Apply for the Housing and Code Correction Program

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants are limited to owner-occupied, low and moderate income households who reside in single-family, two-family, three-family, or four-family residential dwellings. 

The Applicant’s total household annual income must be at or below 80% of median income for the Lawrence, MA- NH HMFA as established by HUD and revised annually.  

• Current income limits are as follows:

  Family Size	Income Limit
  1	$68,500
  2	$78,250
  3	$88,050
  4	$97,800
  5	$105,650
  6	$113,450
  7	$121,300
  8	$129,100

                      *Limits effective May 1, 2024

All units in multi-family dwellings assisted with HRCCP funds must be occupied by income eligible homeowners and tenants.  If a rental unit is occupied by a tenant who is determined to be “over-income” that unit shall not be eligible for HRCCP assistance.

Income of all household residents, age 18 and older, will be included in the income determination.  Income verification by HRCCP staff is required.  Applicants must provide all necessary information at time of application.  Failure to provide all required documentation may result in the denial of the application. 

Homeowners who have received financial assistance from HRCCP within the past 10 years are not eligible to apply.  This provision does not pertain to properties in which a genuine emergency condition exists.

Property Eligibility

The property to be rehabilitated must be owner-occupied. 

Eligible properties are located in targeted low and moderate income inner-city neighborhoods (“the Target Area”) established by HUD based on US Census data (determined by factors such as median income, age of housing stock, and poverty/unemployment rates).  The parameters of the designated inner-city neighborhoods may change periodically to reflect shifts in Census data and/or City policy.  The HRCCP retains the right to assist properties in documented cases of emergency and/or instances of unusual hardship.

If eligible, the HRCCP will pay up to 100% of all code related improvement costs, based on household income and size.  Properties receiving HRCCP assistance must be economically feasible for rehabilitation. If costs for repair exceed the program limits, or a home is in such disrepair that the costs are not justifiable, the property may not be eligible for HRCCP funds.

The HRCCP retains the right to deny assistance in cases involving the remedy of major code defects when rehabilitation costs are found to be excessive and/or unreasonable.

Financial Assistance

Assistance is in the form of a 0% deferred payment loan, payable only if the property is sold or transferred, or ceases to be the applicant's principal residence.  There are no monthly payments.  The deferred payment loan is evidenced by a personal loan note and shall be secured by a mortgage filed at the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds.  The cost to record the mortgage is the responsibility of the homeowner and will be included as part of the loan.

No resident of City of Haverhill shall be displaced as a result of financial assistance provided by this program.

Rehabilitation Process

1. The Housing Manager will review all applications, verify all information, and determine eligibility.  The Housing Manager may request an initial inspection of the property to determine compliance with rehabilitation policy and assess the housing conditions.
   

2. After the Homeowner (i.e. Applicant) has been determined to be income eligible, the Rehabilitation Specialist will conduct a full HQS evaluation of the property.  Depending on the age of the structure, an inspection by a licensed lead inspector shall be required.
   

3. The Rehabilitation Specialist will prepare work specifications and a cost estimate of eligible rehabilitation items for the Homeowner’s review.

4. The Rehabilitation Specialist will review the scope of work with the Homeowner and finalize the work specifications prior putting the project out to bid through the City of Haverhill Purchasing Office.  Any changes to the work specifications should be completed with the Rehabilitation Specialist before the project is put out for bid. Change Orders may or may not be authorized for additional work desired by the Homeowner. 

5. HRCCP staff will schedule with the Homeowner the pre-bid walk-through for contractors.

6. Project funding will be based on the low bid amount, provided that it is a responsible bid.  Projects will be awarded to the lowest responsible and eligible bidder.

7. When the Contractor is determined, HRCCP staff shall prepare contract documents for execution by the Homeowner and the Contractor. Upon execution of the contract, a Notice to Proceed shall be issued to the Contractor.

8. The Contractor must obtain all necessary municipal building permits before work may begin. The Contractor is expected to use safe work practices and follow all applicable local, state and federal laws.

9. Periodic inspections will be conducted by the Rehabilitation Specialist during construction to answer any questions from the homeowner and verify compliance with work specifications and schedule.

10. All invoices submitted by the Contractor shall be followed up by an inspection at which time approval is required from both the Homeowner and the Rehabilitation Specialist.

11. Once any lead-related work has concluded, a licensed lead inspector will re-inspect the property to perform a clearance exam.  Should all lead requirements be satisfied and a Letter of Compliance has been issued, work shall proceed specific to the rehabilitation elements of the project.

12. Upon completion of the project, a final inspection will be administered by the Rehabilitation Specialist.  If no deficiencies in the work are identified and all required City permits have been successfully closed out, a Certificate of Final Inspection will be signed by the Homeowner, Rehabilitation Specialist, and Building Inspector, at which time the release of final payment to the Contractor shall be authorized.

13. Upon successful completion of the project, HRCCP staff will arrange for the execution of the loan documents.  Both the personal loan note and the mortgage shall signed by the Homeowner. 

The Housing Rehabilitation and Code Correction Program also provides assistance in targeted low and moderate income neighborhoods for persons with disabilities who require accessibility improvements such as the installation of handicap ramps, retrofitting of bathrooms, or other needs as determined by the nature of the individual’s disability.

Lead Hazard Reduction

Lead Hazard Reduction activities will be performed based on the applicable state and/or federal laws in conjunction with all HRCCP projects.  The federal law requires that if a state/local law exists, the more restrictive law will apply.  The Massachusetts law states that properties with children under 6 must delead to state standards.  Properties with children over 6 or no children will be required to delead to federal standards. 

In general, Lead Hazard Reduction activities are typically conducted in connection with a larger rehabilitation project.  For all lead hazard reduction activities, a lead paint inspection - risk assessment will be conducted by a licensed inspector.  The inspection report will identify levels of hazards present, prioritize the risk, and recommend interim measures of abatement or full abatement depending on the amount of housing rehabilitation assistance which the property is estimated to receive.  The required Lead Hazard Reduction measures will be performed at all dwellings where children under the age of six reside regardless of the general rehabilitation cost of the project.  All deleading will be performed by qualified, certified, and insured deleading contractors.  After the de-leading related work is completed, a re-inspection will be performed to confirm that the lead hazards have been corrected. 

It is often necessary to temporarily relocate residents during the deleading process.  Tenants and owners will receive reasonable, advance notification whether or not temporary relocation will be necessary and, if so, the kinds of relocation assistance available.

Materials, fixtures, or equipment of a type or quality which exceeds the standards used are also not generally eligible.