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Hagerstown proposes $75,000 Middle Neighborhoods Emergency Repair Grant to help ‘ALICE’ households
Summary
City staff proposed a Middle Neighborhoods Emergency Repair Grant using $75,000 in state Community Legacy funds to cover 75% of repair costs for households up to 120% of area median income; staff will seek council approval at the May 27 regular session.
City staff presented guidelines for a new Middle Neighborhoods Emergency Repair Grant Program during the May 13 work session, saying the program will use $75,000 in state Community Legacy funds and will cover 75% of eligible repair costs for qualifying homeowners.
Margie Jo and Rachel Paul explained the program is modeled on the existing federal CDBG emergency repair program but uses state Community Legacy funding and raises the income threshold to 120% of area median income (AMI) so that households who are “asset limited, income constrained, employed” (ALICE) can qualify. Staff said the grant will pay 75% of eligible repairs and homeowners would be responsible for the remaining 25%; they estimated the funding could assist five to seven households.
Staff described the application steps: income documentation, three contractor estimates, and a city community liaison preparing a scope of work. They warned the process can take several months depending on contractor schedules and homeowner readiness, and they said homeowners may select a contractor from a provided list or submit their own bids. The program uses state rather than federal funding, so staff said it offers somewhat more flexibility than the federal CDBG rules.
Staff said they will present the program for a council vote at the May 27 regular session; if approved, staff will publish the program and start taking applications.
