City Offers Home Improvement Grants to Low Income Hazelwood Homeowners

Hazelwood has signed on to participate in St. Louis County's annual Home Improvement Program (HIP).

Hazelwood City Manager Edwin Carlstrom said this year the city will get $65,490 of federal funds, which are used to assist low income homeowners with home improvements. That comes out to about $5,000 for approximately 13 homeowners, Carlstrom said.

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About HIP

The Home Improvement Program is a federally funded program that provides technical advice and financial assistance to qualified homeowners for a variety of home repairs. The St. Louis County Department of Planning, Office of Community Development administers the program. it disburses lump sum grant funds to participating municipalities.

To Qualify

The person applying for the grant must be the owner and occupant of the property to be improved. Gross household income from all occupants must meet established low-moderate income guidelines, according to St. Louis County's website. Homeowners must be current in their mortgage payments and real estate taxes must be paid in full.

Types of Home Improvements

Approved repairs or replacements necessary to maintain minimum housing code standards are eligible, according to St. Louis County's website. Homeowners are required to solicit bids and select their own general contractor. The check will be submitted directly to the contractor following final inspection.

Grant Stipulations

Homeowners are required to sign a 5-year forgivable loan agreement that provides for an annual reduction of twenty percent of the amount of the grant, as long as they continue to own and occupy their house. The loan agreement will be on record with the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds office as a lien against the property.

A grant recipient can only participate once in a lifetime per homeowner, regardless of the fact they married or moved to a different address after five years.

Applicants are served on a first-come first-served basis until all funds are gone.