Betty Stigler, Greenwood’s code enforcement officer, is in for a busy two weeks.
Stigler has been tasked with helping get the city’s HOME program off the ground.
The $505,000 grant from Mississippi Home Corp. could be used to rehabilitate as many as 16 owner-occupied residences located in Census Tracts 9502 and 9509. “It’s my baby to make sure that people get up here to get their applications filled out — to make sure they’re qualified,” Stigler said.
The city first goal is to have five qualified homeowners signed up by May 18. The census tracts run from Avenue F east to Mississippi 7 and include the Greenacres subdivision on Mississippi 7. The area also goes from south of Pelucia Bayou to U.S. 82.
“This HOME program is very specific and limited for homeowner qualification under the guidelines set by the Mississippi Home Corp.,” Greenwood Mayor Carolyn McAdams said in announcing the grant. “I am very appreciative that the city of Greenwood was funded by this wonderful opportunity to rehab approximately 16 substandard houses owned by low- and moderate-income families.”
Certain conditions must be met.
“The very first thing is to see if they qualify is to see if they’re in the census tracts, and the second thing is they’ve got to have a warranty deed with no mortgage,” Stigler said. “If they don’t have that, they don’t qualify.”
Recipients must own their homes.
“You cannot have a mortgage; you cannot have a tax lien or any type of lien against the property,” Stigler said. “If you do have a quitclaim deed, it must be one year old or older. In other words, your brother’s aunt can’t quitclaim their house to you tomorrow.”
The average HOME rehab budget per residence is $23,350 with a maximum of $35,000 in rehab funds on a qualified home.
The program’s low- and moderate-income limits are:
• 1 person/house: $24,050
• 2 persons/house: $27,450
• 3 persons/house: $30,900
n4 persons/house: $34,300
• 5 persons/house: $37,050
• 6 persons/house: $39,800
• 7 persons/house: $42,550
• 8 persons/house: $45,300
The individual grants, once approved, will be administered by Mississippi Home Corp.
Regular “stick built” and mobile homes are both eligible provided the homeowner owns the land, Stigler said.
Each mobile home rehabbed under the grant program would be counted twice from the total of 16 residences, she said.
Additional requirements include submitting two consecutive pay stubs or a 2016 tax return. Also, those receiving government benefits must supply their most recent “benefit letter” along with a copy of their 2016 tax return.
For those families that have members 18 and older who are not working, a “Zero Income Form” will have to be completed and notarized.
Stigler said she will launch a door-to-door campaign to get the word out about the grant program. Time is of the essence, she said. “If we get all 16 by May 18, that’s fantastic. We’re really working hard to get at least five.”
She said she has seen what happens when residences fall into neglect and the HOME program is a worthwhile effort.
“It is such a good thing for homeowners. When you don’t have the money to repair something, it just gets worse,” she said.
Stigler will staff a desk at City Hall from 3 to 6 p.m. today through Friday and from Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. She will also staff a desk next week from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Stigler may be reached by telephone at 455-7603 or on her cell at 299-2224.
McAdams said the program is a blessing.
“The city is very fortunate to receive this funding since only 13 grant awards were made from 110 applicants,” she said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
