Chattanooga Community Housing Development Organization is offering forgivable grants for roof replacement to income qualified homeowners in the city of Chattanooga.
CCHDO’s Roof Replacement Program is designed to assist lower-income families in making this vital improvement. Since 2012 CCHDO has replaced 75 roofs on homes owned by low income Chattanooga homeowners. The homeowners who received assistance were living in homes with roofs that were leaking and were in risk of becoming uninhabitable. This program helps improve the quality of life for low income homeowners and allows them to maintain ownership of their homes, said officials.
“The roof is one of the most important parts of a home’s structure," said CCHDO Executive Director Roya Evans. "A compromised roof, if not repaired in a timely manner, will deteriorate the house bit by bit and in a short time makes that house uninhabitable. The moisture damage to a house will create conditions that pose a serious threat to the health, safety and welfare of the household and affects the immediate livability of the home.”
CCHDO’s funding for the roof replacement program is through federal Community Development Block Grant, which is provided through the city of Chattanooga. CCHDO provides a five year forgivable grant to homeowners who make below 80 percent of Chattanooga median income - approximately $34,000 for an individual and higher for larger households. Additional eligibility requirements may apply.
Interested homeowners should call 668-9804 and ask about the roof replacement program. The applications will be treated on first come first serve basis.
“We accept applications throughout the year and when we receive funding we start replacing roofs until we run out of money," said Ms. Evans. "Those applicants who don’t receive a roof in the current year will go on our waiting list for next funding cycle. We are hoping to replace more roofs this year than previous years."
CCHDO is a private non profit organization with the goal to provide affordable homeownership for low to moderate-income families and revitalize neighborhoods within the city limits of the city of Chattanooga through partnership with the city of Chattanooga, and other community development organizations.