Siler City seeking homeowners in need

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SILER CITY — The town of Siler City is looking for homeowners who are struggling to pay for repairs to their homes, hoping to help those residents using a Community Development Block Grant.

The grant has been a subject of the Siler City Board of Commissioners for more than a month and was again discussed during the board’s regular meeting on Monday.

Federally-funded Community Development Block Grants are administered through the N.C. Dept. of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division. The grant Siler City is seeking falls under Neighborhood Revitalization, which makes funds available for the rehabilitation and repair of homes owned by residents who are economically challenged, elderly or disabled.

The town has been collecting surveys of residents who may qualify to include with the grant application.

“It’s not eligible to everyone in the town,” Siler City Planning Director Jack Meadows said. “It’s meant to help the folks with the most need.”

Meadows said that town staff has been using the minimum housing list compiled by the town’s code enforcement contractor to seek out those who may qualify. They have been going door-to-door to encourage “households with lower incomes who occupy substandard housing” to complete to survey to see if they are able to be considered for a rehabilitation or replacement housing loan, which is an up to 8-year, 0% interest forgiven loan through the CDBG program. According to Meadows, rehabilitations and replacement loans are a 100% grant in the form of a loan with a deed of trust on the property. The deed of trust is placed on the property for a period of up to 8 years. At the end of the 8 years the deed trust is removed. If the homeowner sells the property during the 8 year period, the balance of the loan must be repaid. If the owner passes during 8 years, either a low-medium income household must occupy the property for the remainder of the recapture period or the balance of the loan must be paid.

As these grants are geared toward low-income residents, there are income limits, with a single person having to earn less than $50,900 per year, with gradually increases for each additional person in the household. For example, a family of four would need to earn $72,700 or less a year to qualify. Applicants would have to have a clear title to their property and show that they are up to date with their property taxes. Rental units are not eligible.

“All households served must occupy a unit with severe structural deficiencies,” a release sent by Meadows last week read. “This program is designed to address housing needs, not minor structural cosmetic improvements.”

The deadline to submit a survey in August 10, so Meadows is urging everyone who may qualify to fill out a survey or, if a resident thinks they may know someone who may qualify, urge them to complete a survey.

The surveys can be delivered in person to a drive-thru drop box located along the driveway off at City Hall, which is located at 311 N. Second Ave. The survey should be put to the attention of the CDBG Project Manager. Surveys can also be mailed to Town of Siler City, Attn: CDBG Project Manager, P.O. Box 769, Siler City, NC 27344.

If assistance is needed to complete the form, persons can contact the CDBG Project Manager at 910-392-0060 to set up an appointment. Meadows can be reached at jmeadows@silercity.org or by phone at 919-742-2323.

Casey Mann can be reached at CaseyMann@Chathamnr.com.