Grants available to help homeowners with needed home repairs
Low- to moderate-income Dubois County homeowners needing help making necessary home repairs can now apply for grants through a special county-wide program.
Dubois County and the City of Jasper, with matching funding through the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Plan, have partnered and applied a portion of the American Rescue Act funding they received in 2021 to create grants for this program. Through the program, $700,000 has been made available for housing repairs.
Grants are available for owner-occupied houses that are not located in a 100-year flood plain. Grants are not available for single-wide trailers. There are also restrictions for homes designated as historic.
Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission is administering the grants. According to Jenny Matheis, the grant administrator and housing coordinator for the program, though the grants are income-restricted, many people are surprised at how high the threshold is for qualification.
“For example, we base a lot of things off a four-person household, and the income guideline for that is $70,150,” she explained. “It’s a larger amount than a lot of people think.”
Here are the income guidelines for households of different sizes.
1 Person 2 People 3 People 4 People 5 People 6 People 7 People 8 People $49,150 $56,150 $63,150 $70,150 $75,800 $81,400 $87,000 $92,600
The grants can cover roof repairs/replacements, heating and air conditioning systems, electrical upgrades, water heater installation, and even ramps and ADA-compliant entrances/thresholds. According to Matheis, homeowners are encouraged to apply or inquire about whether repairs would qualify.
The county hopes to be able to help at least 20 homes, but once the available funding is expended, it is gone. The program has to be completed by the end of 2025 according to federal guidelines.
Matheis is accepting applications for the program now. Grants will be made “on a first come, first serve basis,” she added.
Matheis is available to help applicants with the paperwork and plans on setting up appointments in the near future at the area libraries to meet with interested homeowners.
To apply or if you have any questions, reach out to the Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission office Monday through Thursday at 812-367-8455 or email Matheis at JMatheis@Ind15rpc.org.
“We encourage everyone to reach out for more information,” Matheis said.
Cover photo by Zohair Mirza on Unsplash.
