Home Repair

Introduction

Downeast Community Partner’s Home Repair Department is serving the community by providing weatherization and home repairs.

With your help, we can beautify communities while improving the lives of people living in Washington and Hancock counties.

Did you know? The Home Repair project has 200 households on its renovation waiting list. This program needs sponsors who want to make a difference in people’s everyday lives.

With your aid, houses are transformed into homes that are safe, cost effective, and eco friendly. For every $1,000 donated $7,000 is gained in matching funds. Please visit our donation site and designate your gift to the Housing Department.

Mail your donation
Downeast Community Partners
Housing Department c/o Development
248 Bucksport Road
Ellsworth, ME 04605

The housing department provides quality renovations and strategic weatherization that mean lower heating and electric bills. Consider making a gift today.

If your heating system is not working and you cannot afford to fix it, visit our CHIP program page for more information.

· Eligible Repairs: Roofing, siding and trim wrap, new windows and doors, electrical, plumbing, heating, septic system replacement, wells and water treatment systems, handicapped access, and other structural repairs.

All applications are scored based on key criteria and are placed in priority ranking. Applicants found to be eligible are not guaranteed immediate assistance.

*This program is subject to funding availability.

CDBG (Community Development Block Grant)

Each year Maine receives a formula allocation of funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the CDBG program. The funds are allocated to eligible communities and Community Action Agencies (CAAs) through the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

Eligibility

Property must be Titled Ownership (deed) or a Life Estate. In the case of a Mobile Home, the Land must be Titled (deed) or if the land is on a rented lot the Bill of Sale for the trailer must be submitted. In the case of rented land, only improvements to the mobile home itself will be available through this program.
Income for the total household must not exceed 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) as shown in the HUD Section 8 limits at the time of application. Documentation from all forms of income for all household members must be included with the application. Documentation includes but is not limited to: wages, salaries, commissions, pensions, annuities, social security, TANF, general assistance payments, aid to the disabled, VA benefits, unemployment benefits, support/alimony, and other income such as interest, dividends, and rental income.
Liquid Assets (cash, or assets easily converted into cash such as bank deposits, money market funds, or US Treasury bills) may not exceed $5,000, or $50,000 for applicants who are sixty-two (62) or older.
Rental Properties are eligible up to a maximum of four (4) units in one building. For the building to be eligible a minimum of 51% of the tenants in the building must be income eligible. Please contact us for further information and eligibility requirements for rental properties.
There must not be a tax lien(s) on the property, and the property must not be in foreclosure. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding late taxes or late mortgage payments.
All applications are scored based on key criteria and are placed in either Low, Medium, or High priority ranking. Applicants found to be eligible are not guaranteed immediate assistance.

Eligible Repairs

Roofing
Siding and Trim Wrap
New Windows & Doors
Electrical, plumbing, and heating
Septic system replacement
Wells and Water Treatment Systems
Handicapped access
Other structural repairs
CDBG funds may be combined with other funding to replace a home if the condition warrants it. Please call for further information.

Pre-1976 constructed mobile homes

Pre-1976 mobile homes will be eligible for replacement or repair dependent upon severity of repairs.

Project Financing

Grants are awarded to those projects with an initial contract price of up to $7,500. These funds do not have to be repaid.
Deferred Forgivable Loans are awarded to those projects with an initial contract price greater than $7,500.
Loans from $7,500 to $20,000 are forgiven at a rate of 20% per year for five (5) years
Loans over $20,000 are forgiven at a rate of 10% per year for ten (10) years
A deferred forgivable loan is a 0% interest loan with no payments due. A percentage of the loan is forgiven each year until the loan reaches $0. A lien will be put on the home for the term of the loan, with repayment of the loan balance due only if the property is sold during the loan term. Once the loan reaches $0 the lien is removed from the home.

Example 1: In 2017 you sign a loan for $10,000. Each year $2,000 is forgiven so that in 2022 you owe $0 on the loan and the lien is removed from the home.

Example 2: In 2017 you sign a loan for $10,000. Each year $2,000 is forgiven. You sell the home in 2019. Two years have gone by so the loan balance is now $6,000. Upon sale of the home DCP will receive $6,000 for repayment of the balance of the loan.

Loan funds that are paid back (recaptured) are put back into the CDBG program for use on another project.

Maine Housing Home Repair Funds

Contingent on funding availability, the Maine State Housing Authority uses funds from the Real Estate Transfer Tax to fund its Home Repair Program. Maine Housing's program is similar to CDBG, with the following differences.

All financing is through grants. There is no lien required for this program.
The home must be a single-family home
Rental properties are not eligible for this program
Mobile homes pre-1976 will be eligible for replacement or repair dependent upon severity of repairs.
Clients will generally not be eligible for more than one grant through the Maine Housing program

Further eligibility rules may apply. For more information, please call us at 610-5888 or email housing@downeastcommunitypartners.org