Home repair financing available for low income Calistoga homeowners – Napa Valley Register

Low-income homeowners in Calistoga in need of financial help for making repairs or certain upgrades have an option thanks to two loan and grant programs offered through the City of Napas Housing Authority.

In 2013, Calistoga successfully assisted over 20 households in Calistoga with household repairs for their homes. For doing so, the City of Calistoga was rewarded about $600,000 in Community Development Block Grants to assist homeowners, said Sheral Brekke, of the City of Napas Housing Authority.

Loans of up to $60,000 for conventional homes, and up to about $20,000 for mobile homes can be made to low- or very-low income homeowners who meet certain criteria. These are 30-year-term, zero interest rate loans.

They have no monthly payments, and no upfront costs, Brekke said at the July 18 city council meeting. There are no costs to the homeowner and the balance is not due for 30 years or upon transfer of title, she said.

The housing authority also assists with the whole rehab process, Brekke said, including help with the scope of work, inspections before and after the work, bids, and hiring contractors.

Some of the eligible repairs include such things as energy-efficiency upgrades like dual-pane windows and new heating and cooling systems; accessibility improvements such as low-rise stairs, wheelchair lifts or low-threshold showers; maintenance items such as roof replacement, laminate flooring or painting; and seismic retrofitting such as water heater bracing or tie-down systems.

The housing authority also has an emergency home repair grant program with free to qualified owner-occupied homeowners in both conventional and mobile homes help with repairing items such as water heaters, roofs, heating and cooling systems, electrical and plumbing, and other household necessities.

For additional information or assistance contact Antonio Mejia, who speaks fluent Spanish, at 707-257-9356.

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Home repair financing available for low income Calistoga homeowners - Napa Valley Register