Housing Programs

Housing Rehabilitation

The City of Bradford and Bradford Township has in place a housing rehabilitation program that assists homeowners with home repairs. Both the City and Township’s housing rehabilitation programs address BOCA housing code violations. The funds are used for a wide variety of rehabilitation needs including new heating systems, electrical, plumbing, foundations and porches, roofs, exterior siding or painting, bathrooms/kitchens and safety (smoke detectors, hot water tank relief valves).

Housing Rehabilitation Facts (City of Bradford):

The City applied for a $500,000 housing rehabilitation grant funding through the HOME program in October 2006 and is waiting state approval.
From November 1993 to December 2006, the City of Bradford has rehabilitated 127 owner-occupied homes at a cost of $2,757,787 or an average of $21,715 per unit.
Three levels of funding are available in the City of Bradford to assist homeowners depending on household income. Hardship grant funds, combination grant/loan and low interest loans are provided based upon household income. Hardship Grant Guidelines, Grant/Loan Guidelines, Low Interest Loan Guidelines,Low/Moderate Income Limits
Applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis and will be processed in order of receipt. Residents in the City's new Elm Street Neighborhood will receive priority status with the new funding.
Applicant must own their home by deed and be current on city utilities and taxes.

A mortgage is filed against the property in the amount of the assistance provided. Grant funds are provided as forgiveness grant. Homeowner must reside in the home for a five, ten, fifteen or twenty year period depending upon the amount of assistance.

Housing Rehabilitation Facts (Bradford Township):

Bradford Township began funding housing rehabilitation through its Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) in 2001.
As of March 2007, fifteen houses have been rehabilitated at an average cost of $19,054 per unit.
Rehabilitation funds are also available to assist qualified homeowners with the cost of tapping on to a new municipal sewer or water line. To date the Township has assisted sixteen homeowners on Langmaid Lane and one homeowner on Minard Run. BT CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Guidelines.
Rehabilitation assistance is provided in the form of a forgiveness grant. Qualified homeowners must meet Section 8 Low/Moderate Income Limits to qualify. Low/Moderate Income Limits.
Applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis.
Applicants must own home by deed and be current on city utilities and taxes.

No repayment is required unless the home is sold prior to the end of the five, ten, fifteen year grant forgiveness period. A mortgage will be filed against the property to protect the grant investment.

What's New!!!

Keystone Renovate & Repair Program

The Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD) has been approved as an Administrator and Lender for the Pennsylvania Housing & Financing Agency's (PHFA) Homeowner Renovate & Repair Program. Homeowners with up to $95,000 annually in household income and good credit can borrow up to $35,000 to repair their homes. PHFA will provide loan funding up to 120% of the value of the home. Homeowners residing in the City of Bradford, Bradford Township, Foster Township, Lewis Run Borough and Corydon Township are eligible to apply for the program.

OECD housing rehabilitation staff will be available to assist the homeowner with a home evaluation (identify work to be done), prepare an itemized work listing for contractor bids and assist the homeowner during the construction to ensure that all work is completed according to the work plan.

Should you wish to apply or would like additional information, please contact Sara Andrews at sandrews@bradfordpa.org or 368-7170 ext. 113, or Debbie Huston at dhuston@bradfordpa.org or 368-7170 ext. 117.

Western Pennsylvania Lead Consortium

The Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD) has become a member of a consortium of western Pennsylvania communities who applied and received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to address lead paint in homes with children under the age of six. Qualified homeowners in the City of Bradford and Bradford Township are eligible for this program.

For more information, please contact John Place at jplace@bradfordpa.org or 368-7170 ext. 116, or Jeff Andrews at jandrews@bradfordpa.org or 368-7170 ext. 115.