• Essential Single Family Rehabilitation Program
• Urgent Repair Program

Essential Single Family Rehabilitation Program

The goal of the Essential Single Family Rehabilitation Program (ESFR) is to make a long-term positive impact on the City of Wilson’s stock of standard affordable housing by encouraging the comprehensive rehabilitation of existing moderately deteriorated single-family housing units owned and occupied by lower income elderly and disabled homeowners.

We are no longer accepting applications for ESFR 22.  Please contact  Mia Harris 252-296-3034 for possible emergency applicants to be verified by our staff. 

Borrower Requirements

• Owner occupied
• Gross annual household income must not exceed 80% of the statewide median income.
• Elderly or disabled household member or a child under the age six with lead hazards in the home. Cost of rehabilitation including all mandatory, energy-related measures cannot exceed $40,000.

Property Requirements

• Must be located in the City of Wilson or Wilson County
• Must require at least $5000 of improvements
• Must be free of environmental hazards or other nuisances or any such hazards or nuisances must be corrected as part of the rehabilitation of the unit.
• Onsite stick built and off frame modular units are eligible for consideration; however, manufactured housing is not eligible for assistance.

Eligible Repairs

• Install new roof
• Update kitchen/bathroom
• Update plumbing/electrical system
• Painting inside/outside of house
• Replace floors, windows, walls and ceilings
• Heating/air system
• Other general repairs depending on need

Loan Amounts and Limits

• Maximum loan amount $40,000
• Minimum loan amount is $5,000

Terms

• 0% interest, forgivable loan as long as the owner resides in the home.
• The term of the loan is dependent upon the loan amount and the number of years it takes to bring the balance of the loan to $0, when forgiven at $8,000 per year.

There will be no temporary displacement. All families will be allowed to remain in their home while the work is being done.

All rehabilitation work is subject to State and Federal bidding regulations. No “owner-contractor” agreements are eligible. Bids will be awarded to contractors submitting the lowest responsible bid. All contractors must be properly insured.

Environmental Regulations

All houses constructed prior to 1978 requesting financial assistance will be subject to the federal lead-based paint regulations.

Under program guidelines, a lead hazard evaluation must be performed on every home selected for rehabilitation that was built before 1978. The specific type of evaluation and the appropriate lead hazard reduction work perform will depend on the total amount of Federal funds used to rehabilitate the home, as per 24 CFR part 35.

It may be necessary for the household to relocate during the construction process for protection against lead poisoning. If relocation is required, it shall be the responsibility of the homeowner to pay for the relocation.

Houses in the program must also be tested for asbestos and Radon.

For further information on Essential Single Family Rehabilitation Program, call 252-399-2211 between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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 paperwork relating to the contractual agreement between homeowner and contractor.
• Secure bids, monitor the work performance of contractors and issue payments to contractors according to the progress of the work.

Urgent Repair Program 

The applications for the Urgent Repair Grant 2024 are now available to the public. All COMPLETED applications must be turned in by October 21,2024 at 5pm(no exceptions). Please contact Mia Harris, 252-296-3034 if you have questions regarding the application or grant process. 

URP General Applicant Letter 2024

URP 24 client application

 Goals and Objectives

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.

Eligible Repairs

Eligible repairs must meet the above goals and objectives and may include:

• Imminent structural system failures (porches, steps, roofs)
• Plumbing system and electrical system hazards
• Accessibility repairs (ramps, handrails, grab bars, kitchen/bathroom adaptations, door alterations, etc.)
• Water heater repair/replacement
• Structural repair work (roof, wall, ceiling, floor, or foundation)
• Windows repair/replacement
• Exterior door repair/replacement
• Structural repair work (roof, wall, ceiling, floor, or foundation)
• Repairs to prevent the imminent displacement of eligible households
• Imminent threats to life or safety
• Other improvements on a case-by-case basis

Maximum Assistance

The maximum amount of assistance is $12,000 per dwelling unit. There is no minimum repair cost.

Forms of Assistance

Program assistance will be provided to owner-occupants in the form of an unsecured, deferred, interest-free loan. Owners must reside in Wilson County. Urgent Repair funds are provided by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency Housing Trust Funds.

Eligible Households

• Only low and very low-income owner occupants with special needs are eligible for assistance.
• Fifty percent (50%) of the program funds will benefit very low-income households with the remainder Fifty percent (50%) going to benefit low-income households.
• Low-income households are those households with gross annual incomes not exceeding 50% of the income limits.
• Very low-income households are those households with gross annual incomes not exceeding 30% of the income limits.

Eligible Households with Special Needs Include

• Homeowners who are at least 62 years old
• Handicapped or disabled members
• Single parents with at least one dependent child in the residence
• Five or more persons
• Children below the age of six with lead hazards in the home
• Veterans (discharged, other than dishonorable)

All eligible households must be located in the City of Wilson or in the unincorporated areas of Wilson county.

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 using Program funds must meet North Carolina State Residential Building Code (volume VII) standards and be done in compliance with all state or local permitting, inspections, licensing, and insurance requirements.

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.

For further information on the Urgent Repair Program, please call 252-399-2211 between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.