Housing Programs
- Overview
- Fiscal Operations Unit
- Homebuyer's Club (Classes)
- Homeownership Incentive Program (HIP-DPA)
- Lead Based Paint
- Minor Home Repair
- Owner Occupied Rehab
- Rental Rehab
- Surplus Property
Housing Programs Staff
Title
Richard Collins, Manager
Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program Overview
The City Of San Antonio, Department of Planning & Community Development administers the federally funded Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program which is designed to financially assist low-moderate income owner-occupied households to rehabilitate their substandard and non-code compliant residential properties by means of providing low-interest loans or deferred payment loans to cover the cost of the needed repairs.
The City receives support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist low-moderate income families in obtaining affordable housing. The City receives several block grants such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), which it can use to support its housing initiatives. HUD outlines certain regulations that apply when using the block grant funds, which the City has had several recent efforts to streamline the housing system and increase inner city revitalization efforts and to provide decent, safe and sanitary affordable housing in a suitable living environment and to expand economic opportunities.
HOME and CDBG funds may be used to assist homeowners in repairing, rehabilitating and reconstructing sub-standard homes that have significantly deteriorated. These homes must be occupied by their owners. HOME and CDBG funds can be used by the City and its partners to implement this activity.
If a home is deemed structurally and economically infeasible to rehabilitate, the deteriorated structure may be torn down and a new home may be built on the same property to assist the client. This is called “Reconstruction”. For reconstructed homes, conventional construction methods must be used unless other methods are specifically authorized by City Council. The same eligibility and repayment requirements apply to reconstruction as for rehabilitation.
In order to ensure the sustainability of the projects supported by CDBG and HOME funds, the City has established guidelines in relation to Universal Design. The goal of “Universal Design” is to ensure that housing can accommodate the needs of people with a wide range of abilities, including children, aging populations and persons with disabilities. Consequently, all new construction housing projects using City of San Antonio CDBG and/or HOME funds shall comply with universal design standards.
In addition, the City wants to ensure that newly constructed units are compatible with existing neighborhoods. All builders and developers of infill housing are strongly encouraged to incorporate the defining features of a neighborhood into newly constructed infill houses. Those defining features of older inner city neighborhoods may include: roof pitches, porches, materials, and window types. Developers must comply with any standards established by an existing neighborhood conservation district and/or approved neighborhood plan. Historic and conservation district requirements must also be met for all projects.
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