Does DC's Single Family Rehab Program pay for repairs?

What the money covers and how much

DHCD lists five kinds of work: building code violations, health and safety threats, roof repair and replacement, accessibility modifications, and lead based paint hazards.

The household total is up to $75,000 in loans and grants. Inside that, DHCD gives roof work up to $30,000 as a grant and accessibility work up to $30,000 as a grant, with roof and accessibility together capped at $60,000. Lead hazard work is a five year forgivable grant.

The loan part, if the grants do not cover it

Per DHCD, the loans are low or 0 percent, amortized up to 20 years, and often deferred until the home is sold, transferred or refinanced. Homeowners 60 and older may have the first $10,000 as a permanently deferred loan.

Deferred is not the same as forgiven. If you plan to sell in a few years, ask DHCD what comes due at the sale before you sign.

Who DHCD says qualifies

You own the home in DC and it has been your primary residence for at least three years. You are current on District and federal taxes, you carry current homeowners insurance, DHCD finds your credit and mortgage payment history acceptable, and your income is within the program limits.

DHCD sets those income limits and decides every application. Check them with DHCD first, because nothing a contractor writes changes the answer. The application goes to DHCD, not to us.

How the contractor gets paid

This is the part people miss. You hire a licensed contractor, but DHCD develops the scope of work and approves the bid, and the contracts run between your household and DHCD.

So the bid you bring should price the scope DHCD wrote, item by item, rather than the contractor's own version of the job.

Where we fit, and where we don't

We hold a Washington, DC residential home improvement license and a DC contractor license. Nothing on this page means DHCD has approved, listed or enrolled us for this program, and we do not fill out or file the application for you.

What we can do is the contractor's part. We walk the house and send a written estimate with the scope itemized, matched to DHCD's scope once you have it. It comes by text within 24 to 48 hours of the visit.

Of the work DHCD lists, the bathroom side of accessibility is work we sell: grab bars fastened into blocking and safer access in and out of the tub or shower. So are floors, including a soft subfloor that has to be rebuilt first, and our group handles roof repair and replacement as well. Lead paint hazard work is not something we sell, so that line of a DHCD scope would go to another contractor.