August 25, 2004

Antrim County News

Written by Nate Thompson (ACN Staff Writer)

© UpNorth Publications 2004

Housing Committee, MSHDA will remodel eight homes in Mancelona

Several homes in the Village of Mancelona could be getting a little spruced up with the help of the Antrim County Housing Committee.

Housing committee director Patti Lowery unveiled a funding plan before the board of commissioners on Aug. 12 that will allow for eight older, deteriorated homes to be remodeled in the village.  The projects will be made possible through a Homebuyer Purchase Repair Grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).  The two year grant totals $256,000 and will “rehab” the homes of low income families in only the village limits.

“MSHDA wanted to stay away from rural areas, so only homes in the village of Mancelona will be accepted,” Lowery said.

MSHDA chose Mancelona as the project site, in part because of the large number of vacant rentals in need of a face lift in the village.  Families who qualify for the project must be below a set income; but at the same time, but also have good credit.

“That will be the tough part,” Lowery said.  As for income specifications, a family of four cannot exceed a gross income of $39,700; a total income of $31,750 can not be exceeded for a family of two.

To secure the grant, the Antrim County Housing Committee will submit $20,000 from the $256,000 they receive, which will act a s a second mortgage or a “silent mortgage.”  The MSHDA loan would be subject to repayment if the homeowner sells, or when the borrower no longer occupies the property as their main residence, Lowery said.

Lowery said the ideal home for the project will be affordable, but in no way are they investing in “any slums.”  In many cases, the remodeling will allow homes to get up to code and solve other problems such as lead removal.  Lowery said she would like to see the project take place again in Antrim County in the future, but state funds are hard to predict.

“We feel very lucky to be getting this money and we want to utilize it in the best way possible,” she said.  “Mancelona was the most neediest, but for areas like Central Lake , it may be possible.”

Lowery noted the project has occurred twice in Crawford County and officials have been very pleased with the outcomes.

“We hope it can do the same here,” she said.  “In many cases it really can spruce up an area.”

For information on applying for a remodeling project, contact Lowery at 533-8727.