When Pamela Moran bought her house in San Antonio’s Highland Park neighborhood on the Southeast Side, it needed work. The foundation had shifted. The roof leaked when it rained. She later discovered mold.
Moran was slowly chipping away at repairs. But in January, she was injured in a work accident. Now, she’s been living on workers’ compensation benefits. They’re not nearly enough to cover serious home repairs to the foundation and roof.
Now she’s hoping the city might help.
Moran is one of hundreds who have applied this year to the city’s home rehabilitation programs that help with major and minor repairs for homeowners with low-to-moderate incomes.
As San Antonio plans to bulk up its home repair programs with money from the housing bond approved by voters this year, the city is seeing an increase in demand. San Antonio voters in May approved a $150 million bond to help boost affordable housing. About $45 million of that is earmarked for home rehabilitation, most of which will go toward city home repair programs.
At the same time, the city will have less federal funding for the programs.
The rehabs don’t add splashy new kitchens. Repairs generally address health and safety issues that could violate city code. The city assistance programs also have income limits. A homeowner can’t earn more than 80 percent of the area median income. That’s $46,450 for an individual or $66,300 for a family of four.
Last year, about 1,150 households applied for home rehab. The city is set to surpass that with weeks remaining for more applications to come in, said Ann Eaton, housing production administrator with San Antonio’s Neighborhood and Housing Services Department.
The applications, which cover all the city’s home rehab programs, opened Aug. 8 and close Sept. 19. It’s the only chance to apply until next year.
Moran traveled to Normoyle Senior Center for help with her application. It was the fifth of 14 outreach events the city is hosting through next month. The application is online only, so the events serve as a chance for those who don’t have reliable internet access to get help applying.
In less than two hours that morning, about 50 people had come to Normoyle for help. Yet it was some of the lowest turnout the city had seen yet — about 600 people attended one of the first four outreach events, Eaton said. At another event, 180 people showed up at Las Palmas Library in one day.
The city typically funds home rehab through a mix of federal and local dollars. For the last two years, the annual budget for city repairs stood around $20.3 million. Starting next fiscal year, Oct. 1, home repair programs are slated to get $26 million, which includes some bond money.
Last fiscal year, the city helped more than 700 homeowners through its various programs — up from 336 homeowners the prior year. The goal for the upcoming year is to assist 540 homeowners because the city expects to have fewer federal funds for home rehab.
The repairs include a range of improvements: replacing water heaters, upgrading windows, adding central air conditioning, restoring roofs, fixing foundations and addressing electrical and plumbing concerns.
“It’s anything from a water heater to a complete reconstruction,” Eaton said.
Know before you go
If you plan to attend a city event for help, you will need:
- A driver’s license or identification card
- A social security card
- Proof of income or employment. This can be your most recent six pay stubs if you’re employed or a recent annual social security/retirement benefits award letter if applicable
- Three months of bank statements, if applicable
- A mortgage/loan/home equity statement
Dates and locations for the city’s remaining application events are below.
- Aug. 29, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Willie M. Cortez Senior Center, 5512 W Military Dr.
- Sept. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Cortez Library, 2803 Hunter Blvd.
- Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central Library, 600 Soledad St.
- Sept. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Doris Griffin Senior Center, 6157 NW Loop 410
- Sept. 16., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thousand Oaks Library, 4618 Thousand Oaks Dr.
- Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Carver Library, 3350 E. Commerce St.
You can see more information about eligibility and income requirements online at sanantonio.gov/nhsd/programs/repair.
megan.stringer@express-news.net
