Dear fellow Hanoverians:
The Hanover Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) is piloting a new Small Repair
Grant Program to provide assistance to low and moderate-income Hanover
homeowners to make essential repairs and modifications to their homes
primarily for health and safety reasons. This will help residents facing
affordability challenges that can come with investment in these home
repairs. For the current application period, applications are due by August
31, 2026 and grants are expected to be awarded by September 30, 2026.
Grants of up to $5,000 are offered on an annual basis, and there is no
repayment required unless the grant recipient does not comply with the
Grant Agreement or the terms of the program.
Qualifications: To be eligible for this grant, you must meet the following
requirements
? Your property must be your primary residence and be located in Hanover.
? You must have owned your home for a minimum of one year prior to
application.
? All real estate taxes, water bills, or other municipal account payments
must be current.
? Have a household income below 90 percent of the current year’s area
median income (AMI) for the Town of Hanover. AMI changes annually based on
HUD calculations. For 2025, 90% of AMI for Hanover is $104,220 (1 person),
$119,115 (2 person), $134,010 (3 person), $148,860 (4 person).
? You must intend to remain living in your home as the primary resident
for at least 1 year following receipt of the grant funds.
? In accepting a Grant from this Program, you must sign a Grant
Agreement.
Eligible Projects
The Small Grant Program provides financial assistance primarily to correct
conditions dangerous to health and safety and substandard conditions. The
Hanover Affordable Housing Trusts uses the MassHousing Capital Improvement
guidelines as their minimum standard for eligible projects. Some examples:
minor plumbing, carpentry, window repairs, gutters or downspouts, door
repairs or replacements, step or porch repairs, lock repair or replacement,
cement work or masonry repair, tiling, plaster patching and wallpapering,
sheet-rock repair, smoke/CO2 detectors, weather stripping, electrical,
heating, floors, installation, masonry, siding, roofing, bathroom grab
bars, raised toilets or toilet seats, hand-held shower heads, railings or
other adaptive projects. The Program is not intended to support strictly
cosmetic or aesthetic changes to the residence.
For requests exceeding $1,500, 2 or more quotes from licensed and insured
contractors are required, as well as pictures of the area to be worked on.
For projects $1,500 or less, one quote is permissible. Town employees,
including special municipal employees, are not eligible contractors in
accordance with MGL Chapter 268A, section 20.
Payment of the Grant
If awarded, the repair must be completed within 12 months from the date
that the Grant Agreement is signed. The Trust will then pay the amount
approved directly to the repair provider (contractor) upon signed receipt
of the invoice with the contractor’s W9 form, photo of the finished
repair, and approval from the applicant. The Trust will not reimburse
homeowners unless specifically approved beforehand. The grant funds may be
combined with other funds (including other grants) to complete a project.
Financial Assistance
The grants are offered as unsecured, with minimal repayment clauses for
violating the terms (terms include full and accurate information on the
application; during the process and post work completion, the premises will
remain the applicant primary residence for at least one year following
receipt of grant funds; no selling or renting prior to 12 months post the
work completion date). There is no repayment as long as the spirit and
terms are complied with in full.
The maximum grant available is $5,000 per grant period and a cap of no more
than $10,000 total from the Small Grants Program over the lifetime of the
program for a household at a given property address. A one year wait
period, from the date the last payment was issued, is required before an
applicant can re-apply
For project quotes exceeding the maximum grant amount available, proof of
homeowner funds to pay contractor balance may be required (which can
include funds from other grant programs). The homeowner remains
responsible for payment for the entirety of a project, including funds
beyond this Grant.
Evaluation Criteria
The AHT evaluation committee will prioritize grants based on the extent of
health and safety problems, financial need, Veteran or disabled status and
amount of the request.
For more information, please contact:
Kathryn Fyans
Housing Coordinator
Town of Hanover
665 Center Street
Kathryn.Fyans@hanover-ma.gov
Tel: (781) 826-5000 x1106
Office hours Monday and Wednesday, and additional times by appointment
For “Around Town on the Web”,
Cathy H-B
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