ONTARIO RENOVATES: Low income families can access funds for improvements at home

CORNWALL, Ontario – A new application round is about to begin for Ontario Renovates, a popular home improvement program that assists low- and modest-income families and seniors in Cornwall and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.

Through Ontario Renovates, eligible homeowners can receive funding for urgent home repairs as well as modifications to make their homes more accessible. To date, approximately 325 homeowners in Cornwall and SDG have received assistance through the program.

“The goal of the program is to help residents stay in their homes longer,” said Debora Daigle, Manager of Social and Housing Services. “We have also expanded the eligibility requirements in hopes of assisting as many residents as possible.”

The Ontario Renovates program has two different components:

• An Urgent Home Repair component where eligible homeowners can receive a maximum forgivable loan of $16,000 which is earned over a 10-year period. Projects which may qualify under this component include upgrades to heating systems, foundations, roofs and electrical systems.

• An Accessibility Modification component where eligible homeowners can receive a maximum grant of $5,000. Projects which may qualify under this component include ramps and handrails.

The eligibility requirements have been expanded slightly from previous application rounds. Participating homeowners must have a total household income of $45,000 (as per Line 236 of the 2014 Notice of Assessment) or less and the house value must be below $160,000. In addition, the property must be owned and be the sole and principal residence of the applicant, and property taxes, home insurance and mortgage payments must all be up-to-date. The property must be located within the City of Cornwall or the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Funding is not available for work that is already started.

Application forms for the program will be available as of Monday, April 20th, 2015.

Application forms can be downloaded from the City website as of Monday, April 20th, 2015 (look for Ontario Renovates under the ‘Popular Topics’ section on the main page of the City website). Copies can also be obtained from the City of Cornwall Social Housing Division Office at 340 Pitt Street (3rd Floor) or by calling (613) 930-2787 ext. 2344. Eligible applications will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ontario Renovates is funded by the provincial and federal governments and is administered by the City of Cornwall’s Social Housing Division. The Social Housing Division acts as Service Manager for Housing programs in both Cornwall and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.

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