NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The City of New Port Richey is exploring ways to help homeowners stay in their aging homes and even improve their curb appeal through an existing home improvement grants program.

  • Program developed 3 years ago
  • Funds come from Community Block Development Grant program
  • City looking at expanding program soon

Rising rents are what Lia Gallegos said first caused her to set out on the hunt for a house. She moved into her Tennessee Avenue home two years ago.

“I really like the 1959 atomic ranch look, the low-sloped roof. I’m into that whole vintage look,” Gallegos said. 

But owning a nearly 60-year-old home can come with its share of setbacks. When an inspector took a look at the structure before she moved in, Gallegos said he told her the roof would last eight years.

It was just six months later that she noticed the rot.

“The longer you allow rot to happen, the bigger the project and the more damage you have to repair,” Gallegos said.

Older homes than rest of county

New Port Richey Development Director George Romagnoli said it’s a situation to which other homeowners in the city can relate.

“The city is very concerned about our housing stock. We have generally an older stock than most of Pasco County, and a lot of it needs help,” Romagnoli said.

Three years ago, the city developed the Home Improvement Reimbursement Grant (HIRG) program. Funded by the Community Block Development Grant program and Community Reinvestment Agency, it funds home repairs through matching, reimbursable grants of up to $10,000.

The household income for qualifying applicants can’t exceed 80 percent of the Pasco County Area Median Income, as established by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. Since the program began in 2015, Romagnoli said 120 homes in the city have benefited from $400,000 of HIRG funds.

“We have allowed people to stay in their homes,” Romagnoli said. “Without some of this assistance, people’s homes may have been uninhabitable and they would have to leave.”

The funds are meant to help with repairs outside the home that help enhance curb appeal. Romagnoli said the coming year will see an added focus on structural components, like roof, electrical, plumbing, and porch work.

“We can make houses last longer. Preserving the housing stock you have is cheaper than building a new house,” said Romagnoli.

Program expansion possible

Gallegos turned to the grant program for help affording her roof repairs.

“I wouldn’t have been able to work on it until I had enough equity built up in the house to take on a loan. So, it’s definitely been very helpful,” she said.

She expects to reimbursed for half of the cost of the work – about $3,500.

Romagnoli said the program could soon see even more expansion. He said the city’s looking at applying for a state grant that could bring in hundreds of thousands for the program.

For more information on New Port Richey’s HIRG program, visit https://www.cityofnewportrichey.org/city-departments/development/housing-grants/.