Owner-Occupied Housing Assistance Program

How it works

The City of Brownsville receives support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). Those funds are used to provide no-interest, forgivable loans to City of Brownsville homeowners.

What the money covers

The program is for emergency repairs, housing/health code violation repairs, and other repairs needed to make a home safe. The page says program funding will not be used for cosmetic improvements.

Examples of ineligible cosmetic items include:

• Landscaping work
• Pools
• Hot tubs
• Area rugs
• Kitchen/bathroom cabinets

Eligible repair work listed on the page includes:

• Improved accessibility: modifications that improve a resident’s ability to use wheelchairs, canes, or walkers, or help with activities of daily living such as eating and bathing
• Code corrections: correction of violation citations issued by city safety personnel, such as broken doors and windows, trapped roofs, and vegetation that prevents safe entry/exit of the home
• System failures: leaking roofs and rehabilitation of failing or inoperable plumbing, electrical, or heating/air conditioning systems
• Reconstruction: homes beyond repair may be eligible if they fall within the program’s established budget

Amounts and repayment

The official page does not state a dollar maximum. It says all forgivable rehabilitation loans are secured by a mortgage lien and a deed restriction placed on the property by the city. The forgiveness term is 5 or 10 years, depending on the amount of assistance received. If the applicant maintains the property as their principal residence throughout that period and complies with all CDBG/HOME program regulations, the loan may be forgiven at the discretion of the City of Brownsville.

Timing and deadlines

The page says the program is currently closed. The city says it will update the information once the program becomes available.

Contact

The page directs applicants to call 956-548-6167 for more information.