The Birmingham City Council has approved nearly $1 million to expand housing rehabilitation programs aimed at helping longtime homeowners remain in their homes.
Council members on Tuesday passed two resolutions authorizing amendments to agreements with Atlanta-based nonprofit HouseProud to provide exterior repairs and beautification services in Districts 5 and 9.
The funding — $420,000 for District 9 and $500,000 for District 5 — comes from American Rescue Plan Act allocations designated by individual council offices.
Under the District 9 agreement, up to 50 homes in the North Birmingham area will receive services including pressure washing, exterior painting, landscaping and minor repairs. The program is funded through Council Pro Tem LaTonya Tate’s ARPA allocation and will run through Sept. 30, 2026.
The District 5 program will provide similar services to as many as 60 homes in the Graymont, College Hills and Smithfield communities.
HouseProud, which has rehabilitated homes in the Atlanta area for about 20 years, expanded into Birmingham last year in partnership with several council offices.
City leaders said the programs are designed to assist low- and moderate-income homeowners — many of them seniors — who need help with minor repairs and exterior maintenance.
“This project is all about helping long term residents stay in their present housing,” Councilor Darrell O’Quinn said.
Council Pro Tem LaTonya Tate said past work has included building decks and wheelchair ramps for seniors, in addition to painting and other exterior improvements.
“It’s just the quality of life changes for a lot of people — decks were put on people’s houses, wheelchair ramps, just a lot of things that aided quality of life for seniors,” Tate said.
Eligibility requirements:
- To be considered for assistance, applicants must:
- Provide proof of homeownership, such as a recorded deed.
- Provide proof of occupancy, such as a utility bill or valid state-issued identification with the property address.
- Qualify as low- to moderate-income and provide proof of income for all household residents, including documents such as a current Social Security award letter, the last two months of paycheck stubs, or a retirement or pension statement.
- Provide the last two months of bank statements for all household members.
