In Waco, Texas — Residents of Waco and other Central Texas areas are receiving brand-new, free homes through the state’s HOME investment partnership program.
The community is among many that will receive state funds for the program through cooperation with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The program aims to increase the supply of cheap, habitable housing for low-income persons.
Allotted monies are used to construct new dwellings on the grounds of demolished substandard housing, relieving families of the burden of a permanent relocation.
According to Karen Walker, home program manager for Langford Community Management Services, “smaller” communities across the state can apply to offer the HOME Program. If approved, they can enter into a renewable three-year contract with the State Department of Housing. Walker’s job is to work with cities and the state to secure the funding and oversee the builds.
“It gives them access to a pool of money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development that is sent to the Texas Department of Housing and they distribute it based on the needs in the program,” said Walker.
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As long as the funds are there, Walker said, anyone can be uploaded into their system and given a free home. The money is stored in a pool that is based on reservations.
According to Walker, the typical award-supported house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but her organization also provides mobile home builds that are fully covered by the grant.
“The most important thing for these folks is that they can show clear title to their property and if they’re in a mobile home, they have to have a statement of ownership through the Texas Department of Housing,” said Walker.
According to Walker, program participants must also be able to prove that their income is low to moderate, falling anywhere between the 30th and 80th percentiles of the local median family income.
Walker added that the condition of their home must be such that a complete demolition is necessary.
“They have to live within the city limits of the cities that are offering the home program,” stated Walker. “And the city has to be offering the home program for them to apply for it.”
Among the Central Texas cities that provide the HOME Program is Belton.
Recipients, according to Walker, need just vacate their homes while construction is underway and locate suitable storage for their belongings until the demolition and reconstruction are finished.
The houses are furnished and equipped with blinds and appliances, so they are move-in ready the moment they are returned to the homeowners. Newly constructed homes even come with a free insurance policy for the first year.
“From the time someone puts in an application, we’re not looking into construction for at least eight or nine months to a year,” said Walker.
According to Walker, the new residence is not subject to a lien. Homeowners who opt for mobile home construction typically sign a memorandum of grant committing to a minimum of fifteen years of occupancy. They would have to pay for a prorated share of the building expenses if they quit the deal and leave the house.
“It’s a fabulous program for those that need a fresh start, especially for elderly folks whose homes get into such poor conditions you wonder how people can live this way,” said Walker.
Although three bedrooms and two bathrooms are the norm, Walker did mention that they had built houses with four bedrooms for families.
“I encourage small cities to get on board with the program as it helps to clean up areas of the cities that need it and since we receive the funding it doesn’t hurt taxpayers of the cities either,” stated Walker.
