Housing Services Program Information
RENTAL ASSISTANCE Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Self-Sufficiency (TBRASS) The TBRASS Program provides rental assistance to income qualified households with custody of minor children. TBRASS is a self-sufficiency program, so you must be working thirty or more hours per week or going to school full-time to qualify. You must apply for Section 8 rental assistance before you apply for TBRASS. TBRASS provides a rental assistance payment directly to your landlord each month. The amount is based on your income and family composition.
First-Time Homebuyer Program The First Time Homebuyer Program is an income qualifying program which provides up to $3,000 for the down payment and eligible closing costs for the purchase of a home based in your income and family composition. The money is paid to the title agency on the day of closing. The home you are purchasing must be within the city limits of Abilene, and you must either be a resident of Abilene or work/go to school in Abilene to qualify.
Critical Repair Program The Critical Repair Program assists only with repairs that are an immediate threat to the life, health, or safety of owner-occupied single family dwellings. Handicap accessibility may also be a qualifying critical repair. The owner must be income qualifying to receive assistance. If the repair qualifies as critical, and the homeowner qualifies under the other guidelines, then the Office of Neighborhood Services will both obtain the contractor and provide a deferred payment loan which can forgiven after a period of five-years. This service is only available to residents of the City of Abilene. Limited and Single-Family Rehabilitation Programs The Limited and Single-Family Rehabilitation Programs assist with repairs that are needed to bring the home into code compliance, but which do not qualify for the Critical Repair Program. The Limited Rehabilitation program is designed for homes that need repair to only a few major or minor areas. The Single-Family Rehabilitation program is designed for homes that need extensive repairs. If the homeowner and the home qualify for these programs, the Office of Neighborhood Services will provide assistance in obtaining a licensed contractor to perform the work in addition to providing either a low-interest or deferred payment loan, which may be forgiven. These services are available only to residents of the City of Abilene. MORTGAGE DEFAULT ASSISTANCE NeighborWorks This program connects homeowners to the Homeownership Preservation Foundation's foreclosure hotline. For a direct link to this service, click here. This service is available to all homeowners, regardless of where you may reside.
For more information about any of these programs, or to find out how to apply, please call 437-4576. |
