CHENANGO COUNTY - Chenango County delegates are pursuing state funds that would allow homeowners to rehab their homes and keep a safe living space.

The county’s board of supervisors on Monday adopted a resolution authorizing application of grant money offered through the NYS Office of Community Renewal. The block grant would target low income, single-family homes that are in disrepair, giving hundreds of local residents the chance to fix and stay in their homes.

“The value of this grant is that it assists homeowners in maintaining their current housing so that they don’t have to move or lose their home because they can’t afford to repair it,” said Kelly Robertson, deputy director of Greater Opportunities of Broome and Chenango counties. “This is especially helpful for people to maintain a safe and healthy environment to live.”

Greater Opportunities is designated the sub recipient of the community development block grant in Chenango County. Although the grant is obtained by county officials, Greater Opportunities will field applications and disbursements of funding for Chenango County residents if money is awarded.

The block grant would give homeowners a shot at applying for up to $50,000 to fix structural issues, such as roof, windows, well and septic, foundation, electric, heating and plumbing, or lead concerns. Repairs are at no cost to the homeowner, but a 10-year lien is established.

“The value of this grant is that it assists homeowners in maintaining their current housing so that they don’t have to move or lose their home because they can’t afford to repair it,” said Robertson. “Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen that it’s become even more important to have a stable and healthy place to live.”

There’s a gainful economic advantage too, Robertson added. Repair work is handled by local contractors who then purchase materials within Chenango County, and that’s good for the local economy. What’s more, there’s added property value with every repair.

“It eliminates blight in the community as it rehabs and repairs homes,” she said. “It gives back to the local community.”

While other programs exist to help homeowners, Greater Opportunities doesn’t currently have a home rehabilitation grant. So the agency says there’s a definite need, with a waiting list of roughly 135 potential applicants in the last year.

In past home repair grants, Opportunities for Chenango — the predecessor of Greater Opportunities — provided rehabilitation services to single-family homes at or below 50 percent the area median income; however, those up to 80 percent of the median income were served depending on need and funding availability.

For more information on home repair grants, contact Conor Johns, certified HUD housing counselor at Greater Opportunities, at (607) 723-6493, or visit greaterops.org.