Morristown Program Assists Residents With Home Improvement Projects

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A program in Morristown is helping residents fund home improvement projects in the district.

The town’s Home Improvement Program (HIP) financially assists eligible residents looking to make home improvements and repairs.

The HIP will provide eligible residents with a ten-year loan of up to $24,000, with zero interest. The loans are provided through the municipal housing trust funds and are only available to primary residences within Morristown’s borders.

Morristown has partnered with Community Grants, Planning and Housing (CGP&H), an organization that “administers municipal and county sponsored home improvement programs that service numerous towns throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.” Since its inception in 1993, the organization has provided repairs to more than 2,500 homes in NJ and PA.

The loans are dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the number of people in a given household and their annual income. Refer to the chart below to check eligibility:

Eligible uses for the loans include new roofing, repairs on heating/cooling systems, window replacements, foundation repairs, and more.

See eligibility requirements below, provided by Morristown:

• Household occupants must be within the income limit.
• All deed holders must agree to Program terms and be available to sign any required documents.
• There must be existing eligible home improvement(s), including at least one code substandard major housing system.

• Property taxes, municipal utilities, and, if applicable, mortgage must be paid current. For applicable developments, Homeowner Association (HOA) fees must also be paid current.

• The owner’s equity in the home must be greater than the maximum amount of assistance that could be made available by the Program. For the sake of this rule, the market value of the home will be calculated using the municipality’s assessed value divided by the municipal equalization ratio. All existing property liens (mortgage, home equity loan, etc.) are then deducted from the calculated house value to determine the current property equity. If you need assistance in determining equity, please call the number listed at the end of this handout.

• If any living quarters (bedrooms, kitchen or bathroom facilities) exist in the basement or attic and/or if there is any secondary kitchen in any unit, the homeowner will be required to provide evidence (closed-out permit, certificate of occupancy, etc.) that it was permitted by the Town of Morristown, prior to being able to proceed with program assistance.

• If there are any repairs or renovations currently being undertaken on your home by others or yourself, or done within the last few years, that require or required municipal permits, the work must be completed and the permits closed out prior to applying to the Program. Contact the municipal construction office if you have questions regarding construction permit requirements.

• • Please note, the program does not reimburse for previously completed work, or work that is currently underway.
• You must have a current homeowner’s insurance policy with enough coverage for any current mortgage plus $24,000.00 (the funding limit) to be assisted by the Program.

• There must be existing eligible home improvement(s), including at least one code substandard major housing system.

The program is also available to renters.

Click here to learn more about Morristown’s HIP, or call 609-664-2769 ext. 9.