The City of Denver Office of Economic Development has awarded the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) $850,000 in funding to support the City’s housing rehabilitation programs. Through the Single Family Rehabilitation (SFR) and Emergency Home Repair (EHR) programs, DURA helps low- and moderate-income homeowners throughout Denver address their housing rehabilitation needs through low- or zero-interest loans.
“These are critical programs for creating safer and more livable neighborhoods for Denver residents,” said Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “They not only help reduce the amount of foreclosures around our city, but they create an environment of economic stability for some of our neediest citizens during one of our most difficult economic times. These housing programs truly do have a positive impact on our entire community.”
Through the EHR and SFR programs, DURA has provided more than $66 million in rehabilitation assistance to more than 16,000 qualifying Denver homeowners, providing the opportunity for economic stability among Denver’s low- and moderate-income residents.
“The SFR and EHR programs are designed to assist qualifying Denver homeowners in obtaining very low-interest loans to preserve and protect their homes through necessary exterior and interior house repairs,” said Tracy Huggins, executive director at DURA. “In addition to helping Denver residents stay in their homes, the SFR and EHR programs also preserve the existing inventory of affordably priced housing options, which are often older and in need of repair.”
The SFR program, which received $600,000 in funding, provides low- or no-interest loans for essential home repairs such as roofing, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, furnace and water heater repair/replacement, electrical, plumbing, sidewalks and driveways, exterior and interior painting, floors and carpeting, windows and doors, insulation, and handicap accessibility. Qualifying homeowners may receive up to $24,999 in loans through SFR.
The EHR program, which received $250,000 in funding, provides similar assistance but for emergency situations that require immediate attention, such as a leaking roof, hazardous or inoperable furnace and water heater, plumbing, electrical or sewer system failure. The EHR program provides qualifying homeowners with low-interest loans up to $6,000.
To qualify for a loan, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
$property must be located in the City and County of Denver
$homeowner must possess documentation of legal residency in the United States
$own and occupy the home
$have a household income that falls within income guidelines, which are based on the HUD Area Median Income (AMI)
The
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