HOUSING UNIT
Welcome to the Housing Unit! The Housing Unit provides a wide array of housing information and programs for low- to moderate-income persons or households.
Want to fix up your home?
Washington County and the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC) have partnered to create the Washington County Owner-Occupied Residential Rehabilitation Deferred Loan Program to assist residents with interior and exterior home improvements. Homeowners may receive deferred loans up to $12,500, with no interest and no monthly payments through GMHC's Housing Resource Center™ - St. Paul. The full amount of the loan is not due until the homeowner moves, transfers the title, or takes cash out on a refinance of the property.
These loans are available to households at or below 60 percent of the area median income, adjusted for household size (e.g., $48,500 annually for a family of four), and may be used to finance projects to make homes safe and livable. Energy efficiency or accessibility improvements, exterior painting, electrical, plumbing, structural problems, siding, windows, doors, sidewalks, lead stabilization, and septic improvements are just a few examples of eligible projects.
Please contact the Housing Resource Center at 651-228-1077 for further information.
Are you facing eviction or homelessness?
Please contact the Washington County Housing Coordinator or Housing Specialist at 651-430-6455 for information on housing in Washington County.
Are you experiencing foreclosure?
If you live in Washington County and have fallen behind in your mortgage payments, you should contact an HRA Foreclosure Counselor as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the fewer options you will have for staying in your home.
Please contact Washington County HRA Foreclosure Counseling at 651-458-0936
Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Program Brochure
Looking for funds to develop new or rehabilitate affordable housing?
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) are federal funds awarded by the U.S. Congress to units of local government through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds are to be used to benefit people who are below 80 percent of the area median income. This website has been prepared for the public to increase understanding and access to the CDBG and HOME programs in Washington County.
What are the HOME & CDBG programs? HOME was created by the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 and is the largest federal block grant available to communities to create affordable housing. The intent of the program is to:
• increase the supply of decent affordable housing to low- and very low-income households;
• expand the capacity of nonprofit housing providers;
• strengthen the ability of state and local governments to provide housing;
• leverage non-federal sources of funds for affordable housing.
CDBG, authorized under the Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, is an annual grant to localities used to assist the development of viable communities. To reach this goal, the program supports low- to moderate-income persons and households by providing:
• decent housing;
• a suitable living environment;
• expanded economic opportunities.
All CDBG activities must meet one of three national objectives: 1) benefit low- or moderate-income persons; 2) eliminate slum and blight; and 3) meet an urgent need (such as those caused by natural disasters). To date, Washington County's CDBG funds have focused on the first objective, benefit to low- or moderate-income persons.
Click HERE for more information on the Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnership Program.
