By JOSHUA PHILLIPS
Northeast News
June 3, 2013

Kansas City, Mo., homeowners in need of home repairs can now apply to have plumbing, electrical and mechanical issues fixed through the city’s Emergency Home Repair Program.

To qualify, Kansas City, Mo., residents must own only one single-family property, have not received this program’s assistance within the past five years and meet the household income guidelines by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“The city targets areas that need the most home repair,” said Roger Stewart, program manager of the Emergency Home Repair Program. “We provide services citywide for plumbing, sewer, furnace and electrical.”

Although leaks and faucet and sink repairs don’t qualify, the city does fix exposed items in the basement as well as galvanized piping repair. The program will also install grab bars and bathroom seats for the handicapped as well as repairing sewer lines and replacing furnaces.

The maximum household income guidelines from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are as follows:
one person maximum household income is $24,950; two people, $28,500; three people, $32,050; four people, $35,600; five people, $38,450; six people, $41,300; seven people, $44,150; and eight people, $47,000.

“We basically repair what we can see and there are no costs to homeowners since this is a grant-based program,” Stewart said.

Funding for the home repair program comes from the city’s annual entitlement of Community Development Block Grant funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Stewart said approximately $500,000 is funded to various programs in the city’s Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department.

Applications for this program are available online at www.kcmo.org/homerepair or with the Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department’s Housing and Community Development Division on the 19th floor of City Hall, 414 E. 12th St. Applications will be accepted through July 31 or until funds are depleted.