The Westport Affordable Housing Trust Fund is now accepting applications for a housing rehabilitation grant program called CRE-HAB. The Trust will receive applications until December 17, 2019, or until grant funds are exhausted.

The Trust has available funds recovered from repayment of loans generated through the town’s former Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) housing rehab program to finance awards of up to $40,000 to help owners of properties assessed up to $300,000 to repair and rehabilitate qualifying existing homes in Westport.

The grants are in the form of deferred payment loan which will require a partial re-payment if the property is sold or transferred before the 10th anniversary of the loan. Applicants must meet income limits and other eligibility requirements.

The successful applicant will be asked to sign a loan note and mortgage agreement, and a 10-year affordable housing restriction.

The program is designed to improve general housing conditions and eliminate building code violations at existing Westport homes owned by low and moderate income households. Examples of possible projects include plumbing and wiring upgrades to eliminate or correct safety code issues; improvements that reduce homeowner energy costs; renovations like ramps to make homes accessible to persons with disabilities; repairs to address water infiltration; or roof, window and siding replacement projects.

The loans are a tool to help low-income households stay in their homes, and to preserve the number of existing moderately-priced homes in the community, said Westport Housing Specialist Leonardi Aray.

Program information and application packages are available in the information rack on the second floor of Westport Town Hall and at the Westport Free Public Library.

For more information on the program, or to request help with an application packet, contact Housing Specialist Leonardi Aray via e-mail to: Leonardi@larayarchitects.com, or by calling (617) 270-3912.

The Westport Affordable Trust Fund’s housing assistance office in Town Hall is open Wednesdays from 10-4, and can be reached by e-mail to WestportHousing@outlook.com or by calling (774) 264-5126.