Housing Hope seeking low-income homeowners for new rehab program

Housing Hope is seeking low-income homeowners interested in rehabilitating their older homes.

The Self-Help Housing Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Program is a new initiative of Housing Hope’s Team HomeBuilding program, which has traditionally focused on helping new homeowners with constructing their new houses.

“This program is really aimed at rehabs that’s going to be for safety and security of the homes,” said Sara Wilson, Housing Hope’s event and marketing manager.

The nonprofit can walk homeowners through the entire process of rehabilitating their homes, which would require them to put in their own work, learning new skills under the guidance of a construction supervisor.

Housing Hope can also guide homeowners through the process of applying for a USDA Rural Development home rehabilitation loan at a 1 percent interest rate — homes more than 62 years old could qualify for up to a $7,500 grant. Wilson said there are a number of prequalifications, such as income and being geographically located within a rural loan area.

Recruitment is starting now for the Self-Help Housing Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Program, but Wilson said work with participants will likely take off this fall.

“We kind of want to gauge interest,” she said. “We think it’s a need especially in Monroe and in Sultan.”

Rehab projects that could be completed through Housing Hope’s new program include installing new siding and roofing, and electrical and plumbing updates.

Find out more about the program here, or by contacting the Team HomeBuilding Program at 425-322-3723, Ext. 230 or homes@housinghope.org.

The Team HomeBuilding Program plans to working with 10 new homeowners on constructing a housing complex in Sultan this summer, similar to the Monroe Main Street development.

“There’s already meetings happening, and they’re undergoing permits right now,” Wilson said.

Each family is expected to contribute 30 hours of labor (sweat equity) per week, and the project should be completed in 15 months, according to a Housing Hope news release.