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Community services director outlines $5,000 minor home‑repair grants, seeks contractor pool
Summary
Community Services Director Derek Hall told the Farmers Branch City Council the Minor Home Repair Program offers grants up to $5,000 to owner‑occupied homes that meet value and homestead-exemption rules; staff reported about $20,000 spent this fiscal year and said procurement is underway to add contractors.
Derek Hall, Farmers Branch community services director, told the City Council on June 2 that the city’s Minor Home Repair Program (MHRP) provides grants of up to $5,000 to help owner‑occupied residences make repairs needed to bring homes up to code. Hall said the program uses average market values verified by the Dallas County Central Appraisal District and requires a homestead exemption to be on file.
Hall said the program completed nine projects in fiscal 2025 and six so far in fiscal 2026, with one underway and two more expected to start by mid‑July. “We’ve spent approximately $20,000 of our allocation for the six projects that we have,” he said, and staff reported a remaining balance of about $54,000–$55,000 to spend over the next four months.
Council members pressed staff on eligibility and procurement. Hall stated the program is value‑based rather than income‑based: “This is not income based,” he said, and explained that the city verifies property values against the appraisal district. On liens, Hall said, “there can’t be any leans on the property with except of the primary mortgage lender that’s on the home and that’s if the home is mortgage. If the home is owned outright um then there can be any secondary or additional uh leans on the property.” (The transcript wording on secondary liens was unclear; staff offered to provide follow‑up details.)
Council members also asked about contractor capacity and procurement. Hall said the program currently works project‑by‑project with a single contractor and that staff are drafting a scope of work to post a request for qualifications/proposals to expand the list of eligible rehab contractors. “The idea is that it will happen fairly soon,” he said. He added that chosen contractors will follow city permitting and inspection procedures.
On contractor liability and dispute resolution, Hall said the city’s process uses a consultant to bid projects, the building division assesses repairs to ensure they meet code, and contractors on the city’s list will be bonded and insured. “We are liable in the sense that we are ultimately paying for the work,” he said, and staff will require funds above $5,000 to be secured (for example, through escrow or other proof of funds) before the city issues payment for invoices.
Council members asked whether the $5,000 grant could be applied to large projects such as a roof. Hall said the grant covers up to $5,000 and any cost above that would be the homeowner’s responsibility, though the city will coordinate invoice and escrow processes to ensure the work can be completed.
The council did not vote on any changes; staff closed by saying they will continue outreach, expand marketing in target neighborhoods, and return with procurement materials and further program data.
