Hilton Head Reporter

The Town of Hilton Head Island's new Home Safety and Repair Program will help income-qualified individuals fix roofs, cut down trees or make other necessary repairs to keep themselves and their homes safe and dry.

"Through this program, we desire to help homeowners who lack the resources to pay for vital repairs to the inside or outside of their homes. We launched this program as part of the overall housing initiative outlined in our strategic action plan," said Shawn Colin, Assistant Town Manager for Community Development.

"This program will benefit qualified homeowners who need help making necessary repairs and renovations to ensure their property is safe and habitable. People have faced tremendous economic pressures during the last two years and in the current year, so I'm glad the Town is able to help them," said Mayor John McCann.

The program is funded with money the Town received as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a federal stimulus program to address negative impacts caused by COVID-19 including housing issues, rent and utility issues and food insecurity. Approved by Town Council in late spring, the Home Repair and Safety Program will pay to:

• Repair roofs, windows, doors and other parts of a home to help keep it safe and dry.
• Demolish uninhabited or unsafe structures on the homeowner’s property.
• Remove or trim trees in danger of damaging the homeowner’s property.

To be considered for the Home Repair and Safety Program, homeowners must:

• Apply to the Town of Hilton Head Island for assistance. An application may be downloaded from the Town’s website at hiltonheadislandsc.gov/programs/homesafety/.
• Have a household income at or below 60 percent of the area median income for Beaufort County, SC.
• Provide proof of income and property ownership.

Town staff will review applications to determine if the homeowner meets program qualifications and will work with the Lowcountry Council of Governments to verify income eligibility. Qualified applicants may apply for multiple improvements to their property with total expenditures limited to $15,000 per fiscal year, per applicant, unless an emergency arises, and the Town authorizes an exception to the $15,000 limit. Eligible homeowners will be contacted if their application is approved.

For more information, visit hiltonheadislandsc.gov/programs/homesafety/or contact Missy Luick, Community Planning Manager for the Town of Hilton Head Island, at 843-341-4693 or MissyL@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.

Original source can be found here.