MCKENZIE BRIDGE, Oregon (STPNS) -- Need help to repair your home? St. Vincent de Paul is still looking for at least 15 more McKenzie River area families to participate in their Home Rehabilitation Program. The low interest, no payment, loan program is designed to assist low to middle income homeowners to fix up their houses.

Since 2001, St. Vincent de Paul has operated a home repair program for the benefit of small cities and unincorporated areas of Lane County. The program provides financial assistance for health and safety repairs for households with incomes at or below 80% of the federal median income.



Program goals include alleviating health and safety problems as well as correcting structural deficiencies in target area homes, while also conserving and improving existing low income housing stock. Other objectives range from increasing housing opportunities for low and moderate income households, to enabling lower income residents in targeted areas to remain in their homes.

Under the Home Rehabilitation Program, St. Vincent de Paul creates loans to eligible homeowners to make necessary repairs. The loans are deferred payment plans carrying very low interest. Homeowners don’t make payments on the loan until the home is sold or otherwise changes use. When loans are repaid to the program, the money is available again for the next borrowers.

To be eligible, applicants must occupy and own the home and land to be rehabilitated. In addition, the property must be within a target area served by the current grant, must meet minimum standards and have a clear title.

For more information about the program, contact Celia Walker, Loan Coordinator at 541-687-5820 x 168, cwalker@svdp.us; or Jul Orr, 541-607-0439 x 105, jorr@svdplanecounty.org.