We administer the Housing Rehabilitation Program on behalf of many of the municipalities of Franklin County. This program offers loans that are 0% interest and deferred payment (meaning you make no monthly payments) and provide an affordable means for homeowners to bring their homes into compliance with building codes, perform needed repairs, and weatherize their homes. Depending on the severity of the building code violations on the property, applicants may be eligible for loans of up to $50,000.
Eligibility Guidelines
There are three areas of eligibility for the housing rehabilitation program:
- The household must have an annual gross income equal to or less than 80% of the area median income (see income guidelines below). For multifamily properties, at least 51% (or at least one household in a two-unit property) of the units must be occupied by households whose income falls at or below the income guidelines.
- The projects must address code violations and the completed work must bring the property into code compliance.
- The property must be located in one of the towns with a Housing Rehabilitation Program administered by HRA.
Towns with housing rehabilitation programs administered by HRA
Ashfield
Bernardston
Buckland
Charlemont
Colrain
Conway
Deerfield
Erving
Gill
Hawley
Heath
Leverett
Leyden
Monroe
Montague
New Salem
Northfield
Orange
Rowe
Shutesbury
Sunderland
Warwick
Wendell
Whately
Housing Rehabilitation Program Income Eligibility Chart
Effective 6/15/2023
| Household Size | Maximum Income |
| One (1) person | $55,800 |
| Two (2) people | $63,800 |
| Three (3) people | $71,750 |
| Four (4) people | $79,700 |
| Five (5) people | $86,100 |
| Six (6) people | $92,500 |
| Seven (7) people | $98,850 |
| Eight (8) people | $105,250 |
How do I sign up?
If your town is on the list, please fill out and return the Housing Rehabilitation Waitlist List Form that is attached below. To have the form mailed to you, or to check on funding availability in your town, please contact us.
Please note that funding may not currently be available in your town. If your town does not currently have funding, you will be notified when funds do become available. Many towns have established revolving funds for this program. A revolving fund is replenished whenever a prior program participant repays their loan, and that money is then loaned out again to a new participant.
Towns can also receive funding for housing rehabilitation programs as part of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award. If you would like to see your town apply for CDBG funding, contact your town administrator or selectboard. HRA’s Community Development Department has assisted Franklin County towns to prepare successful CDBG applications for more than 40 years and would be glad to hear from your town. Click here for more information about additional uses of CDBG funding for towns.
For Contractors
If you are a contractor interested in doing work for HRA’s Housing Rehabilitation Program, see our Contractor Application below. Please contact us for more information.
