City program helps fix house issues for low-income homeowners
ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- The City of Round Rock approved spending nearly a third of its Community Development Block Grant money on its Home Repair program, which is estimated to help fix six low and moderate-income households.
The CDBG is federal dollars issued to the city from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that are designed to be used for a range of housing, community, and economic development projects and services. The city will receive $642,233 this year from the federal government.
Here's a breakdown of how this money will be used:
- Greenhill Park Improvements - $240,000
- Home Repair Program - $177,453
- CDBG Program Administration - $128,446
- Round Rock Area Serving Center Food Pantry - $30,000
- Round Rock Area Serving Center Housing Assistance - $30,000
- Child Advocacy - $20,000
- Meals on Wheels Program - $16,334
The city's Home Repair program helps families with low or moderate-incomes fix issues at their home that impact the health and safety of the house. This can include projects like plumbing, electrical, adding ramps and stairs, and HVAC systems.
"It really does make an impact," Joe Brehm, the director of the Community and Neighborhood Services Department, explained.
Alicia De La Cruz, a Round Rock resident, was the recipient of a new roof from the Home Repair program. She said her roof had been leaking into her living room, and did not have the money to afford the replacement.
She has lived in the same home for 42 years. De La Cruz said the cost for the new roof was going to be $8,000, which she did not have. The Home Repair program will pay for projects up to $25,000 per household.
"Very nice work. Very, very nice," De La Cruz said about her new roof.
Who is eligible for the Home Repair Program?
Brehm said when it comes to deciding who is approved for the repair program there is a priority. The first priority is families and individuals who make 30% or less than the median income in the chart below. It also depends how many people are in your home. Here is a break down of the first priority group:
| # in household | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Median Income | $26,500 | $30,250 | $34,050 | $37,800 | $40,850 | $43,850 | $46,900 | $49,900 |
The second priority is families and individuals whose annual income is 50% or less than the median income in this chart below:
| # in household | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Median Income | $44,100 | $50,400 | $56,700 | $63,000 | $68,050 | $73,100 | $78,150 | $83,200 |
The third priority is families and individuals whose income is 80% or less than the median income of the chart below:
| # in household | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Median Income | $68,500 | $78,250 | $88,050 | $97,800 | $105,650 | $113,450 | $121,300 | $129,100 |
If you'd like to learn more about the program you can read it on Round Rock's website.