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Auburn's housing repair program funds emergency and accessibility fixes; staff report capacity constraints and $377,000 materials budget
Summary
City building official Crew Woodard and program coordinator Joel described Auburn's Housing Repair Program that provides grants (up to $25,000) for low- and moderate-income homeowners; staff said the program served 66 homes last year, has a ~$377,000 materials and contractor budget for the year and is on track to spend the funds.
Crew Woodard, Auburn's building official, and Joel, the city's housing repair program coordinator, briefed council on Oct. 27 about the housing repair program that provides eligible homeowners grants of up to $25,000 for needed repairs.
Woodard said the program is aimed at low- and moderate-income homeowners who live inside city limits, own their home, have lived there at least one year and plan to remain for at least one year after repairs. "This program provides eligible homeowners with grants up to $25,000 for eligible home repairs," Woodard said.
What the program covers: staff listed eligible repairs including roof replacements, plumbing repairs, unsafe stairs and handrails, flooring, accessibility modifications (ramps, walk-in tubs, shower stalls), heating system repairs or replacements, and other work to make homes safe and habitable. For older homes the city requires lead paint assessments and reviews with the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation when applicable.
Capacity and budget: Joel said the program served 66 homes last year (62 in the two years prior) and had completed 58 homes so far in the current year, on pace to exceed previous years. He said materials and contractor funding for the year is about $377,000 (wages excluded) with $85,000'$90,000 remaining.
Delivery model and limits: speakers emphasized that the city's in-house technician model (first in-house hire in Dec. 2019) improved responsiveness and made small projects feasible without high contractor premiums. The program does not perform routine maintenance; staff said it responds after failure or when repairs are necessary to preserve health and safety. Large-scale heat-pump installations are generally outside current funds; staff can perform like-for-like HVAC replacements and sometimes install ductless systems when suitable.
Partnerships and volunteers: Joel said the program partners with King County Housing Repair, King County Weatherization and Rebuilding Together South Sound on select projects; Habitat for Humanity generally does not focus on small repair work in the area. Staff said volunteers are rarely used because of liability concerns.
Next steps and council requests: council members praised staff and asked for follow-up data on completed projects; staff said they keep an open line for homeowners who need additional help after work is complete. Council requested continued reporting on capacity and budget use.
The city did not take formal action on the program during the study session; this was an informational briefing.
