Program Description

The City of Brownsville receives support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist low and moderate income families in obtaining affordable housing. Specifically, the city receives block grants to support its housing activities including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).

CDBG and HOME funds are used to provide no-interest, forgivable loans to City of Brownsville homeowners who need emergency repairs, housing/health code violation repairs, and/or other repairs in order to make their home safe.

Program funding will not be used for cosmetic improvements on the properties. Cosmetic improvements include but are not limited to: landscaping work, pools, hot tubs, area rugs, and/or kitchen/bathroom cabinets.

Eligible Repair Work

• Improved Accessibility - Modifications to the home that improves a residents' ability to use wheelchairs, canes, or walkers; or aids in the performance of activities of daily living, such as eating and bathing.
• Code Corrections - Correction of violation citations issued by city safety personnel (e.g. broken doors and windows, trapped roofs, vegetation that prevents safe entry/exit of the home).
• System Failures - Leaking roofs, rehabilitation of failing or inoperable systems including plumbing, electrical, or heating/air conditioning. Homes beyond repair and that fall within the program's established budget may be eligible for reconstruction.

Eligibility

• My household income is 80% or below of the Brownsville area median family income
• I have owned and occupied the proposed property as my principle residence and will continue to live in it after the improvements are made
• I have a clear title on the property and ownership is in my name
• I have no delinquent property taxes
• My home is located within Brownsville City Limits and does not lie in a high risk flood plain, as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Priority will be given to those properties where there are housing and/or health code violations and the applicant can meet all of the other criteria of the program.

Additional Program Information

• All forgivable rehabilitation loans will be secured by a mortgage lien and a deed restriction that will be placed on the property by the City of Brownsville. The term of these forgivable loans is 5 or 10 years depending on the amount of assistance received.
• If the applicant maintains the property as their principal residence throughout the five or ten year period, and is compliant with all CDBG / HOME Program regulations during the loan period, the loan may be forgiven at the discretion of the City of Brownsville.
• All loans are subject to city and federal laws, rules, regulations and program requirements.
• Loans are subject to the availability of funds.

Currently the program is closed. We will be updating information once the program is available. Please call 956-548-6167 for more information about the program.