PROGRAM COMPONENTS

• Home Repair Program - will be delivered to low-income families with affirmative action targets for seniors, persons with disabilities and aboriginals;

• Urgent Response Program - will be delivered exclusively to social assistance recipients.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Provide funding to:

• allow low-income homeowners to correct fire and life safety deficiencies in their homes, as well as other major deficiencies;

• persons with disabilities for accessibility modifications;

• enable senior citizens to carry out renovations to their residences which would allow them continued occupancy;

• respond to urgent repair needs.

• homeowners with a combined family income below the regional Housing Income Limits;

• program is available universally in rural and urban areas of Newfoundland and Labrador;

• the existing Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) waiting list will be used; clients will be accommodated on a "first-come, first-served" basis;

• affirmative action targets will address the more critical needs groups such as, the disabled community, social assistance recipients and seniors requiring modifications to their homes to enable continued occupancy.

Property:

Repair or replacement of deteriorated components of the dwelling including:

• foundations, walls, floors and ceilings, painting where repairs have been carried out, insulation, doors and windows, plumbing, electrical, heating, roofs, and air circulation;

• modifications to address accessibility and repairs to permit continued occupancy by seniors;

• modernization of entire exterior structure where repair or replacement is warranted due to deterioration;

• eligible repairs do not include replacement of kitchen cabinets or floor coverings.

GRANT/LOAN FUNDING

• grant funding up to a maximum $5,000 [$6,500 in coastal Labrador] per household is available to cover the cost of renovations;

• additional repayable funding up to a maximum $10,000 [$13,000 in coastal Labrador] is available to cover any costs in excess of the grant;

• clients are eligible for funding once every five years. Repeat assistance is available in the interim, if the client did not receive the maximum grant in the initial application;

• repayable funding is available during the interim five-year period.

CLIENT SELECTION/DELIVERY PROCESS

• clients will be selected from the existing RRAP waiting list which is addressed on a "first-come, first-served" basis;

• exceptions to this selection process will be in the case of critical needs groups who will be identified and referred to NLHC by the Department of Health and Community Services for seniors and persons with disabilities. Social assistance clients requiring the urgent response component of the program will be referred by the Department of Human Resources and Employment.

• applications processing and loan administration will be the responsibility of NLHC.