Home improvement, repairs programs available from the city

It tough for many people to buy their first home, and just as hard for many who own homes to keep them in tiptop shape.

So it is good to know the city has several resources to help with purchase and repairs.

Here are details from the city:

City of Kansas City, Mo., homeowners needing home repairs but having trouble financing them may be eligible to receive assistance from one of the City’s Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department’s home improvement programs.

First, the Emergency Home Repair and Targeted Minor Home Repair programs are currently accepting applications from eligible applicants.

  • The KC Dream Home Program is accepting applications from qualified first-time homeowners.Kansas City homeowners who cannot afford to make urgent repairs for help from the Emergency Home Repair Program. Eligible applicants may receive one service. Some examples are repairs for water and sewer lines (including water heaters), electrical systems, furnaces (including ductwork) and barrier removal (grab bars, handheld shower equipment and elevated toilet seats). Requests are granted based on household income.
  • A second program called Targeted Minor Home Repair is also currently available to low-income homeowners in certain neighborhoods. Applicants must reside in the property to be repaired, cannot own more than one residential property, and cannot have received home repair assistance from the City in the last five years. Examples of repairs include plumbing, sewer, furnace and roofing work.
  • View household income guidelines for both programs and download an application at www.kcmo.org/homerepair. Applications also are available at the Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department on the 19th floor of City Hall at 414 E. 12th St. or call 816-513-3025 to request one by mail.

Also, the Kansas City Dream Home Program is now taking applications from low to moderate-income residents who lack the resources to purchase a home of their choice within City limits.

  • Displaced homemakers also are eligible. Assistance is provided in the form of a second mortgage loan at 0 percent interest; this second mortgage is later forgiven after a period of time. The loan amount varies depending on the neighborhood and ranges from the lesser of 20 percent of the purchase price to $8,000-$20,000.
  • Applications for the Dream Home Program should be requested from participating lenders. For a link to those lenders and a list of household income guidelines, please visit www.kcmo.org/dream or call 816-513-3008

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