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HRDC outlines Park County Home Repair Program to preserve older, low- and moderate-income homes
Summary
HRDC representatives described a CDBG-funded Home Repair Program that offers 0% interest, 15-year forgivable loans (minimum $40,000) to owner-occupied single-family homes at or below 80% area median income; staff reported 62 pre-applicants and widespread repair needs among older homes.
Catherine Neely, Park County Housing Coalition program manager with HRDC, told commissioners on Feb. 10 that HRDC and Park County are rolling out a Home Repair Program funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Stabilization award to the Montana Department of Commerce.
Neely described the program as a 0% interest, zero-monthly-payment loan with a 15-year term that is forgiven progressively (6.6% forgiven annually) so long as the income-eligible homeowner remains in the home. She said homeowners sign a restriction agreement for the loan term; if a household moves before full forgiveness, the outstanding balance is repaid into the program for re‑use.
Eligibility is limited to owner-occupied, single‑family detached homes located in Park County with household income at or below 80% of area median income (AMI). Neely gave examples of AMI thresholds used as guidance: currently $64,400 for a two-person household, $56,350 for a single-person household and $80,500 for a four-person household. She said more than 1,600 Park County homeowners meet the estimated eligibility criteria.
Neely reported 62 pre‑applications collected during a November–December pre‑application window and said applicant demographics include a high share of seniors (43% of pre-applicants aged 65 or older) and many very old homes: "More than 25% of pre applicants reported deficiencies in six or more categories related to their home's repair," she said. She identified the program's most common needs (windows and doors, insulation and air sealing, heating and plumbing, roofing and accessibility) and said many pre-applicants live in century homes.
Program funding was described as limited: Neely said roughly $600,000 is available from the CDBG Housing Stabilization grant. At the program's $40,000 minimum investment per home, HRDC estimated it could serve up to 15 households of the current applicants and noted the funding gap. Neely said HRDC is pursuing additional grants and partnerships and seeking private in-kind support (inspections or trade services) to extend program reach.
Kristin Galbraith, the county point of contact on the grant, said the grant pays for her administration time and that the grant remains active through August 2028; she and HRDC will look for additional funding and may approach the commission for support on future grant applications.
What this means: The program targets preservation of affordable owner‑occupied housing in Park County by addressing critical health-and-safety repairs and improving energy performance; county partners will track applications, ensure eligibility and consider additional funding and partnerships to expand capacity.
