The Casa Grande City Council voted unanimously to pass Resolution 5735, authorizing the city to apply for $880,000 in state funding to help local homeowners repair and upgrade their properties through the Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program.
The program receives funding from multiple sources according to the resolution: the Office of Housing and Urban Development through Community Development Block Grant Entitlement, and the State of Arizona Department of Housing through both State Housing Fund and HOME grant programs. If successful in this current application, the city will receive $800,000 from the Home Investment Partnerships Program and $80,000 from Housing Trust Funds. The city also plans to provide matching funds through Program Income, Housing Development Funds, and Community Development Block Grant Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Funds to maximize the potential funding.
The program assists income-qualified Casa Grande homeowners with essential repairs to address health and safety issues. Eligible repairs include roofing, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, electrical work, and foundation repairs. Under the state’s current guidelines, rehabilitation assistance can provide up to $115,000 per housing unit, while reconstruction assistance (including manufactured housing or stick-built replacement) can provide up to $150,000 per unit. The minimum assistance amount per unit is $1,000. Once completed, homes must meet all building codes, weatherization requirements, and energy efficiency standards, and their after-rehabilitation value cannot exceed 95% of the area median value limits as determined annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
During the council meeting, Mayor Lisa Fitzgibbons shared her experience from a recent ribbon cutting ceremony for a completed project. The 1980s home had significant safety issues, including an unsafe bathroom and dangerous uneven flooring levels. Through the program, it was transformed into a safe, modernized residence.
“It’s really great because it works in some of our neighborhoods to revitalize neighborhoods, especially with affordable housing right now and people struggling to find affordable housing,” Fitzgibbons said. “It’s a family home that’s been in this family for years.”
To qualify for assistance, homeowners must live within Casa Grande city limits, own and occupy their home as their primary residence, and have a total household income that does not exceed 80% of the area’s median income. The city gives priority to elderly residents, disabled individuals, and families with children.
The city partners with Community Action Human Resource Agency, which provides additional support through weatherization services like heating and cooling units, exhaust fans, and appliances. This partnership helps extend the available grant funding.
The January 10, 2025 deadline aligns with the state’s Federal Fiscal Year 2024 Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation funding cycle, for which the Arizona Department of Housing has made approximately $6 million available statewide through a competitive application process. Successful applicants must be prepared to begin implementation within 30 days of execution of the funding agreement and complete projects within 24 months.
Applications for the program are available at City Hall between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or residents can request an application by phone. The city also offers “At-Home” services for homebound persons, and all information and services are available in both English and Spanish.
All council members – including council members Romo, Dugan, BeDillan, Edwards, Huddleston, Mayor Pro Tem Herman, and Mayor Fitzgibbons – voted in favor of both the grant application and the 2024 Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Guidelines.
