Minor Home Repairs for Seniors

Client Eligibility

You may be eligible for a one-time minor repair if you meet all the following criteria:

• You are a homeowner
• 62 years of age or older
• Owned and lived in the home for a minimum of one year
• Live within unincorporated Osceola County or the City of St. Cloud
• Household must qualify at 80% or below the median income based on the current Housing and Urban Development income chart (chart below)
• Must be able to provide income documentation

If you have received prior SHIP or CDBG help, you do not qualify for this program.

To qualify, your income must fall within the stated guidelines based on family size.

Effective date 4/27/2022

Selection Criteria

Clients will be assisted on a first come, first qualified basis. This program may establish a waiting list.

Maximum Award

Up to $10,000.

You will not have to pay back the grant if the owner stays in the home for at least one year from the time of repairs.

This program does not allow contractor change orders.

Property Eligibility

The property must be located within unincorporated Osceola County or the City of St. Cloud. Housing within the city limits of Kissimmee are NOT eligible.

The property must contain a legal residential structure intended for continued residential occupancy.

Only single-family homes and manufactured homes are eligible.

Taxes and homeowners insurance must be current.

All repair work will meet local building code standards.

Manufactured / Modular Home

To be eligible, manufactured or modular homes must:

• Meet Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) standards
• Display DEO decal/emblem.
• Be installed according to Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' standards.
• Be ooccupied by the deed owner.
• Be assessed as real property.
• Meet all zoning, planning, and/or variance requirements.

Eligible Repairs

Eligible repairs correct health and safety issues, or improve the immediate livability of the home. Examples include:

• Roofing systems including soffit and fascia;
• Onsite sewage disposal systems or replace sewer taps if available, sewer connections;
• Minor drainage repairs;
• Water systems (including wells), water system connections, and/or plumbing repairs;
• HVAC System repair or replacement;
• Hot water tank repair or replacement;
• Accessibility modifications;
• Electrical hazard repairs; and
• Any other health or safety issue deemed to be an eligible minor repair after conducting an inspection, completing a work write-up and receiving the approval of the Department Director or his/her designee.

Properties in need of more than the above repairs may not qualify for this program. For example, homes that do not meet building code and cannot be repaired for $10,000 do not qualify.

Required Documents

1. Copy of your income tax returns for the last two years.  If you do not have these or did not file taxes in the past two years, you will need to contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit their offices located at 850 Trafalgar Ct, Suite 200, Maitland, FL and obtain Form 4506T to request a transcript.
2. Copy of your Social Security Cards.  Social security cards MUST be submitted for every person (including children under the age of 18 years old) that will be living in the household.
3. Copy of your Florida Driver’s License or picture identification for each adult member over the age of 18 years old residing in the household.
4. Copy of the last four (4) paystubs for you and any other household member over the age of 18 years old who will be residing in the home.  This paystub MUST have the year-to-date gross income listed.  If you are paid in cash or by personal check you MUST provide a letter from your employer stating your year-to-date pay.  This letter must be on the company letterhead.
5. Copy of all other sources of income for all members of the household, including but not limited to current Social Security or SSI benefit letter.  If you do not have a current copy of your benefit letter, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount to create an account and print out a current benefit letter.  Child support or alimony requires child support agreement and divorce decree as evidence of payment (if you do not receive child support, Osceola County will need verification of this), and any other retirement pension statements, 401k statement, disability income, and public assistance.
6. Copy of bank statement for the last six months for both checking and savings is needed for all accounts that are currently open for all household members.
7. Copy of mortgage deed as well as copy of mortgage statement showing payments are current.  Current year’s tax statement and homeowner’s insurance statement showing property taxes and insurance are up to date.