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173 Housing Rehabilitation Program---~-- RESOLUTION ~I73 Town of Yelm Washington PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND POLICY STATEMENT Small Cities Block Grant Housing Rehabilitation Program This is a resolution structuring the program requirements and declaring the policies to be used in operating the Housing Rehabilitation Program. WHEREAS, the Town of Yelm has a need for rehabilitating low and moderate income housing and improving the quality of life in the community, and WHEREAS, the Town of Yelm has been awarded a Community Development Block Grant jointly with the towns of Bucoda and Tenino 4y the State Department of Community Development, and WHEREAS, certain policies, procedures and requirements to govern the program need to be established, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED 8Y THE TOWN C0~INCIL OF THE TOWN OF YELM WASHINGTON,as follows: That the following policies and requirements are adopted to establish the Housing Rehabilitation Program. Section 1: FUNDING ALLOCATION A. Owner Occupied/Rental Housing: Approximately eighty percent (80~) of the total funds coming to the community shall be expended for owner-occupied housing. The remaining twenty percent (20~) shall be allowed for rental housing rehabilitation. Based on the demand and participation by homeowners, priorities for funding and processing of applications shall go to the owner occupied housing. B. Target Area: In the first year approximately 80 percent of the rehabilita- tion loans provided shall go to the residential areas directly surrounding the downtown area. (See map in Administrative Plan for a description Df the boundaries). -1- t Section 2: Eli ibility and Priority A. Income Eligibility: To be eligible fora rehabilitation loan, the appli- cants gross family income shall be no more than 80~ of the median income for Thurston County based on family size. The established median income shall be periodically adjusted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and used by the program. Each applicant will be required to provide ade- quate documentation of all income sources through income tax statement, em- ployer statements or other source to verify eligibility. Assets will not be considered in determining eligibility, however, any income derived from assets (e.g., interest, dividends, etc.) will be considered and included in the gross family income. B. Property Eligibility: Adequate consideration shall be given to insuring the property is eligible for the program. Each applicant's property must be in compliance with local zoning ordinances for residential use. The unit must also be a permanent, habitable structure designed for residential use. Each property must also be located in the incorporated area of the Town as defined by the city limit boundaries. The unit must have at least one major deficiency that presents a threat to the health and safety of the occupants based on Uniform Building Code Deficiencies and established pri- ority code items for the program. C. Eligible Repairs: The loan funds must be used to correct major health and safety hazards in a structure. A major health or safety hazard shall be considered a structural (foundation, roofs, floors, walls, etc.) or func- tional (electrical, plumbing, heating) component of a house which is deter- mined to need substantial repair or replacement to meet Uniform Building Code requirements. D. Processing Priority: All eligible applicants will be awarded a priority rating based on a combination of gross income and the units need for re- habilitation. Eligible applicants will be processed based on this estab- lished priority in as timely a manner as possible. -2- Section 3: TYPE OF PROGRAM ASSISTANCE A. Owner Occupied Housing: The program shall consist of providing low interest loans requiring repayment based on ability to pay and deferred payment loans for those households unable to make any repayments. The loans must go to repair housing code deficiencies as defined by the Program Guidelines. The program will provide loans in two areas: (1) Home Improvement Loans: Loans under this category shall go to repair major housing code deficiencies. The maximum loan amount shall be $16,800 under this category, (2) Emergency Home Repair: Emergency Loans will be granted to repair crit- ically hazardous conditions which present an immediate threat to the health and safety of the resident. Under this category both permanent and mobile homes will be eligible for repair. The maximum loan amounts shall be 53,600. On all loans a lien shall be placed on the property to insure repayment of the debt to the program. For applicants receiving either deferred payment loans or loans requiring monthly payback, full repayment shall be required when: (1) sale of the property or transfer of title occurs. (2) Applicant abandons use of the property for 90 days or rents the property to someone else; or (3) death of the applicant or the property passes to heirs. B. Rental Housing: Under this category the program will provide up to 50% of the total cost of the rehabilitation work with the total amount of the loan not to exceed 58,400. The rental owner will be required to pay for the re- mainder of the rehabilitation cost. Exceptions to this maximum amount shall be allowed in cases of large units (three or more bedrooms). Participation by rental owners shall initially be limited to one structure per owner. When there is more than one living unit in a structure, up to $16,800 maximum shall be allowed for the loan. The Housing Rehabilitation Program will offer an interest rate of 5%. A minimum monthly payment of $50.00 shall be required. Rental owners shall not be subject to the income requirements to be eligible for the program. However, each participating owner shall be required to rent their unit to a low or moderate income households. -3- Section 4: PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES A. Loan Requirements: Each applicant will be required to adhere to the estab- lished loan requirements and obligations as set forth in the Administrative Plan for the program. The specific program guidelines governing both the owner occupied and rental housing program shall be applied to all partici- pants. B. Contractor Requirements and Eligibility: For purposes of the Housing Re- habilitation Program, the definition of a contractor shall be defined by the State of Washington RCW 18.27.010. A current certification of regis- tration with the State of Washington for both general and speciality con- tractors shall be provided. Proof of suitable licensing by the State of Washington must be provided by contractor. All contractors participating in the program shall be required to comply with all guidelines and procedures on the construction contracts. As part of the process of making a contractor eligible to participate in the pro- gram the staff will contact the State Licensing Division to obtain a list of any complaints and determine the nature of the complaints. Any unre- solved complaints shall be cause for a contractor to become ineligible to participate in the program. Section 5: AMENDMENTS TO ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN AND PROGRAM GUIDELINES Any changes, amendments or additions to the adopted Administrative Plan and Program Guidelines shall be made by the Housing Rehabilitation Program Advisory Committee. Any change made to the program shall be reported to the Town Council at the next regular meeting. Invalidation of any portion of the Housing Rehabilitation Program Adminis- trative Plan by judgement, court order or governing agency shall in no way affect any of the remaining portions which shall remain in full force and effect. Approved by the Town Council and Mayor. DATE : - MAYOR ~. uc.,f~~. ATTEST: DATE: C~- J ~•- ~~., CITY CLERK ~ . -4-