Neighborhood Revitalization Program
(318) 673-7503
E-mail:
community-dl@shreveportla.gov
Overview
The focus of the program is to provide safe, decent, affordable housing for Shreveport residents, along with the need to preserve neighborhoods within the corporate city limits. The housing
division offers assistance to individuals whose annual income is 80% or less of the area's median income as determined by HUD.
Neighborhoods are being stabilized by reducing the number of present homeowners living in sub-standard housing and providing homeownership to first time home buyers only.
There are two components in the housing
division:
All purchase programs require the successful completion of a first-time homebuyer education class approved by the City of Shreveport.
Basic Criteria & Eligibility Requirements
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Income of up to 80% of the area median income.
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First-time homebuyer/existing homeowner.
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Property must be in the corporate limits of the City of Shreveport.
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Applicant and Co-Applicant must complete the homebuyer education classes.
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Co-applicant whose name appears on the mortgage or deed must occupy the property
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Employment / Income per underwriting criteria.
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Credit per underwriting criteria.
HAPPI Program (Home Buyers Assistance Program Participation Initiative)
- Down payment, buy down and closing cost assistance are available
through participating local lenders in partnership with the City of Shreveport.
The down payment, buy down and closing cost assistance is designed
to assist First Time Homebuyers who have:
- completion of an approved homebuyer education class.
- not owned a home or held title to a property for
three (3) years or longer.
- for persons 80% or below the
area median income as
determined by HUD.
- maximum amount of assistance is up to 20% of the sales price
of the property or appraised value whichever is lesser, depending on percentage of
area median
income.
Other incentives are available to applicants
purchasing in designated homeownership zones approved by Community
Development.
Homebuyer Education providers must have non-profit
status and/or be designated as a HUD Counseling Agency. Applicant and
Co-Applicant must complete Homebuyer Education classes.
Applicants must credit qualify with one of the
City's
HAPPI approved lenders. All lenders must be HUD approved for business
in the Shreveport area.
Properties eligible for HUD mortgage insurance or a
specific mortgage insurance program must meet minimum property standards.
All other assisted housing not eligible for HUD mortgage insurance must meet
Housing Quality Standards.
No HUD, VA, repossessed properties or manufactured housing
will be eligible for assistance.
Certain restrictions apply to all applicants receiving
HAPPI Funds.
Individuals who own and occupy their homes can apply for Rehab assistance. Rehab is available to repair
sub-standard properties according to minimum Housing Quality Standards that meet code requirements.
There are several types of rehab programs:
Emergency Repairs,
Paint Your Heart Out Shreveport,
Wheelchair Ramp,
World Changers,
Raise the Roof,
and Limited Repair.
Grants, and loan/grant combinations are available on a case-by-case basis. Assistance is not available for luxury items, only for code requirements as determined by the Housing Inspector and/or Rehab Specialist. All properties must be free of any adverse encumbrances such as judgments and/or liens. Applicant must have occupied and owned the property for two years.
Properties deemed infeasible for repair by the Housing Inspector will not be eligible for our rehab programs.
To be eligible for a grant, an individual must be able to show evidence that there is not enough income available to support any loan repayment, i.e. savings, investments, etc. In addition to this, it is necessary to show evidence of sufficient income to be able to maintain the home, i.e. house insurance, taxes, etc.
Loans and loan/grant combinations are available to applicants according to the program guidelines such as credit, income, and debt/income ratios.
There is a non-refundable application fee of $20.00.
NOTE: These programs are Federally funded. The maximum life time federal assistance to any one property is $35,000, subject to appraised value.
1. EMERGENCY Repairs Program:
- No heat in home, or if the furnace has been determined to be hazardous by the gas company.
- No water, no hot water, or damaged and/or severely leaking water pipes.
- Electrical hazards such as loose and live wiring, no electric power to the house, shocks from switches and/or plugs, or loss of power to essential major appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, or essential medical equipment.
- Severely leaking roof subject to collapse of ceilings causing interior damages.
- Repairs necessary to obtain handicap accessibility.
- A floor area weakened by water damages, subject to collapse.
