Homeowner Repair Program

How it works

The Homeowner Repair Program, also called the Single-Family Home Repair Program, evaluates damaged homes and helps make repairs needed to protect a homeowner’s life, health, and safety. City inspectors determine what must be repaired, estimate the costs, and develop a scope of work within the available budget. The Baton Rouge Office of Community Development then procures licensed contractors or nonprofit partners to complete the repairs and inspects the finished work to confirm the scope is complete.

The program is designed to use limited grant funding to serve as many families as possible. Because of that, the City may limit the scope of work, and not all homeowner-requested repairs can be included.

What the money covers

Repairs are prioritized for health and safety. Cosmetic repairs are not eligible.

The page lists two assistance levels:

• Emergency & Minor Repairs: may include roofing, accessibility improvements, and minor repairs to alleviate hazardous conditions. Cost of repairs must be less than $10,000.
• Rehabilitations: may include roofing, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, siding/trim, windows, and doors. Cost of repairs is $10,000 to $35,000.

The page notes that additional assistance beyond the listed maximums is only available at the discretion of OCD staff and is reviewed case by case. It also says additional assistance may not be possible if grant funds are not available.

Amounts and matching

The page states that the maximum grant funds are generally up to $35,000 per home for rehabilitations, although the City is often unable to provide the full maximum. There is no matching requirement mentioned.

How to apply

The program is not accepting applications. The City says it is not reviewing additional applicant files at this time because all funding has been exhausted.

If funding becomes available again, unserved applicants will remain on the existing Home Repair Program list and will be screened first. If they remain eligible, their applications will be reviewed before new applications are taken.

Timing and deadlines

• Current status: funding exhausted.
• No active application window.
• Existing applicants remain on the list for possible future review if funding returns.

Affordability period

For rehabilitation work, the total repair cost determines the affordability period, which is how long the homeowner must stay in the home after repairs are made. If the homeowner sells or leases out the home before the affordability period ends, they may be asked to repay a portion of the repair costs.