Rehabbing homes is expensive, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission’s new program could help | South Berkshires

SHEFFIELD — Elmer and Maria Orobio, both retired teachers, knew it was time to replace their home’s old, drafty windows that let in the cold New England air.

But when a contractor quoted them a price they couldn’t afford, they decided to live with the chill instead.

That was until the Orobios found out about the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission’s home rehabilitation project.

Using community development block grants tied to individual towns, the regional organization helps homeowners who might not otherwise have the means to pay for vital home repairs.

Here’s how it works: Residents must first qualify for the program — which includes being in good standing with your taxes, up-to-date on your mortgage and falling below 80 percent of the area median income. Once approved, a contractor will come in and repair the issues identified by a home inspector. So long as the homeowner doesn’t sell their home within 15 years, all costs will be forgiven.

As part of the program, BRPC took a lien against the home for the cost of repairs, but that lien is slowly forgiven over a 15-year period, according to Brett Roberts, the principal planner for housing for BRPC.

If someone were to sell a home that was rehabbed using this program before the lien is completely forgiven, the remaining balance would go back to the town for more home repairs, he said.

This process often yields underlying problems that homeowners have not yet identified. The Orobios originally applied for new windows and gutters, but the inspection revealed a worn roof and rot under their bathroom floor.

These repairs cost $40,005, which the program covered. 

In Sheffield, BRPC has spent $807,000 repairing 14 homes so far. The organization is currently working in Dalton and Becket and plans to expand the program to additional towns.

BRPC aims to improve the quality of life throughout the county through different housing, environmental and transportation projects. Among other things, it oversees the home modification loan program and acts as advisers to towns.

This particular program used community development block grant funding, which BRPC applied for on behalf of particular towns, Roberts said.

Once the organization gets the funding, it gathers applications for home rehabilitation for the specific town.

“Then we approach the individuals on that wait list at a first-come, first-served basis,” Roberts said.

This program is crucial for Berkshire County, Roberts said, as high repair costs are common in this region where the housing stock is some of the oldest in the nation.

Even for younger homes — like the Orobios’ home, which is 28 years old — repair costs are expensive because of high-material costs and, most importantly, a lack of contractors in the area, Roberts said.

Despite some back-end complications, BRPC’s process “was so easy,” Elmer said. “Time-wise, there was no delay, we sent in our papers and they answered back.”

This consideration extended to the decision-making process, something the Orobios said they appreciated.

“The contractor needed an extension time,” Elmer said.
”But they asked for our permission, so we signed it. We were part of the decision. They didn’t step over us.”

“We trust them,” Maria said.

Another part of the program Maria appreciated was that their home would stay entirely in her and Elmer’s name.

The Orobios now enjoy their home, no longer leaking cold air from ill-fitting windows and under a brand-new roof. And they understand their fortune of finding the program.

“We are not going to let the house crack,” Maria said. “We owe it to the program to keep the house in a good shape.”

“I’d like for other people to benefit from this program, too,” Elmer added. “It’s hard for people like us to afford repairs.”

WOULD YOU QUALIFY?

• Property must be located within the town the grant was given to.
• Must be in good standing with the town’s tax collector with no state, federal or local tax liens on the home.
• Need to be up-to-date on mortgage payments and have homeowner’s insurance.
• Must be below 80 percent of the area median income. (In Sheffield, this means a one-person household would need to make less than $61,350. Each additional person increases that amount.)