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Housing Rehabilitation Program

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ATTENTION ALL LICENSED GENERAL CONTRACTORS AND DELEADERS:

The City of Newton's Housing Rehabilitation Program is actively seeking qualified general contractors and deleaders for various housing rehabilitation projects. To find out more information and to obtain an application, please contact Doug Desmarais, Housing Rehabilitation Construction Program Manager at 617-796-1148 or email Ddesmarais@newtonma.gov.

Thank you for your interest in the Newton Housing Rehabilitation Program, a federally-funded program, that provides funding assistance for housing rehabilitation. Eligible applicants include income-eligible homeowners, nonprofit affordable housing organizations and the Newton Housing Authority. The principal purpose of the Program is to increase the supply of decent, safe and sanitary affordable housing in the City of Newton. Eligible properties include owner-occupied single and two-family residential structures and owner-occupied condominium units and deed-restricted affordable rental units owned by a nonprofit housing organization or the Newton Housing Authority.

All funding assistance is in the form of a deferred payment loan at zero percent interest due upon sale or transfer of the property with two exceptions: (1) Hazard Abatement including deleading is in the form of a grant and (2) emergency funding assistance for hoarding clean up is in the form of a grant up to $5,000 and available for who are receiving or willing to receive mental health services.

Program assistance is for Priority and Non-Priority work items:

Priority work

Emergency work: Proposed project work is only considered an emergency if not addressing the issue will adversely impact the health and safety of the residents. Some examples of emergencies include lead paint abatement if a child six or under has a documented elevated blood level, no hot running water, blocked plumbing due to deteriorated pipes, and broken or unusable boiler/furnace.

Hazard abatement: Eligible project work includes lead paint and asbestos abatement, mold remediation and radon reduction. Funding assistance for deleading, irrespective of whether it is an emergency, is in the form of a grant.

Removal of architectural barriers: Eligible project work includes the installation of ramps and stair lifts, interior modifications for persons with physical disabilities such as widening doorways for wheel chair access and making bathrooms accessible (e.g. installation of roll-in showers and ADA compliant sinks and toilets, etc.) and interior modifications for persons with other disabilities.

Structural failure: Proposed project work is considered eligible if not addressing the issue will adversely impact the health and safety of the residents. Examples of eligible work include repairing or replacing deteriorated stairs, entranceways (small porches), hand railings, chimneys and ceilings.

Correction of serious code violations or Housing Quality Standards’ deficiencies: Proposed work is considered eligible if not addressing the issue will adversely impact the health and safety of the residents. Examples of eligible work include repairing/replacing deteriorated, leaking roofs, boiler/furnace replacement, repairing/replacing broken windows and doors that cannot be secured and the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Depending on the circumstance(s), the correction of some code violations may be considered emergencies.

Non-priority work

Increase energy conservation and weatherization measures: Examples of eligible work include attic insulation, reducing air infiltration through windows and doors, window/door replacement, weather-striping and caulking and replacing inefficient water heaters and boilers.  Normally, weatherization work will be done in conjunction with other needed repairs as determined by the Housing Rehabilitation Program Manager.

Correction of certain code violations: Examples of eligible work include addressing tripping hazards (broken floor tiles, deteriorated carpet with curled edges) and electrical upgrades (additional outlets, new panel box, GFI compliance, etc.).

Removal of underground oil storage tanks: Funding assistance is for removal of the oil storage tank only and not the remediation of the soil.

NEW ONLINE APPLICATION !!! - Click Here            Online Application Instruction Guide

If you have any questions or would like additional information about the Housing Rehabilitation Program, please contact Malcolm Lucas, Housing Planner, at (617) 796-1149 or via email at mlucas@newtonma.gov.

If your Household does not meet the income guidelines and you are looking to modify your home for a household member of any age with a professionally documented limitation or disability, Metro Boston Housing has a program called "Home Modification Loan Program" Click Here for more information about this program.