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Long Beach offers grants to assist low-income homeowners with roof repairs

Long Beach, California – Long Beach has announced that low-income residents living in certain areas of the city could qualify for grants of up to $20,000 to fix or replace their roofs as part of the city’s expanded grant program aimed at preserving affordable housing.

To be eligible for the grant, the home must be a single-family property and the owner’s primary residence. According to Rick De La Torre, a spokesperson for Development Services, which administers the program, the city has around $500,000 available in grant funding. However, the grants are income-restricted and will only be available to households that make less than 50% of the area’s median income, which is $59,500 for a family of four in Los Angeles County.

The first series of grants will focus on neighborhoods that have racially and ethnically concentrated poverty and are part of the city’s “Place-Based Neighborhood Improvement Strategy.” The neighborhoods include nearly the entire Westside, South Wrigley, the Washington neighborhoods, and Sunrise, Hellman, and St. Mary neighborhoods. Smaller portions of the Upper Westside, the Carmelitos, and College Square would also be eligible. While the city hopes to expand the program to eventually include all of Long Beach, for now, the grants will be available to those specific neighborhoods.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must provide proof of income, including any pension, disability, Social Security, or other supplemental income they may receive. Homeowners must also obtain three bids from roofing contractors for their roof work and then select the contractor of their choice. The homeowner and roofing contractor will enter into a contract to complete the scope of work, and the city will pay the contractor as work progresses.

In addition to the roof repair program, Long Beach also offers low-cost loans to repair homes and apartment buildings and provides rebates for home upgrades on things like dryers, water heaters, and gas stoves. The city hopes that this expanded program will help preserve affordable housing in Long Beach and assist low-income homeowners with essential home repairs.

 

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