Critical Home Repair Program
Essex County Habitat for Humanity’s Critical Home Repair program is an extension of our core construction services. We use volunteers, donated product and flexible payment terms to make repairs affordable, helping low-income homeowners continue to live independently and securely in their homes.
This program primarily serves, but is not limited to, elder and/or disabled homeowners, and does repairs necessary to maintain sound condition of the home, weatherization and energy efficiency, those needed to alleviate critical health, life and safety issues or code violations.
Aging in Place is part of this program and serves to help older people age safely in their homes, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and live independently.
Homeowners are typically able to remain in their homes while the home improvements are being completed. Projects range in complexity and are dependent upon available funding for each.
Applications are qualified by:
Need for adequate housing
- functional areas of home are in disrepair or unsafe
- the family is unable to complete the work themselves
Willingness to partner
- the family contributes sweat equity hours (depending on scope of project and homeowner’s physical ability)
Financial need
- total household income doesn’t exceed 60% of Area Median Income
Residency
- the family has been a resident of Essex County for at least one year
- the home must be owner-occupied
The location of the home dictates the qualifying Area Median Income range. Use the chart below to determine if your home is in Area L or Area B and then reference the minimum and maximum total household incomes for your family size.
