Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County

Communities Waterfront Comprehensive Study

Bucks County Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Program

Owner Occupied Housing
Rehabilitation Program

BUCKS COUNTY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
One North Wilson Avenue
Bristol, Pennsylvania 19007
Phone (215) 781-8711 Fax: (215) 781-8716

THE BUCKS COUNTY OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM

It is the intent of Bucks County, acting under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, to provide assistance to homeowners in the repair and rehabilitation of their homes to the following provisions:

I. ELIGIBILITY

A. An applicant must be a resident of a municipality that is a current participant in the Bucks County Community Development Block Grant Program.

B. The applicant must have owned and occupied the dwelling for a period of at least one year.

C. The applicant shall have an annual family income that does not exceed the following:

Family Size Annual Family Income

1 Person $43,600

2 People $49,800

3 People $56,050

4 People $62,250

5 People $67,250

6 Or More People $72,200

D. Income is defined as the combined gross annual income of all occupants of the dwelling unit. Potential recipients shall be required to prove annual income. Income shall be verified by income tax returns, paycheck stubs or other means. Periods of temporary unemployment shall be excluded from the determination of normal annual income.

E. Families with disposable assets in excess of $10,000, and elderly or handicapped persons with disposable assets in excess of $20,000, shall not be eligible for assistance. Assets such as stocks, bonds, cash and real estate shall be considered. The value of the primary residence and up to one automobile per driver shall be excluded from this provision.

**Note: If your home was built before 1978.FEDERAL LAW requires that LEAD SAFE HOUSING PRACTICES be followed. This new regulation requires that the homeowner and all other occupants of the dwelling relocate during the actual rehabilitation and repair to your home. To participate in the Bucks County Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Program, the HOMEOWNER must agree to relocate all occupants of the home during the time the lead paint is being treated in accordance with this Federal Regulation. This relocation shall be at the expense of the HOMEOWNER and at NO EXPENSE TO THE COUNTY OF BUCKS, THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE COUNT OF BUCKS, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OFFICE OF THE COUNTY OF BUCKS AND ANY OTHER FEDERAL OR LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES (This could take up to 10 calendar days)

II. FORMS OF ASSISTANCE

A. The assistance provided by this program shall be a Deferred Payment Loan. This loan bears no interest and does not have to be repaid until the property is sold or title is transferred. It shall be secured by a lien on the property repayable to "County of Bucks Community Development Account".

B. In the event that title is transferred to a close relative of the applicant and such a person does not have the financial ability to repay the Deferred Payment Loan, the loan may be repaid over a period of time under terms and conditions to be specified by the Community and Business Development Office of the County of Bucks.

C. The maximum amount of assistance that may be provided to any applicant is $15,000. However, the cost of any improvements intended to make the dwelling accessible or usable for a handicapped person shall be excluded from the limit. Any funds provided by the applicant, in cash or from outside loans, shall also be included.

D. Lead Paint Abatement. This applies to homes where there is a lead paint problem identified by the Bucks County Health Department if there is a child under seven years old with an elevated blood level of lead. This program will assist owners of such homes providing a grant of up to $15,000 for lead paint abatement in addition to other assistance provided by this program. The homeowners must meet the income and residency requirements of this program.

III. REHABILITATION STANDARDS

The standards to be imposed for the rehabilitation shall meet the requirements of minimum housing codes in use within each community. In the event local codes are not in use, HUD Minimum Property Standards shall apply.

Program funds may only be used to meet code standards and for weatherization and modifications to accommodate the handicapped. It is the intent of this program that all properties be brought to code standards. The Redevelopment

Authority shall have sole discretion to determine what improvements are permitted and what is required. Applicants refusing to correct substantial code deficiencies shall not be eligible for any assistance under this program.

IV. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED

Assistance under this program is available to any person meeting the qualification standards without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familiar status.

Steps Involved For the Assistance
Through the Bucks County Owner
Occupied Rehabilitation Program

Step One:	Complete application and return it along with copies of the documents requested.
Step Two:	The Redevelopment Authority reviews your application and places the applicant on the waiting list. (If all the documents requested are not included, your request will be delayed while the additional information is obtained.) (Emergency applicants will be moved up on the list for specific health and safety concerns)
Step Three:	A conference will be scheduled and a representative of the Redevelopment Authority will inspect your home and complete additional application documents required.
Step Four:	Your application will again be reviewed and a final determination as to your eligibility will be made.
Step Five:	Specifications and a work write-up will be prepared and sent to contractors for bids, after its review with the homeowner. Lead Paint testing will be scheduled and completed prior to the work write-up being prepared by the Redevelopment Authority.
Step Six:	Bids will be opened at the office of the Redevelopment Authority. You may attend this bid opening. (The eligible amount of the loan will be the lowest qualified bidders price for doing the project)
Step Six-A:	You select the contractor you wish to perform the work on your home. (Any amount over the loan amount as determined in step six will be the responsibility of the homeowner and must be placed in escrow with the Authority prior to the start of the project.)
Step Seven:	Signing of acceptance documents, agreements and mortgage papers at the Authority office. (Can be scheduled in your home if needed) At this time scheduling for the Contractor to begin work shall take place with the Owner, Contractor and the Redevelopment Authority.
Step Eight:	The Contractor will be given official Notice to Proceed within ten business days after the signing of the contract documents unless the Homeowner agrees in writing to a specific start date for the project. If the Contractor does not begin on the specified date the Homeowner shall notify the Redevelopment Authority.
Step Nine:	Contractor to begin project in accordance with contract agreement. SAFE HOUSING LEAD PAINT PRACTICES BEGIN AND ARE COMPLETED PRIOR TO REHABILITATION BEING PERFORMED.
Step Ten:	LEAD PAINT CLEARANCE TESTIMG COMPLETED AND WORK MAY BEGIN ON REPAIRS TO THE HOME. Progress inspections are performed while work is in progress.
Final Step:	Final inspection and acceptance of work completed by the homeowner and Redevelopment Authority. (Contractor is paid in full and one (1)year contractor’s warranty begins.)

Click Here for an application.