Rebuilding Together Houston has provided no-cost home repairs to seniors in Houston for more than 30 years. These services are restricted by age, income and home-ownership qualifications.
Below are guidelines to provide a better understanding of the application and approval process. Before an application can be provided, all interested parties must be qualified through our Homeowner Assistance Counselor, who can be reached by calling our main phone number, 713.659.2511, or via email, info@rebuildinghouston.org
Homeowner Qualifications for Assistance
- Currently, general qualifications are as follows:
- must be the homeowner (name must be on the legal deed to property)
- must reside in the home
- must be current on property taxes, or have an official payment agreement with the appropriate government agency
- must be age 62 or older, or a military service veteran or spouse of a veteran, or disabled (and receiving a government recognized disability income)
- must have annual household income of 50% of Adjusted Median Income
- home must be one-story wood sided, or mostly wood siding, in order for volunteers to be assigned to the exterior work
- home must be in Harris County or the City of Houston
- Specific funder requirements may alter some of the general qualifications
- in certain cases (veterans, other situations) allowable income may be higher than the general AMI requirements
- the one-story, wood sided requirement may be waived in severe circumstances when specific funding is available for contractors to make the repairs
- in certain funding instances, homeowners may be required to sign a lien stating that they agree to remain in their home for five (5) years following completion of repairs, at which time the lien is removed
Process for reviewing Homeowners for Assistance
- Homeowner (or homeowner family member or representative) must initiate request for help - normally by calling 713.659.2511 or e-mailing info@rebuildinghouston.org - and be referred to an Intake Specialist
- During the initial phone call the Intake Specialist will do an online review of ownership, tax status, and look at exterior photos of the property to determine required exterior building materials
- The Intake Specialist will be able to tell the homeowner or caller immediately whether the home MAY be qualified, and if so, an application package will be mailed to the homeowner at the address of the property
- The homeowner must complete the application and return it via US Mail to Rebuilding Together Houston - along with proof of age, home ownership and income
- Once the application is complete the home will be assigned to a Rebuilding Together Houston "waiting list" to await the release of funds for contractor repairs, and the mobilization of volunteer crews for exterior repairs. The wait can be anywhere between six and twenty-four months, or in some cases longer (again, based on funds available)
- When funds become available, Rebuilding Together Houston will send a housing inspector to meet with the homeowner at his/her home to determine what work most likely will be done, and ask the homeowner to sign and acknowledge the predetermined scope of work
- In some cases, professional contractors will roofing, electrical, plumbing, and technical work called for by the inspector. Subsequently, volunteers will be used to complete the exterior work. Contractors may come during any month throughout the year, while volunteers tend to be concentrated in March/April or Oct/Nov
- When all work is completed a housing inspector from RTH will visit the homeowner and finish a "completion report" to be signed by the homeowner agreeing that the work originally specified to be done had been completed
- In certain cases, if work is not competed satisfactorily, the home will be reassigned to an additional crew of volunteers to complete unfinished tasks
Benefits to Homeowners
- Warranties will be provided by contractors for certain aspects of work (e.g. roofs)
- Critical or emergency repairs will enable homeowners to be warm, safe and dry as they continue to live in their own homes, but cosmetic interior repairs are rarely able to be done
Bottom Line
ALL WORK COMPLETED BY REBUILDING TOGETHER HOUSTON ON BEHALF OF A QUALIFIED HOMEOWNER IS COMPLETELY WITHOUT COST TO THE HOMEOWNER
