Program Guidelines
The Emergency Repair Program provides for the immediate correction of an emergency condition that has been determined to present an imminent danger to the health and safety of the occupants of residential property in the City of Columbus. Applicant and property criteria for participation in this program are outlined below.
Please click here for the Emergency Repair Program Brochure
Geographic Location
Properties must be owner-occupied and within the corporate limits and tax districts of the City of Columbus. An owner-occupied duplex unit; mobile home or the
owner-occupied unit of a double may be considered for service. Land contract agreements are not eligible.
Eligible Emergency Repair Work
Only the work necessary to correct substandard, unsanitary or deteriorated condition(s) that have been identified by a Code Enforcement Officer or a Program Manager as creating an imminent danger to health and safety of the occupant is eligible. Completion of other repairs must be financed independently.
Types of repairs
include but are not limited to: loss of heat; leaking or inoperable hot water
tanks; loss of electric; sparking or inoperable dominant electrical outlets, to
exclude rewiring; inoperable sump pumps; exterior gas line breaks; exterior
sewer line damage; exterior water line breaks or lines cited by the Water
Division for critical repair; (interior/exterior); utility services
cited/tagged for critical repair; and/or conditions a Code Enforcement Officer
or Rehabilitation Technician has declared an emergency.
Eligible Household
Applicants must have an annual gross income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), be current on mortgage payments, current on bankruptcy payments and have no outstanding liens.
| HUD Income Guideline - 50% Area Median Income |
|---|
| Family
|
Yearly Income
|
| One | $34,750 |
| Two | $39700 |
| Three | $44,650 |
| Four | $49,600 |
| Five | $53,600 |
| Six | $57,550 |
| Seven | $61,550 |
| Eight | $65,500 |
NOTE: Total household income includes the income of all adults 18 years of age and older living in the home.
Applicant must be the owner of the property and occupy the unit in which the condition exists. Owners of multiple properties are not eligible. Property taxes must be current at the time of application or the homeowner must be on a verifiable payment plan with the Franklin County Auditor's office.
Financing
Maximum grant is up to $7,500 per household, depending on the amount of work that qualifies as an emergency. A grant will be awarded to each eligible applicant, no repayment is required.
Payments for eligible work will be made directly to the contractor when the inspections have been obtained, work is satisfactorily completed, and an itemized bill has been submitted. All required permits must be obtained. The property must receive an Environmental Review through the City for replacement of a water tank or furnace.
** Full program guidelines available upon request through the Homeowner Services Center Intake Line at 614-645-8526. Please email questions to:
[email protected]
.