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EBENSBURG -- The redevelopment authorities of Cambria County and Johnstown are urging homeowners to apply for the Whole-Home Repairs Program before funding runs out.
In May 2023, the authorities partnered together with Johnstown Area Regional Industries, a nonprofit economic development organization, to provide $1.773 million to low-income homeowners to fix properties and boost workforce development.
The purpose of the funding is to give homeowners up to $10,000 to make their properties safer and more habitable, Cambria County Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Renee Daly said. The grants are competitive, she said. They can also be used to improve energy or water efficiency and to make units accessible for individuals with disabilities.
Since the program is not for rentals, Daly said the homeowner's name must be on the deed and he or she must live in the properties for which they're applying. In addition, they must meet several criteria, based on the number of household members and maximum income, to be eligible for the grants, she said.
Melissa Komar, the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority's executive director, said all applications and documentation must be submitted to the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority.
The county currently has $1.41 million available for housing rehabilitation and construction, Daly and Komar said. They said they've collaborated together to streamline the process and ensure that every municipality in the county has at least one grant for which individuals can apply.
Daly said the number of grants available to municipalities is based on its population.
"If you had a population of 3,000 or less, you got one grant," she said, adding the grants are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Komar said as long as the projects are $10,000 or under, the program will pay for replacements of roofs, doors, windows, hot water tanks and boilers.
She said people who have applied for the grants to replace a furnace are often encouraged to replace a few windows and doors as well, since furnace costs usually are about $6,000.
"They choose all of this from the contractor they're comfortable with their home," she said.
Komar said Cambria County was one of the first three counties to get all required documents back to the state in order to receive the program's funding.
Cambria County Commissioner Tom Chernisky said the program is a "win-win-win" for the entire county because it keeps houses out of blight and promotes economic development.
Daly and Komar said there are several municipalities that haven't requested applications yet.
Some locations that still have applications available include Ashville Borough, one; Barr Township, one; Blacklick Township, two; Cambria Township, four; Carrolltown Borough, one; Cassandra Borough, one; Chest Springs Borough, one; Chest Township, one; Clearfield Township, one; Cresson Township, three; Dean Township, one; East Carroll Township, one; Ebensburg Borough, two; Elder Township, one; Gallitzin Township, one; Hastings Borough, one; Jackson Township, one; Loretto Borough, one; Northern Cambria Borough, two; Patton Borough, one; Portage Borough, one; Reade Township, one; Sankertown Borough, one; Susquehanna Township, two; Tunnelhill Borough, one; and Vintondale Borough, one.
The funding will be available until it's either exhausted or until Dec. 31, 2026, officials said.
For more information about the program and eligibility, contact Daly at 814-472-6711 or email, rdaly@co.cambria.pa.us.