Minor Home Repair Program

In operation since January 2005, the Home Repair program’s primary goal is to decrease the number of senior citizens or disabled persons in Franklin County who live in unsafe or inaccessible homes. If not corrected, these conditions could result in an injury to the homeowner or lead to more substantial damage from deferred maintenance, and can even lead to the loss of the home. The program performs work that is necessary to correct substandard, unsanitary, or deteriorated conditions that create an imminent danger to the homeowner’s health and safety. These repairs are carried out with no cost to the homeowner.

Eligible work under this program may include repair or replacement of heating systems, plumbing systems, hot water heaters, hazardous electrical systems, or severely deteriorated roofs, walls, windows, and doors. The program also regularly eliminates barriers to accessibility for disabled individuals by installing safety bars in bathrooms, installing and securing handrails, expanding doorways and installing wheelchair ramps. Repairs that are only cosmetic in nature and do not pose a danger to the homeowner are not eligible for repair. All repairs are completed by contractors who are licensed, bonded, and insured by the State of Ohio. ECDI has a strong history of supporting local small businesses by providing training and technical assistance and administering microenterprise loans and small grants for business capitalization. ECDI also supports small contracting businesses through its Home Repair program by providing opportunities for local general contractors, plumbers, HVAC specialists and electricians to bid on the repair and modification jobs that are completed through the program.

To be eligible, potential clients must be over the age of 60 or have a documented permanent physical disability and have a total household income that is below 80% of the area median income based on the chart below. They also must own their own home and be current on property tax payments. ECDI staff collects income and disability documentation to verify eligibility. ECDI also contracts with a third party inspector to conduct home inspections to determine the needed repairs and ensure that all work provided through the program is complete and has been done properly. All jobs are awarded through a competitive bidding process and all repairs are completed by contractors who are licensed, bonded, and insured in the State of Ohio. Since the program’s inception, ECDI has served 291 clients for a total of $532,680 in home repairs.

USDA

In order to be eligible for this program, you must own your home, be up to date on property taxes, and live in USDA-designated rural portion of Franklin, Fairfield, Pickaway, or Madison counties. Additionally, you must be at least 62 years old, or disabled and at least 55 years old. Furthermore, your household income must be at or below USDA-designated very low income level. Repairs up to $5,000 are available through the USDA grant.

 For more information, or to enroll, call ECDI at (614)559-0115.

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"In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs)." To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800)795-3272 (voice), or (202)720-6382 (TDD).

"We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin."