Urgent Repair Program

Goals and Objectives

The goals of the Urgent Repair Program are to alleviate housing conditions which pose an imminent threat to the life and safety of very low and low-income homeowners with specials needs, and to provide accessibility modifications and other repairs necessary to prevent displacement of very low and low-income homeowners with specials needs, such as frail elderly and persons with disabilities.

The objectives of the Program are to serve households with urgent repair needs which cannot be met through other state-or federally funded housing assistance programs and to enable frail elderly and others with physical disabilities to remain in their homes by providing essential accessibility modifications.

Eligible Repairs

Eligible repairs must meet the above goals and objectives and may include:

  • imminent structural system failures (porches, steps, roofs)
  • plumbing system hazards
  • electrical system hazards
  • removal of lead based paint or asbestos
  • accessibility repairs (ramps, handrails, grab bars, kitchen/bathroom adaptations, door alterations, etc.)
  • furnace/heater replacement/upgrade
  • water heater repair/replacement
  • structural repair work (roof, wall, ceiling, floor or foundation)
  • windows repair/replacement
  • exterior door repair/replacement
  • other improvements on a case-by-case basis

Maximum Assistance

The maximum amount of assistance is $3,500 per dwelling unit. There is no minimum.

Forms of Assistance

Program assistance will be provided to owner-occupants only, and will be in the form of a grant.

Eligible Households

  • Only low and very low-income owner occupants with special needs are eligible for assistance. 70% of the program funds will benefit very low-income households with the remainder going to benefit low-income households.
  • Low-income households are those households with gross annual incomes not exceeding 50% of the income limits.
  • Very low-income households are those households with gross annual incomes not exceeding 30% of the income limits

Eligible Households with special needs include:

  • Homeowners who are at least 62 years old
  • Handicapped or disabled members
  • Single parents with at least on dependent child in the residence or
  • five or more persons

All eligible households must be located in the City of Wilson or in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Repair Standards

Program funds may be used to affect urgently needed repairs or modifications without regard to whether the dwelling unit meets any local, state or federal housing quality standards. However, all work using Program funds must meet North Carolina State Residential Building Code (volume VII) standards and be done in compliance with all state or local permitting, inspections, licensing, and insurance requirements.

Ineligible Uses of Program Funds

Program funds cannot be used:

  • in conjunction with any source of state or federal housing assistance (CDBG or HOME)
  • on any dwelling unit for which other sources of state or federal assistance are available at the time of the repair work; or
  • on any dwelling unit for which other sources of state or federal assistance are likely to become available within six months following the completion of the repair work under the program.

For further information on the Urgent Repair Program, please call (252) 399-2230 between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Equal Housing Opportunity