Dear fellow Hanoverians:<\/p>\n
The Hanover Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) is piloting a new Small Repair
\nGrant Program to provide assistance to low and moderate-income Hanover
\nhomeowners to make essential repairs and modifications to their homes
\nprimarily for health and safety reasons. This will help residents facing
\naffordability challenges that can come with investment in these home
\nrepairs. For the current application period, applications are due by August
\n31, 2026 and grants are expected to be awarded by September 30, 2026. <\/p>\n
Grants of up to $5,000 are offered on an annual basis, and there is no
\nrepayment required unless the grant recipient does not comply with the
\nGrant Agreement or the terms of the program. <\/p>\n
Qualifications: To be eligible for this grant, you must meet the following
\nrequirements
\n?\tYour property must be your primary residence and be located in Hanover.<\/p>\n
?\tYou must have owned your home for a minimum of one year prior to
\napplication.
\n?\tAll real estate taxes, water bills, or other municipal account payments
\nmust be current.
\n?\tHave a household income below 90 percent of the current year’s area
\nmedian income (AMI) for the Town of Hanover. AMI changes annually based on
\nHUD calculations. For 2025, 90% of AMI for Hanover is $104,220 (1 person),
\n$119,115 (2 person), $134,010 (3 person), $148,860 (4 person).
\n?\tYou must intend to remain living in your home as the primary resident
\nfor at least 1 year following receipt of the grant funds.
\n?\tIn accepting a Grant from this Program, you must sign a Grant
\nAgreement.<\/p>\n
Eligible Projects
\nThe Small Grant Program provides financial assistance primarily to correct
\nconditions dangerous to health and safety and substandard conditions. The
\nHanover Affordable Housing Trusts uses the MassHousing Capital Improvement
\nguidelines as their minimum standard for eligible projects. Some examples:
\nminor plumbing, carpentry, window repairs, gutters or downspouts, door
\nrepairs or replacements, step or porch repairs, lock repair or replacement,
\ncement work or masonry repair, tiling, plaster patching and wallpapering,
\nsheet-rock repair, smoke\/CO2 detectors, weather stripping, electrical,
\nheating, floors, installation, masonry, siding, roofing, bathroom grab
\nbars, raised toilets or toilet seats, hand-held shower heads, railings or
\nother adaptive projects. The Program is not intended to support strictly
\ncosmetic or aesthetic changes to the residence.<\/p>\n
For requests exceeding $1,500, 2 or more quotes from licensed and insured
\ncontractors are required, as well as pictures of the area to be worked on.
\nFor projects $1,500 or less, one quote is permissible. Town employees,
\nincluding special municipal employees, are not eligible contractors in
\naccordance with MGL Chapter 268A, section 20.<\/p>\n
Payment of the Grant
\nIf awarded, the repair must be completed within 12 months from the date
\nthat the Grant Agreement is signed. The Trust will then pay the amount
\napproved directly to the repair provider (contractor) upon signed receipt
\nof the invoice with the contractor\u2019s W9 form, photo of the finished
\nrepair, and approval from the applicant. The Trust will not reimburse
\nhomeowners unless specifically approved beforehand. The grant funds may be
\ncombined with other funds (including other grants) to complete a project.<\/p>\n
Financial Assistance
\nThe grants are offered as unsecured, with minimal repayment clauses for
\nviolating the terms (terms include full and accurate information on the
\napplication; during the process and post work completion, the premises will
\nremain the applicant primary residence for at least one year following
\nreceipt of grant funds; no selling or renting prior to 12 months post the
\nwork completion date). There is no repayment as long as the spirit and
\nterms are complied with in full.<\/p>\n
The maximum grant available is $5,000 per grant period and a cap of no more
\nthan $10,000 total from the Small Grants Program over the lifetime of the
\nprogram for a household at a given property address. A one year wait
\nperiod, from the date the last payment was issued, is required before an
\napplicant can re-apply <\/p>\n
For project quotes exceeding the maximum grant amount available, proof of
\nhomeowner funds to pay contractor balance may be required (which can
\ninclude funds from other grant programs). The homeowner remains
\nresponsible for payment for the entirety of a project, including funds
\nbeyond this Grant. <\/p>\n
Evaluation Criteria
\nThe AHT evaluation committee will prioritize grants based on the extent of
\nhealth and safety problems, financial need, Veteran or disabled status and
\namount of the request. <\/p>\n
For more information, please contact:
\nKathryn Fyans
\nHousing Coordinator
\nTown of Hanover
\n665 Center Street
\nKathryn.Fyans@hanover-ma.gov
\nTel: (781) 826-5000 x1106
\nOffice hours Monday and Wednesday, and additional times by appointment<\/p>\n
For “Around Town on the Web”,
\nCathy H-B<\/p>\n
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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 … Continue reading