NIP Grant Offers Help With Home Repairs

A new roof installation is just one of the many repairs the NIP Grant can provide. Photo by Jim West

Is your home in need of repairs that you can't afford? You may be eligible for financial help. The Neighborhood Improvement Grant (NIP) offers homeowners grants of up to $7,500 to pay for a variety of home repairs, including heating systems, water heaters, windows, roofing, gutters and downspouts, attic and wall insulation, and underground property sewer systems. In order to qualify for a NIP grant, you must meet the following criteria:

• Household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMC), depending on size of household.

• You must own and have occupied your house for at least six months.

• You must be up to date on your mortgage, property taxes, and home insurance.

• You must intend to live in this house for at least 5 years.

MorningSide Community Organization (MCO) will sponsor an informational workshop on Saturday, March 21 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Jefferson Branch Library to explain the NIP grant and help residents get ready to apply for it. We will be handing out applications for the grant, but you can also download one from www.fhlbi.com.

The exact date that NIP grant applications will be accepted is yet to be determined, but the grants should be available in late March or early April on a first-come, first-served basis. We will update you as we get more information.

In the meantime, start getting your documentation in order.

You will need:

• A copy of the deed to your house.

• Documentation of all sources of income for all household members.

• Two bids from licensed contractors for the repairs.

If you need more than one repair, they should all be done by the same contractor. For more information about the workshop, call Jackie Grant at (313) 720-3904.