Emergency Home Repair Assistance
for the Elderly & Disabled

The Emergency Home Repair Assistance Program for the Elderly and Disabled is a program operated by the City of Concord's Housing Division of the Community Development Department. Funding for the program is provided by the Federal Community Development Block Grant Program.

Translation services for non-English speaking applicants are available by making arrangements ahead of time with our office.

Servicios de traducción para solicitantes que no hablan Ingles están disponibles haciendo arreglos anticipados con nuestra oficina.

The purpose of the Emergency Home Repair Assistance Program is to provide financial assistance to low and moderate income elderly and physically disabled Concord homeowners who require emergency repair work or accessibility modifications. Repairs or replacement of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural systems which show obvious signs of deterioration, as well as modifications to the residence for the physically handicapped, are eligible.

An emergency repair is any repair necessary to correct an impending safety or health hazard, threat of physical danger, or deteriorating structural damage to residences owned by City of Concord residents who are eligible. A grant for eligible emergency home repairs can be made to eligible residents with an approved application. The maximum grant amount is $1,500 based on 100% of the repair cost. The minimum grant amount is $50. Applicants will be limited to one application, one emergency repair item, and one grant during the program year as long as funds are available. Only repair work that has received approval in advance by the Housing Division will be eligible for a grant.

Emergency Repairs Which May Qualify For a Grant

Repairs or Replacement For

  1. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural systems which show obvious signs of deterioration or require emergency repair.
  2. Drainage improvements to prevent or correct flooding of structures.
  3. Roof, if due to water leakage, damage or severe deterioration.
  4. Building security.
  5. Stoves or refrigerators if existing equipment is unusable or unsafe.
  6. Replacement of fencing or tree removal if damage could result to structures.
  7. Repair work caused by flooding, fire, vandalism, accidents or other unpreventable occurrences.
  8. Improvements and modifications to the residence for physically disabled persons.

Projects That Do Not Qualify for a Grant

  1. General home repairs, cleaning, regular or seasonal maintenance.
  2. Exterior or interior painting; any interior improvement such as wallpaper or paneling.
  3. Regular replacement or upgrading of household appliances.
  4. Landscaping, including tree pruning or cleanup of weeds and debris.
  5. Replacement of carpet or linoleum.
  6. Insulation. (Call our office for information about available Energy Conservation Programs.)
  7. Purchase of equipment used to make home repairs. Any repair work covered by insurance or warranty.
  8. New construction, expansion or remodeling.
  9. Pool, sauna or hot tub installation or repair.

Are You Eligible To Receive an Emergency Home Repair Grant?

To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements

  1. You must be the owner-occupant of your home or mobile home on which the repair work is to be made.
  2. Your home must be located within the City of Concord.
  3. You must be at least 60 years of age or older on the day of application or you must be permanently physically disabled of any age.
  4. Grant funds, which come from a Federal Community Development Block Grant, are available to Concord residents whose income does not exceed 80% of area median income:

    Family Size Annual Income
    1$46,350
    2$53,000
    3$59,600
    4$66,250
  5. In addition to annual income, household assets must not exceed $20,000 or more for a single householder, or $30,000 or more for a household of two or more.
    Assets means: Savings accounts, Time Certificates, equity in stocks or bonds, real property or any other capital investments. Assets excludes your principal residence and other items that are reasonably necessary for personal use.

How You Can Qualify for an Emergency Repair Grant

  1. You must complete and submit an application along with at least one written estimate and obtain approval in advance to be eligible.
  2. If prior approval cannot be obtained due to the seriousness of the emergency, you may be eligible provided you contact the Housing Division by the next working day. You must also show proof of the work that was completed with written receipts.
  3. To obtain an application, call 671-3364 or come in to our office at 2974 Salvio Street. We can also provide you with a list of local contractors if you should need information about locating a contractor who does home repair work.
  4. When we receive your application or telephone call, a member of the Housing Division staff will call on you to inspect the work that needs to be done and to approve the repair work for eligibility in the Emergency Home Repair Program.
  5. A staff member will then issue you a written notice if your repair work and application are eligible.
  6. When the work is finished, fill out the Completion Notice on the Approval form and return to our office along with your paid receipt from the contractor.
  7. When we receive your signed Completion Notice with the paid receipt, a final inspection will be done by our staff.
  8. Upon completion of our final inspection, payment will be issued.
  9. If total cost of the work exceeds $300, the work must be completed by a contractor who is licensed through the Contractor's State License Board and carries proper insurance in order for the work to be eligible for a grant.
  10. We will be happy to provide you with assistance, but the selection of who does the work and the quality and cost of the work will be the responsibility of the applicant.

Permits

The applicant will be solely responsible for obtaining any required permits needed to do the work described in the approved application.

Confidentiality

Any personal or financial information submitted by an applicant will be confidential and will be only available to the City of Concord and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Loan Program

The Housing Conservation Program also offers low-interest rate loans and, in some cases, deferred payment loans to eligible Concord homeowners for home rehabilitation work. Property improvements under the Loan Program are not restricted to only emergency repairs. If you wish to learn more about the Loan Program or would like to receive a free brochure or have any questions, please call our office at (925) 671-3364. Other restrictions may apply.

Tips on Contracting for Home Repair Work

  • We encourage you to compare prices. Get at least two written estimates for the same work when possible.
  • Ask for local references from contractors. You can also call the California State Licensing Board to see if a contractor has a current license in good standing.
  • Don't agree to or sign anything you do not understand. Ask questions - know what you are getting for your money.
  • Don't be pressured into purchasing items or contracting for repairs you don't want or really need.
  • Ask about guarantees and warranties on the materials and the labor.
  • Never pay for repair work in advance. (Although you may have to pay a deposit if your project should require the ordering of special items or materials.)
  • Ask the contractor if he will provide all the permits that are required for the repair work.