Hale Aloha O Hilo Habitat for Humanity received funding from the 2016 USDA Rural Development Housing Preservation program and is taking applications for zero-interest loans to repair dilapidated homes.
Hale Aloha O Hilo Habitat for Humanity received funding from the 2016 USDA Rural Development Housing Preservation program and is taking applications for zero-interest loans to repair dilapidated homes.
To apply, applicants must have income and assets not exceeding program guidelines, have owned and occupied the home for at least one year before applying, be an owner-occupant with clear fee simple title, have sufficient equity to cover the cost of repairs and be able to repay the no-interest loan through 20 years.
The dwelling must be a legal structure located in a rural area, have defects that pose a health or safety hazard to occupants or be in need of improvements to make the dwelling accessible for a handicapped occupant. All locations outside Hilo are rural.
Repairs are performed by a licensed contractor hired by the homeowner. Loans are secured by a mortgage and a promissory note with 20 years to repay.
Past projects replaced leaking roofs, repaired plumbing and wiring and installed ramps and accessible showers for elderly occupants.
Hilo Habitat is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International which is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing. For more than 20 years, Hilo Habitat has helped low-income families build and repair homes in Hawaii County.
Hale Aloha O Hilo Habitat for Humanity is an equal opportunity housing provider. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry/national origin, sex, physical or mental disability, marital status, age or HIV infection is prohibited by federal law and violates Habitat policy.
For more information, call Mary Finley at 967-7230.