- Other emergencies as determined to be an immediate threat to the health or safety of the occupants or others.
2. EXTERIOR FACADE Programs:
This part of the program is limited to the exterior repairs. The Exterior Facade program consists of four components:
- Paint Your Heart Out Shreveport - an annual
program administered by the City of Shreveport. Every year, on one day,
volunteers from local businesses, churches, schools and other organizations,
paint as many as 50-75 homes of low income elderly, and/or disabled citizens
within the city limits of Shreveport. Minor repairs and prep work are
completed, and deadbolt locks are installed by contractors approved to work
under our Neighborhood Revitalization Program. Sign-up for this program
begins in September and continues through the end of January. Paint Day is
always the third Saturday in May (weather permitting).
- Wheelchair Ramp - this program was designed
to provide elderly and/or disabled citizens within the city limits of
Shreveport with easier access to their homes by constructing a wheelchair
ramp at the entrance of their home.
- World Changers - an annual
program sponsored by the City of Shreveport in conjunction with the Southern
Baptist Conference. Each year during one
week, youth from different states within the United States are housed here
and perform painting and repairs to 10-15 qualifying homes within the City of
Shreveport. The City of Shreveport, Department of Community Development provides
the materials and supplies and World Changers provides free labor.
- Raise the Roof - a roof repair program
targeted for elderly and/or disabled citizens within the City limits of Shreveport
with decayed or damaged roofs.
3. LIMITED REPAIRS Program:
Limited Repair program is designed to be an intervention to address health
and safety major system repairs such as:
- leaking or exposed roofs
- faulty electrical wiring
- non-functioning or lack of plumbing facilities
- inadequate or lack of heating
- minor exterior repairs
- exterior painting
- weatherization
- attic insulation
- energy efficient windows
- handicap accessibility and other major system repairs
Interior repairs are limited to health and safety repairs only.
Application Process
Please read this section carefully before accessing any Hyperlinks!!
If you feel you qualify for one of these programs, you should complete a "Request for Services" application. Once completed, you must bring or mail the Request for Services to:
Department of Community Development
Bureau of Housing & Business Development
City Hall Annex, Room 300
1237 Murphy Street
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
A letter will be mailed to you to schedule a pre-qualification interview and bring in all supporting documentation when your Request for Services is being processed. All applicants will be handled on a "first-come, first-served" basis, dependent upon fund availability. You will not be approved to receive services until the steps below are successfully completed.
- Schedule your pre-qualification interview. After the above mentioned forms have been reviewed, you will be sent a letter to call and schedule your pre-qualification interview. During the interview, your eligibility (income, homeownership etc.) will be determined. You will be denied if you do not qualify; you will be
pre-approved if you qualify. If documents needed are incomplete you have 30 days to complete the appropriate documents and return them to the above address or your file will be
CLOSED.
- Inspection of home. If you are pre-approved, an inspection will be ordered on your home. This inspection will determine if you have an emergency repair.
(The inspection will be performed when we are ready to assist you). After the inspection report is received, a letter will be sent to you based on the findings.
- Solicit Bids. If you are approved, work specifications will be prepared and the work needed on your home will be bid to the next three (3) contractors on our rotating bid list. The contractors and the Housing Inspector will do a bid walk-through. After the sealed bids are opened, we can issue your
final approval and you will sign a Homeowner/Contractor agreement. The Contractor and the Housing Inspector will conduct a pre-construction walk-through.
- Agreement recorded and permits obtained. When the Homeowner/Contractor agreement is recorded and permits have been obtained, your work will begin. The Contractor will do only the work on the specifications per the inspection. As the work progresses, you will sign payouts at certain intervals when requested by the Contractor and Housing Inspector. Upon completion of the work, you will sign a Notice of Completion and complete and evaluation form.
To receive a "Request for Services" (remember that you must have all supporting documentation), contact:
Bureau of Housing & Business Development
by phone at: 318-673-7503
Or visit us in person at:
City Hall Annex, Room 300
1237 Murphy Street
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
Or to print the application at your home or business in PDF format click here.
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