By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The Six County Association of Governments, of which Juab County is a member, has several housing programs to help low-income families with home needs.
One of those is the single family rehabilitation and reconstruction program. This program offers individuals low interest loans for the rehabilitation or reconstruction of their existing home.
The State of Utah Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund sponsors the program. The goal of the program is to provide decent, safe and affordable housing for low-income, elderly or disabled families. The program helps homeowners make home improvements, address accessibility issues, replace older housing stock, reduce overcrowding, update plumbing or electric and address any other type of housing concern.
There is also a weatherization program. This program goal is to enable low-income individuals and families to participate in energy conservation programs which will lessen the impact of the high cost of energy on their household budgets and improve household health and safety.
Priority is given to the elderly, disabled and households with children under the age of six.
Weatherization services are cost-effective energy efficiency measures for existing residential and multifamily housing with low-income residents. Weatherization service providers install energy efficiency measures in the homes of qualifying homeowners free of charge.
The upgrades are not expensive and the energy savings pay for the upgrades within a few years.
The Six Count A.O.G. also participates in CROWN (Credit to Own) Homes. They partner with the Utah Housing Corporation to bring home ownership within reach of very low-income households.
Utah Housing Corporation builds the CROWN homes and the Six County A.O.G. manages them as rent to own homes for low to moderate-income clients.
CROWN is designed to address the problems and concerns of all communities by increasing quality affordable housing. CROWN residents typically develop a long-term commitment to their neighborhood and community.
After the homes fifteenth year, the tenant has the opportunity to purchase the home.
There are currently four homes in Moroni, six homes in Mount Pleasant, five homes in Richfield, four homes in Nephi, three homes in Fillmore and three homes in Ephraim who are part of this program.
The American Dream Down Payment Initiative, known as Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program, provides down payment/closing cost assistance to first time home buyers.
Applicants must be at or below the applicable income limits for the county the principal residence is being purchased in. The program provides the buyer with a maximum loan amount of $2,000 and a minimum of $1,000.
The Mutual Self-Help Housing program targets low-income families who are willing to work to gain equity in their own home.
The program qualifies applicants for construction loans through USDA Rural Development. Applicants who would qualify for a very low conventional loan due to income can obtain a subsidized or non-subsidized construction loan to build a nice home for their family. By providing “sweat equity” on their homes, the clients mortgage is comparatively lower than the average conventional mortgage loan.
The housing department staff consists of: Travis Kyhl, Director of Housing at 435-893-0746; Kristi Arnell, Program Manager, 435-893-0447; Kenyon Ogden, Weatherization Coordinator, 435-893-0740; and Chris Anne Hattaway, Program Manager, 435-893-0742.
