The City of Emeryville's full-service housing rehabilitation program allows
property owners to improve their property values at low or no cost to the owner,
while benefiting their neighbors and the rest of the community. The City's Housing
Rehabilitation Program offers grants and loans to low-to-moderate income homeowners
and rental property owners who own property occupied by low-to-moderate income
tenants in the City of Emeryville. All loan payments are recycled back into
the program, available to make additional grants and loans.
The program is administered by the Emeryville Redevelopment Agency. Funding
for the program comes from a variety of sources, including the Emeryville Redevelopment
Agency, the federal Community Development Block Grant Program, and other state
and federal funds as they become available.
Homeowners
The following programs (described below) are available to homeowners:
Loans:
Owner Rehabilitation Loans
Accessibility Loans
Grants:
Minor Home Repair Grants
Exterior Paint Grants
Exterior Cleanup/Improvement Grants
Accessibility Grants
Security Bar Retrofit Grants
Exterior Lighting Grants
Concrete Buyback Grant
Wrought Iron Fence Grant
Renters
The following programs (described below) are available to rental property
owners:
Loans:
Rental Rehabilitation Loans
Grants:
Exterior Paint Grants
Exterior Cleanup/Improvement Grants
Accessibility Grants
Security Bar Retrofit Grants
Exterior Lighting Grants
Concrete Buyback Grant
Wrought Iron Fence Grant
All of the program funds are available to make repairs on units occupied by
low income households as defined below. Only the funds through the Owner Rehabilitation
Loan Program, Accessibility Grants, Exterior Paint Grants, and Exterior Cleanup/Improvement
Grants are available to moderate income households as defined below.
Maximum Allowable Household Incomes
| Persons |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| Low Income |
$46,350 |
$53,000 |
$59,600 |
$66,250 |
$71,550 |
| Moderate Income |
$70,400 |
$80,500 |
$90,500 |
$100,600 |
$108,600 |
The Redevelopment Agency has recently added two new grants to the existing
list of available grants and loans. The Concrete Buyback Grant and the
Wrought Iron Fence Grant have been established in order to improve the
appearance and quality of our neighborhoods throughout the City. These two grants
are available to all residential property owners within the City of Emeryville.
There are no restrictions on income levels and both owner-occupied dwellings
or tenant-occupied properties are eligible. It is preferred that these grants
are used by adjoining neighbors as an overall neighborhood beautification project.
All applications submitted will be reviewed. All payments are made directly
to the contractor.
The Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program provides funds for structural
repairs (such as roofing and foundation work) and for internal work (such as electrical
and plumbing repairs). Low-to-moderate income owner-occupants are eligible for
deferred and amortized loans up to $50,000 at a 5% simple interest rate. If the
borrower does not have adequate income to make payments, the loans are deferred
until the property is sold or payment can be made. If the borrower has adequate
income to make payments on the loan, the borrower makes payments over a 15 year
term. Some general property improvements may be in included in the loan. Borrowers
need to have adequate equity in the home to secure the loan.
Minor Home Repair Grant Program 510-596-3742
The Minor Home Repair Grant Program provides grants up to $1,000 for minor repairs
to remedy unsafe living conditions, such as leaky plumbing, broken windows, faulty
light switches or unsafe electrical wiring, defective water heaters, or inadequate
door and window locks . These funds are available to lower income homeowners who
live in single-family or multiple-unit properties (including cooperatives) and
may only be used in the unit occupied by the owner. Only one grant may be made
per property per year.
Exterior Paint Grants and Exterior Clean-up/Improvement
Grants 510-596-3742
Beautify your home and increase its value by getting rid of cracking, peeling,
and faded paint. Through the Exterior Paint Grant Program you can obtain a grant
up to $5,000 to have the outside of your home painted. If major exterior work
is needed to prepare your home for painting, you may obtain funds through either
the Minor Home Repair Grant Program or the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program
(see description elsewhere in this article).
Up to $5,000 in grant funds are also available to improve the appearance of
the exterior of a residence. Eligible expenses include minor landscaping; driveway
repair; fencing; and removal of debris, overgrown shrubbery, and hazardous trees.
Properties containing up to 4 units are eligible if they are occupied by low
to moderate income homeowners or lower income tenants. Property owners may only
receive one grant per property every five years.
Accessibility Program 510-596-3742
The Accessibility Program provides grants and loans for units occupied (or to
be occupied) by low-to-moderate income disabled persons or seniors with impaired
mobility. The units may be rental or owner-occupied units occupied by low-to-moderate
income households. The funds may be used to remove architectural barriers to wheelchair
access by installing ramps, widening doorways, and installing accessible showers,
tubs, and toilets; to install safety hand rails, grab bars, and levers; and to
install devices for the hearing- and sight-impaired. Up to $1,000 in grant funds
are available, with deferred-payment loans up to $4,000 available at a zero interest
rate. Financial assistance may only be made once to each household. Landlords
agree to maintain the unit as affordable and accessible for a period up to five
years.
Security Bar Retrofit Program 510-596-3742
The Security Bar Retrofit Program provides grants up to $1,000 for 1-4 unit, owner-occupied
or rental properties to remove, replace and retrofit fixed security bars and grilles
installed over bedroom windows or exterior doors to allow emergency escape or
rescue access. Properties must be occupied by low income households.
Exterior Lighting Grant Program 510-596-3742
This program provides grants to cover the addition of exterior lighting to improve
the safety of Emeryville residents. Propertied must be occupied by low income
households.
Rental Rehabilitation Loan Program 510-596-3742
Rehabilitation loans up to $25,000 per unit are available to rental property owners
at below market rate interest rates (0-7%) to eliminate substandard housing conditions.
Repayment is determined by cash flow; otherwise loans are deferred. Maximum loan
terms are 15 years. The maximum loan amount varies depending on the unit type:
up to $15,000 for each studio and one bedroom, up to $20,000 for each two bedroom
unit, and up to $25,000 for each 3 or more bedroom unit. Up to $3,000 in general
property improvements may be made with these loans. These properties must have
a majority of the units occupied by lower income households. The owner will be
required to sign a Rent Limitation Agreement assuring affordable rents to lower
income households for a limited period of time.
Concrete Buyback Grant 510-596-3742
The Concrete Buyback Grants will provide a one-time grant up to $5,000 for property
owners who wish to convert barren or paved front yards into landscaped areas.
The work to be performed includes demolition, removal, and disposal of existing
concrete in the front yard setback area. This area will then be replaced with
a sprinkler system and landscaping. An application and set of detailed plans must
be submitted for approval via the Economic Development Department.
Wrought Iron Fence Grant 510-596-3742
The Wrought Iron Fence Grant will provide a one-time grant up to $5,000 for property
owners who wish to remove any existing, non-conforming fence from the front of
the setback area. The fence will then be replaced with a decorative open type
wrought iron fence. The maximum height allowed is 4 1/2 feet. Rear or side yard
fencing is also available where the yard abuts a street. Wood fencing may be permitted
for the rear or side yard. The Planning Division must approve fence placement.
A permit via the Building Department is also required. An application must be
submitted for approval via the Economic Development Department.
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