SAN ANTONIO – The city of San Antonio is looking to help residents who own older homes with free repairs and updates as part of the Rehabarama program.
Homeowners can receive up to $25,000 toward a number of improvements for homes built prior to 1960.
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Rehabarama hopes to preserve historic and aging housing stock to allow for aging in place and generational wealth, according to the city website.
Projects can include partial home rehabilitation or projects that address property maintenance code issues.
Qualifying repair work and maintenance projects for Rehabarama include:
- Building envelope (siding, soffit, fascia, roof penetrations, skirting)
- Structural systems (foundation, stabilization, reinforcement of structural elements, masonry)
- Non-compliance with property maintenance code issues
- Weatherization and comfort (wood window repair, windows screens, door repair, insulation)
- Longevity (scraping, caulking, painting, flashing, gutter repair)
- Safety (porch repair and decking, accessibility)
To apply, homeowners can visit the Rehabarama website or call 210-207-3327 to request an application by mail or email.
In order to be eligible for the program, the home must be constructed prior to 1960, and the income level for the household must be at 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or below. Households with a 30% AMI or lower will be prioritized.
Current AMI limits for San Antonio, according to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development are:
| AMI % | 1 Person | 2 People | 3 People | 4 People | 5 People | 6 People | 7 People | 8 People |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $ 17,400 | $ 19,900 | $ 22,400 | $ 24,850 | $ 26,850 | $ 28,850 | $ 30,580 | $ 32,850 |
| 50% | $ 29,050 | $ 33,200 | $ 37,350 | $ 41,450 | $ 44,800 | $ 48,100 | $ 51,400 | $ 54,750 |
| 60% | $ 34,860 | $ 39,840 | $ 44,820 | $ 49,740 | $ 53,760 | $ 57,720 | $ 61,680 | $ 65,700 |
| 80% | $ 46,450 | $ 53,050 | $ 59,700 | $ 66,300 | $ 71,650 | $ 76,950 | $ 82,250 | $ 87,550 |
Funding is available for up to 30 homes annually.
The assistance, which will not exceed $25,000 per home, is provided in the form of a one-time award that will be given from the Office of Historic Preservation directly to contractors working on the home.
No reimbursement is required as long as the current owner or an heir continues to reside in the property. If a home is vacated or leased during the term of the loan, the outstanding balance is due immediately and payable in full, according to the program guidelines.
Participating property owners must agree to remain in the property or preserve affordability based on the award amount:
- Less than $5,000 - 1 year
- $5,001 - $10,000 - 2 years
- $10,001 - $15,000 - 3 years
- $15,001 - $20,000 - 4 years
- $20,001 - $25,000 - 5 years
Priority for this Rehabarama will be given to homes in Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5.
Rehabarama is a single-day event, held bi-annually, that provides needed repairs and maintenance work to older homes.
Video from a past Rehabarama can be viewed below:
Beyond preserving aging housing stock, another goal of Rehabarama is to integrate trades education and learning opportunities into every project, city officials said in a press release.
The City is seeking to hire contractors that would be willing to host an apprentice at no cost. Interested contractors can call 210-207-4680 or visit the Rehabarama website to submit the Contractor Interest Form.
Participating contractors also serve as sponsors by providing their services at a reduced rate. In return, contractors receive recognition on all event collateral as well as listing on the Rehabber Club website which showcases contractors that are experienced in the preservation trades, according to the program’s website.