Edmond Life and Leisure - November 28, 2024

City offering ways to revitalize homes and to develop affordable housing

From City Source Edmond

With around 36,000 households, Edmond is a growing community with great schools, parks and homes that people can take pride in.

However, the average cost of a home in Edmond is almost twice the cost of Oklahoma’s average, which can cause financial challenges in the community.

That is where the Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department comes in.

The HCD Department manages the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which is federally funded to revitalize neighborhoods, develop affordable housing, expand economic development, and provide public services to those persons or households who qualify as low to moderate income.

Christy Batterson, Manager of the Housing and Community Development Department since 2019, said, “Our goal is to provide safe and livable housing conditions to all throughout our community and to also allow older adults to age in place in their own home. Giving back to the community is what I like most about the program.”

With help from the Community Development Block Grant program, the look of the home to the above was improved below.

The City of Edmond has three housing programs available:

• Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation

• Homebuyer Assistance

• NeighborWoods Tree Program

The Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation program fully funds home improvements that have an impact on the occupant’s health and safety, with a focus on disability-related accommodations, and considers weatherization and energy efficiency. The types of projects that are available this year include, but are not limited to, the list below.

ADA Accommodations projects like:

• Ramp fixes or installations

• Handrail additions

• Bathroom improvements

• Widened doorways for wheelchair or mobility aid access

Energy Efficiency activities include:

• Doorway and window sealing

• Replacing lighting with LED fixtures

• Water-conserving fixtures

• Insulation

Emergency Solutions includes:

• Heating & air

• Plumbing

• Roofing

• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

The City of Edmond’s goals for these Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitations are:

• To bring the unit up to local building code and other standards so that the home is safe.

• To ensure an accessible environment for all those living there.

• That safety and sanitation are of the highest importance, so those who live there are healthy.

• The home should be energy efficient starrated.

•The structural integrity of the home must be ensured.

Unless it is part of a handicap accessibility project, remodeling projects – such as room additions, relocating interior walls, retaining walls or redesigning the home – are not eligible projects in this program.

Edmond citizens can submit an application –which are all located on the City of Edmond’s website under the HCD tab – and the City takes care of the rest. If a household and project qualify, an expert Housing Rehab Specialist will inspect the home. Then, the City bids out general contractors and starts the process, in collaboration with the residents, their schedules and their needs.

One resident who benefitted from one of the programs said, “It has come as a great blessing to us because we were without water for months because of a water-heater fire, and I could not afford a new one. But now, me and my great-grandchildren say it feels so good to be under a hot shower again! It was truly great a blessing. Through this I have met the most amazing people who helped keep us together.”

The Homebuyers Assistance program aims to decrease barriers to owning a home in Edmond for

low to moderate income individuals and families. It can provide qualified applicants with a potential 50 percent of down payments, up to $14,999.

Before funding is provided, this program requires a qualified soon-to-be homeowner to have a licensed inspector check the property, completion of the Homebuyer Education Class, and 1 percent of the down payment to the lender as a buy-in.

This program is aimed at ensuring that people can have a home and build generational wealth, especially for younger families and low to moderate income households.

“I am so glad we can offer this kind of program. I believe it really makes a difference in people’s lives, especially those who otherwise would not

have the opportunity to be homeowners,” said Avery Geist, the Community Services Coordinator for HCD. “I have called Edmond home for years, and I would like to see more people able to do so in the future, especially younger individuals and families.”

The NeighborWoods program takes care of pruning and removing hazardous trees. Trees that qualify have high risk conditions of concern that threaten the health or safety of the home’s inhabitants and/or the surrounding trees.

“While trees provide many benefits for residents, such as cost savings from energy conservation, improved air quality, and increased property values, they do require some maintenance for improved

tree condition and safety,” said Leigh Martin, Urban Forester for the City of Edmond. “NeighborWoods provides an avenue for qualifying residents to receive assistance with significant tree maintenance needs on private property.”

Find applications for the Housing & Neighborhood Program, the Homebuyer Assistance Program Application Packet and the NeighborWoods Program at: www.edmondok.gov/217/Housing-Neighborhood.

Learn more about the Housing and Community Development programs at www.edmondok.gov/HCD.

Learn more about what’s happening around the City at www.edmondok.gov/CitySource.