, 2019.
“The Department of Neighborhood Relations is very excited to be helping more low-income families in Topeka. Many of the people we serve are not only low-income but elderly and sometimes disabled. This grant will allow us to help over 50 families with property maintenance rehabilitation on their homes in the upcoming year,” said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services for the Neighborhood Relations Department.
The Property Maintenance Rehabilitation Program will help enable residents to maintain a safe environment in their home. Qualifying repairs will include; collapsed or badly deteriorated sewer line, roof replacement, guttering, replacement of windows, weatherization, siding and other items as determined on a case by case basis by the Department of Neighborhood Relations. The rehabilitation completed is a grant to the homeowner with a maximum benefit of $20,000 and a minimum of assistance of $2,500. Capitol Federal® is the sponsor for this award and will be assisting the City of Topeka with the program.
“Capitol Federal® is proud to be the member Bank partnering with the FHLBank of Topeka and the City of Topeka in the Property Maintenance Rehabilitation Affordable Housing Program. As a leading Kansas residential real estate lender, CapFed® recognizes many low-income families live in homes which require costly repairs that can be difficult to make given budget constraints. Our goal is for this partnership to provide safe and healthy living spaces for area residents and have a positive impact on Topeka housing,” said Lloyd Rainge, Community Development Director for Capitol Federal.
Eligibility for the Property Maintenance Rehabilitation Program will require residents to:
Have a Property Maintenance code violation
Applicant household income must not exceed 50% of the current median household income as determined by HUD.
The applicant must have resided in the property for more than one year.
All Federal, State and local regulations must be met by the owner of the property to receive assistance.
The program will not assist for home fire repair or rehabilitation nor flood repair or rehabilitation.
The program will not assist homeowners that received Topeka Opportunity to Own (TOTO) assistance.
The program will not assist to clean up properties, cut grass or other items not related to the home itself.
The program will not assist a house with 30% or more replacement cost new.
All repairs, as determined by the department to be necessary for the occupants, must be repaired. If the cost of the repairs exceeds the program limits, the owner shall be responsible for the payment of the additional funds.