CDBG Assistance to Homeowners
Program Guidelines
Application Form
Eligible Home Projects
Terms of Financial Assistance
Who is Eligible?
How Will Applications be Selected
The Town of Spencer has been awarded a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant for Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. These funds are being administered by the Town of Spencer to rehabilitate approximately ten (10) owner-occupied homes in Spencer. Assistance will be prioritized for lower-income households with significant home repair needs. All eligible homeowners in Spencer are invited to apply.
Applications are now being accepted! The application deadline is 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Please review the application requirements as early as possible to avoid delays. You can download the Program Guidelines & Application Form using the links on this page.
All inquiries and application submittals should be directed to: Kyle Harris, Program Administrator, kharris@spencernc.gov or 704-633-2231 ext. 20.
Completed applications can also be mailed to: Kyle Harris, Town of Spencer, P.O. Box 45, Spencer NC 28159-0045.
Completed applications can also be dropped of at the front desk of Town Hall, 460 South Salisbury Avenue.
Program Guidelines
Application Form
Eligible Home Projects
Terms of Financial Assistance
Who is Eligible?
How Will Applications be Selected
Program Guidelines
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Program Guidelines carefully and completely prior to beginning the application process. The guidelines cover important topics including program goals and objectives, eligible rehabilitation projects, application and eligibility requirements, income requirements, terms of financial assistance, application review and selection process, etc.
Application Form & Instructions
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Application Form carefully and completely along with the attached official notices, privacy statement, and authorization forms prior to beginning the application. In addition to the application form itself, the Town of Spencer is required by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to obtain a list of documents from each applicant. Required documentation includes income information, mortgage statement, homeowners’ insurance policy, etc.
Please note that homeowners must submit a complete application to be considered. An application will be considered incomplete if it does not contain all required forms and documents on the checklist.
Eligible Home Projects
The purpose of the Spencer Housing Rehabilitation Program is to rehabilitate owner-occupied homes in Spencer that have significant maintenance needs. In the context of this program, “rehabilitation” means taking an existing home and bringing it up to the required standards set by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division (REDD).
Funds may be used to finance the rehabilitation of privately-owned single-family homes. Funds can be used for labor, materials, and associated rehabilitation costs for the following projects (including but not necessarily limited to):
- Repairs to address moderate to severe deterioration of building systems caused by deferred maintenance (e.g., foundations, floors, walls, roofs, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, windows/doors, egress, etc.).
- Replacement of principal fixtures and components of the existing structure (e.g., built-in appliances like sinks, toilets, and bathtubs; fans, light fixtures, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, etc.).
- Installation of security devices, including smoke detectors and dead bolt locks.
- Renovation through alterations, addition to, or enhancements of the home.
- Abatement of asbestos hazards (and other harmful contaminants such as lead).
- Improvements to increase the efficient use of energy in the structure through such as means as installation of storm windows and doors, siding, wall and attic insulation, and conversion, modification, or replacement of heating and cooling equipment, including the use of solar energy equipment.
- Improvements to increase the efficient use of water through such means as water saving faucets and shower heads and repair of water leaks.
- Connection of residential structures to water distribution lines or local sewer collection lines.
- Improvements designed to remove material and architectural barriers that restrict mobility and accessibility of elderly or disabled persons.
Terms of Financial Assistance
Assistance will be provided in the form of a no-cost, zero-percent-interest, deferred forgivable loan of up to $67,500. This means that most recipients will be expected to pay zero dollars toward the loan, which will typically be forgiven once certain requirements are met. The requirements are outlined in the Program Guidelines. Individual project costs will vary depending on the physical condition of the home and other factors. The Program Administrator will competitively bid construction projects to qualifying contractors and will select contractors to complete the work.
For more information about the terms of financial assistance and loan forgiveness, please review page 6 (Terms of Financial Assistance) in the Program Guidelines.
Who is Eligible?
Only applicants below a certain income threshold are eligible to apply for assistance through this program. Most households earning less than 80% of Median Family Income (MFI) are eligible to apply. For a family of four (4) in Rowan County, NC, 80% MFI is currently calculated at $55,750 (as of Fiscal Year 2022-23).
However, priority will be given to Very Low Income (50% MFI) and Extremely Low Income (30% MFI) applicants. For a family of four (4) in Rowan County, NC, that’s $34,850 (Very Low) and $27,750 (Extremely Low), respectively. Your Income Category is based on the number of persons in your family and the household’s total annual income.
The Program Guidelines include an easy 2-step process to determine your income eligibility. This process involves calculating your annual income and then determining your income category using a helpful chart. Please see pages 7-9 of the Program Guidelines for details.
How Will Applications be Selected?
Given limited funding, priority will be given to households with the greatest overall need. Although we wish to help everyone, funding is limited and only a certain number of applicants will be selected for the program.
As part of the application review process, the Housing Selection Committee will make a determination on each applicant’s overall need for assistance based on the following evaluative criteria:
- Financial Need (Annual Household Income)
- Physical Condition of the Home & Severity of Conditions
- Special Needs or Characteristics of Household Members
The Housing Selection Committee is a special committee comprised of Town of Spencer citizen representatives, local elected officials, and other qualified individuals appointed by the Town to ensure transparency and oversight of the application selection process.
Our top priority is to ensure a successful project. We are committed to providing a high level of customer service and attention to detail so that you are satisfied with the rehabilitation work completed at your home. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact the Program Administrator using the contact information at the top of this page.