The City of North Miami will start signing up homeowners on Monday, Nov. 16, for its Elderly Emergency Repair Grant, a one-time payment of up to $9,000 that covers urgent repairs on homes owned and lived in by residents 62 and older. The money is a grant, not a loan, so it does not have to be paid back.
Who qualifies
According to the city, the program is open to North Miami homeowners who meet two conditions:
- The house is owner-occupied: the person applying owns it and lives in it.
- The homeowner is 62 or older.
The grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Community Development Block Grant program, which carries its own household income limits. The city's Housing and Social Services Department can confirm the current limits and what it needs from you before you apply.
What it pays for
The grant is meant for problems that put people or property at risk right now, not for cosmetic updates. The city lists repairs that present an immediate danger to life, limb, property or the safety of the people living in the home. Examples it gives include:
- Roofs
- Water heaters
- Plumbing and sewer lines
- Electrical work
- Windows and doors
- Ramps and handrails, inside or outside
The amount awarded depends on what the house needs, up to the $9,000 limit. A leaking roof, a failed water heater or a missing handrail on the front steps are the kinds of jobs the program was set up to handle.
How it works
Each eligible household can receive the grant once. Sign-ups open Nov. 16, and the city has not posted a closing date, so funding is limited to what is available in this round. Homeowners who expect to apply can call ahead to ask what documents to gather.
How to apply
Requests go through the City of North Miami Housing and Social Services Department at 776 NE 125th St., North Miami. Call 305-893-6511 for the steps to apply, income limits and an appointment. Adult children and neighbors helping an older homeowner can call on their behalf to get started.
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