Morgan County promotes repair aid for low-income homeowners
Morgan County homeowners may soon qualify for up to $45,000 in repair aid, a program meant to keep seniors and low-income residents safely in their homes.
Morgan County is directing repair dollars toward homeowners who cannot afford to fix dangerous leaks, failing roofs or access barriers before those problems force a move. The county has been awarded funding through the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Home Repair and Accessibility Program, and officials say eligible households will soon be invited to apply for help with critical repairs.
The program is aimed at low- and very low-income owners, not cosmetic upgrades. Homeowners may qualify with household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income, and the aid can reach up to $45,000 for health, safety and accessibility work. A roof-only option can provide up to $21,500. In both cases, the assistance is structured as a forgivable loan, running five years for broader repair projects and three years for roof-only work.
Morgan County’s rollout has been in motion for months. A June 25 agenda included a resolution accepting a grant under the Home Repair and Accessibility Program. By Sept. 8, county minutes said the final funding agreement had been executed by all parties, and IHDA had acknowledged the county’s choice to use TEC Services Consulting Inc. and Greg Sutton. County minutes from Oct. 6 said Morgan County had received funding to assist low- and very low-income homeowners with essential home repairs and accessibility improvements, and that a press release would be sent to local media.
The county’s public-facing materials show how the money is expected to be used. Contractors are being recruited for roofing, siding, ramps and other general improvements, the kinds of fixes that can make a home usable again for an older adult or a resident with mobility limitations. That fits the state’s larger purpose for HRAP, which is to preserve affordable housing, invest in underserved communities, improve health and well-being, and help disabled or mobility-impaired residents remain safely in place.
The timing matters in Morgan County, where older houses and fixed incomes often collide. IHDA said the average single-family home in Illinois was built in 1972, a reminder that repair needs are not limited to one town or neighborhood. Morgan County already administers LIHEAP, weatherization and other social-service programs through MCS Community Services, so HRAP is being added to an existing local support network. If the outreach works and eligible homeowners apply, the program could keep families from slipping into unsafe conditions, costly debt or displacement.
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