Palm Beach County has thrown a lifeline to homeowners in need of a fixer-upper. The Department of Housing and Economic Development recently broadcasted the availability of $2,300,000 in ARPA-RF funds set aside for the Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program. This program promises to deliver up to $100,000 to income-eligible homeowners for major rehab work addressing code violations or impending code violations, for those residing in unincorporated areas of the county.
The property values are capped, however; homeowners applying must have a property appraised at less than $434,000 to qualify. With eligibility opening doors for moderate-income households, a one-person household can earn up to $98,280 while a four-person household's ceiling stands at $140,280. Before homeowners get too excited, they should note that "unpermitted work" on the property could render a home ineligible. The parcel numbers must start with "00" too, a rule specified by the county as residents prepped to apply, as per the county's website.
Intent on helping eligible residents navigate the application process effectively, the county has charted out a path with virtual pre-application orientations. According to an announcement by Palm Beach County, orientations will be held at various times starting from November 13 through November 25. Applicants can join via a WebEx link provided in the announcement, with opportunities to dial in for those preferring a phone-in approach.
Moreover, the county has made strides to ensure that these opportunities are accessible to all, complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and providing alternative formats and special accommodations as necessary. They also provide a helping hand for those struggling with the online application by offering a list of agencies that might assist, although it’s worth noting that these services may come at a charge.
Curious minds and eager applicants can find more details or reach out to the Department of Housing and Economic Development directly through the contacts provided, including specific department members like Antoinette Prescott or Megan Harp. The deadline to throw one's hat in the ring via the online pre-application portal is set from December 1 through December 19. Submissions made outside the boundaries of 12:00 p.m. on the opening day and 11:59 p.m. on the closing day will likely not make it into the random lottery selection for the 30 applications to be considered.
