In Florida, low-income homeowners can seek $100,000 for repairs

Low-income homeowners in Palm Beach County, Florida, may get up to $100,000 for major home repairs, including safety and storm-protection work.

Even so, the program is tight: the county plans to select only 50 applications, chosen by random drawing.

Here's what to know

The county requires an online orientation before you can apply. According to BocaNewsNow.com, Palm Beach County's Department of Housing and Economic Development has committed $4 million in State Housing Initiatives Partnership funding to its Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program, with up to $100,000 available for repairs for eligible homeowners.

For a one-person household, the income ceiling is $71,950; for two people, $82,250; for three, $92,550; for four, $102,800; and for five, $111,050. Those figures reflect the program's 80% of area median income limit for extremely low-, very low-, and low-income homeowners, and county staff can provide the thresholds for larger households.

Meeting the program rules alone won't secure aid, because the county plans to choose 50 applications by random drawing after the portal closes. The application window is scheduled to run from noon on Nov. 9 until 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 27 at pbcgov.com/HED.

Eligible repairs include work that corrects code violations, fixes problems before they become code violations, and removes conditions that threaten a resident's life, health, or safety.

The funding can also pay for hurricane-hardening improvements such as impact windows and doors, as well as connections to public utilities and accessibility upgrades for older adults and residents living with disabilities.

What can be done?

Homeowners who think they may qualify should start by completing the county's online orientation.

Applicants must be at or below 80% of the area median income, and homes with unpermitted work could be excluded.

After the portal accepts applications from noon on Nov. 9 until 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 27, the county will proceed with its random drawing. Homeowners with larger households who need to verify the correct income threshold should contact county staff in advance.

Where can I learn more?

Home repair programs in Florida often overlap with storm-hardening work and other home-upgrade incentives. These stories look at rebate programs and resilience improvements in Florida and other states.

• Across Florida, homeowners can tap a million-dollar rebate program for money-saving electric upgrades.

• Colorado officials finally opened up lucrative incentives, providing Americans up to $14,000 for home renovations.

• In North Carolina, a residential program offers unheard-of benefits for major home upgrades.

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