Grants for New Jersey Home Renovations

Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control Grant Programs

In January 2011, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided $5.5 million in grant funding to the City of Newark to reduce lead and other hazards in low-income households. The city will identify 370 low-income homes and remediate hazards in the homes. Lead-contaminated dust and exposure is the leading cause of developmental delays, impaired hearing and other health problems in young children. Typical measures to reduce lead-based paint exposure include removing, sealing or enclosing lead-based paint with special materials.

The State of New Jersey's Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency provides funding for the Refinance and Rehabilitation Program. The program allows income-eligible families to refinance their existing mortgages and use a portion of the money for rehabilitation work on the home. To qualify for this refinancing program, you must meet the income limits for the area you live in, and your family size is also taken into account. The borrower must agree to keep the home as his principal place of residence for the life of the loan.

HUD and the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs have formed a partnership to fund the Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income households. The goal of the program is to help families reduce utility bills through more energy-efficient systems and appliances. Typical weatherization measures include installing insulation, repairing or replacing windows, or caulking. Families with income at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level are eligible for weatherization services. HUD estimates a savings of $350 per household on an annual basis.

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency provides zero-interest loans to homeowners whose drinking water comes from a well and violates the state's drinking water standards. Only homeowners are eligible for this program. A homeowner must provide certification from the Department of Environmental Protection that her water source is contaminated. She can apply for a loan up to $10,000 to pay for an alternative potable water or adequate treatment technology. The loan term is for 10 years, with two semi-annual payments due on the loan's amount more than $3,000.