West Cook News

The Town of Cicero, with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, offers a range of residential rehabilitation programs designed to assist homeowners in maintaining safe, healthy, and accessible homes. These programs provide financial aid to eligible residents for various critical home repairs and improvements, focusing on those with low to moderate incomes. Below is an overview of the available programs and their benefits.

Emergency Assistance Program (EAP)

The Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) is a lifeline for homeowners facing urgent repair needs. Offering financial assistance of up to $4,999, this program is designed for single-family homes and owner-occupied 2-unit buildings. Common repairs covered by the EAP include roof and HVAC repairs or replacements, electrical hazard repairs, and plumbing repairs.

Unlike many other programs, there is no waiting list for the EAP. If a repair qualifies as an emergency—such as furnace issues in winter or air conditioning failures in summer—a contractor is dispatched within 72 hours. However, it’s important to note that currently, the program only has contractors available for furnace and air conditioning repairs; electricians, roofers, and plumbers are not on call at this time. Homeowners can participate in the EAP once every three years.

Emergency Access Grant for People with Disabilities (EAG)

The Emergency Access Grant (EAG) is tailored to assist individuals with disabilities by making their homes more accessible. With financial assistance of up to $24,999, this program supports owner-occupied single-family homes and 2-unit buildings. Typical projects funded by the EAG include the installation of chair lifts and ramps, the repair or replacement of porches and exterior stairs, and various interior and exterior accessibility improvements.

Due to budget constraints, the EAG typically funds 2-3 projects per year.

Home Repair Program (HRP)

The Home Repair Program (HRP) offers financial assistance of up to $4,999 for a wide range of home repairs. This program is available to owner-occupied single-family homes and 2-unit buildings. Common projects include front porch and step repairs, window replacements, lead hazard reduction, interior rehabilitation, masonry work, tuck-pointing, siding, roofing, gutters, and downspouts.

Due to high demand, there is a waiting list for the HRP.

Home Improvement Program (HIP)

The Home Improvement Program (HIP) offers financial assistance of up to $24,999 for substantial renovations. Applicable to owner-occupied single-family homes and 2-unit buildings, HIP focuses on helping homeowners correct code violations and undertake major repairs or improvements.

A unique feature of HIP is the recording of a lien against the property for five years. If the homeowner maintains residency for the entire five-year period, the lien is released. Homeowners can only participate in HIP once.

Eligibility and How to Apply

To qualify for any of these programs, homeowners must meet specific income limits based on household size as defined by HUD’s CDBG guidelines:

1 Person Household: $61,800

2 Person Household: $70,600

3 Person Household: $79,450

4 Person Household: $88,250

5 Person Household: $95,350

6 Person Household: $102400

7 Person Household: $109450

8 Person Household: $116500

Potential applicants should review these income limits carefully as exceeding them will disqualify households from participating in these programs.

For more information or to apply contact Martha Garcia via email at mgarcia1@thetownofcicero.com or by calling (708) 656-8223.

These residential rehabilitation programs demonstrate Cicero’s commitment to ensuring safe housing for all its residents.

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