Town receives funds for low-income housing

BELLINGHAM – The Town of Bellingham has received funding from the Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant Program to continue the Bellingham Regional Housing Rehabilitation Program, which assists low- and moderate-income property owners to make repairs to their properties.

Eligible owners of one to seven-unit residential properties can receive up to $40,000 per unit to make needed repairs. Funds may be used to repair roofs, plumbing or electric systems, repair or replace heating and septic systems, increase energy efficiency, make accessibility modifications or complete other needed repairs for housing occupied by low and moderate income homeowners and renters.

In prior years, these funds were targeted to South Bellingham and properties in North Bellingham were only eligible for emergency repairs (such as a failed heating or septic system). This year the program has been expanded to serve eligible homeowners anywhere in Bellingham and or Hopedale.

Assistance is provided in the form of zero-interest deferred payment loans. No repayment is required unless the property is sold or refinanced. At the end of 15 years the loan is forgiven and becomes a grant.

Income limits apply and a majority of the units in a multi-unit property must be occupied by income-eligible owners or renters. All work is completed by licensed and insured contractors that preregister with the program and are supervised program staff.

Applications are now available and can be downloaded on the town's website or picked up at the Bellingham Senior Center, 40 Blackstone St.; Town Clerk’s Office, 10 Mechanic St.; and the Community Development Office, 2 Mechanic St. (old Town Hall).

Interested homeowners who are unable to download or pick up an application can call the Community Development Office and request that an application be mailed to them.

For additional information call the Bellingham Community Development Office at (508) 657-2890 or (508) 6572891. Office hours are Monday and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.