• Essential Single Family Rehabilitation Loan Pool (ESFRLP) Program 
• Urgent Repair Program

Essential Single Family Rehabilitation Loan Pool program

ESFRLP 27 applications will be available starting February 27, 2026.

The primary goal of the Essential Single-Family Housing Rehabilitation Loan Pool (ESFRLP) is to encourage the essential rehabilitation of scattered-site single-family housing units owned and occupied by very low- and low-income homeowners with special needs.  

The objectives of ESFRLP are:

1) to promote equitable distribution of Program funds across the state;

2) to serve elderly, disabled and Veteran households and households with a child under the age of six whose health is threatened by the presence of lead hazards, with incomes at or below eighty percent (80%) of area median incomes;

3) to facilitate aging in place amongst elderly and disabled fulltime household members of eligible dwelling units through accessibility modifications;

4) to promote the long-term affordability and lower operating costs of ESFRLP assisted units through cost-effective, energy-efficiency measures;

5) to facilitate the continued development of rehabilitation management skills among recipient organizations across the entire state; and,

6) to ensure that all available program funds are invested within the limited time available.

The Essential Rehabilitation Criteria ensures that each assisted unit will make a positive impact on the state’s housing stock by providing decent, safe, affordable housing.

 Borrower Requirements

• Owner-occupied
• Gross annual household income must not exceed 80% of the area median income.
• Must meet a special needs category such as: Elderly household member who are at least 62 years old, or military veteran, or disabled household member, or has a child under the age of six with lead hazards in the home.

Property Requirements

• Must be located within Wilson County.
• Must require at least $5,000 of essential repairs, but not to exceed $70,000 of essential repairs.
• All houses are to be real property, (have a deed to the home and land).

Examples of Eligible Repairs

• Replace/repair roof.
• Repair deteriorated sections of the kitchen and/or bathroom.
• Repair malfunctioning sections of plumbing and/or electrical systems.
• Repair deteriorated sections of floors, windows, walls and ceilings.
• Replace or install a Heating/air system.

Loan Amount Limit

• Maximum loan amount $70,000.

Terms of Loan 

• 0% interest, forgivable loan as long as the owner resides in the home.
• The loan is forgiven at a rate of $14,000 per year. 
• The term of the loan is dependent upon the loan amount and the number of years needed to bring the balance of the loan to $0.

Environmental Regulations

Houses in the program are tested for:

• Radon
• Asbestos
• Lead based paint, if home was built prior to 1978

Displacement 

All families will be allowed to remain in their home while the work is being done. City staff will review temporary displacement options if, rehabilitation activities warrant displacement.

Technical Assistance

The contract for rehabilitation work is between the contractor and the homeowner. The Community Development Division acts as the lender on behalf of the homeowner. The following services are provided by the city:

• Qualify borrower/property for program participation
• Inspect property and prepare work write-up, detailing the scope of rehab work to be done
• Prepare all paperwork relating to the program.
• Secure bids, monitor the work performance of contractors and issue payments to contractors.

Bidding 

All rehabilitation work is subject to State and Federal bidding regulations. No “owner-contractor” agreements are eligible. Bids will be awarded per the Procurement and Disbursement Policy of the program. All contractors must be properly insured.

Additional Questions

For further information on Essential Single Family Rehabilitation Loan Pool program call A.J. Mandigo, Senior Community Development Planner, at 252-399-2230 and to be added to the notification list.

________________________________________________________________________________Urgent Repair Program 

Empty heading

URP 26 applications closed on October 31, 2025.

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 distribute program funds equitably across all regions of the state; 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.

Borrower Requirements

• Owner Occupied
• Gross annual household income must not exceed 50% of the statewide non-metropolitan median household income.
• Must meet a special needs category such as: Elderly household member who are at least 62 years old, or military veteran, or disabled household member, or has a child under the age of six with lead hazards in the home.

Property Requirements

• Must be located within Wilson County.
• Cannot use more than 50% of space for an office or business
• Must not exceed $15,000 of repairs.

Eligible Repairs

Eligible repairs must meet the goals above and rectify deficiencies including:

• Plumbing system and electrical system hazards
• Imminent structural system failures (porches, steps, roofs)
• mitigation of environmental hazards such as lead based paint, asbestos, or soil gases
• Repairs to prevent the imminent displacement of eligible households
• Accessibility repairs (ramps, handrails, grab bars, kitchen/bathroom adaptations, door alterations, etc.)
• Imminent threats to life or safety
• Other repairs on a case-by-case basis

Loan Amount Limit 

• Maximum amount of assistance is $15,000.

Terms of Loan

• Unsecured deferred, interest-free, forgiven loan
• Loan is forgiven at $5,000 per year
• Loan is dependent upon the loan amount and the number of years needed to bring the balance of the loan to $0.

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 done using Program funds must meet North Carolina State Residential Building Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings and be done in compliance with all state or local permitting, inspection, licensing and insurance requirements including the new Renovation, Repair and Painting rule.

Technical Assistance

The contract for rehabilitation work is between the contractor and the homeowner. The Community Development Division acts as the lender on behalf of the homeowner. The following services are provided by the city:

• Qualify borrower/property for program participation
• Inspect property and prepare work write-up, detailing the scope of rehab work to be done
• Prepare all paperwork relating to the program.
• Secure bids, monitor the work performance of contractors and issue payments to contractors.

Bidding 

All rehabilitation work is subject to State and Federal bidding regulations. No “owner-contractor” agreements are eligible. Bids will be awarded per the Procurement and Disbursement Policy of the program. All contractors must be properly insured.

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.

Additional Questions

For further information on Urgent Repair Program call A.J. Mandigo, Senior Community Development Planner, at 252-399-2230 and to be added to the notification list.

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