Urgent Need Home Rehab Grant Program

The Urgent Need Home Rehabilitation Grant Program is an initiative of the City of St. Charles, Illinois, designed to support income-qualified homeowners in addressing critical home repair needs that impact health, safety, or code compliance. This grant is made possible through the St. Charles Housing Trust Fund and is administered by Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley. It targets residents within the corporate limits of St. Charles who are in need of urgent repairs to maintain a livable and secure environment in their homes. This program offers up to $20,000 per household in grant assistance over a three-year period. Grant recipients are required to contribute 5% of the total project cost as a homeowner match. Eligible repairs include, but are not limited to, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, heating, and structural system upgrades, as well as repairs or replacements of failed windows, leaking roofs, and damaged entrance doors. Accessibility modifications such as grab bars, ramps, chair lifts, and walk-in showers are also included to better serve residents with disabilities. All improvements must directly address health and safety hazards or bring the home into code compliance. Applicants must meet several eligibility requirements. The household’s annual gross income must not exceed 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), based on guidelines from the Illinois Housing Development Authority. For example, the 2025 income limit for a four-person household was $71,940. Additionally, the home must be located within the City of St. Charles and must not exceed the current FHA mortgage limit for Kane County ($524,225 in 2025). The property must be owner-occupied, and units that fall under a homeowner's association responsible for exterior maintenance may not be eligible for certain types of work. Ownership and financial standing are critical eligibility components. The applicant must reside in the home and not rent it out. The property must not be in foreclosure, and the homeowner must intend to stay in the home for at least three years. Additionally, applicants must be current on mortgage payments (or own the home outright), property taxes, and homeowners insurance. These measures ensure that the investment supports long-term homeownership stability. The application process requires submission of a completed form along with supporting documentation such as proof of income, tax filings, insurance, and property tax receipts. While there is no explicit application deadline or rolling admissions language in the source materials, the absence of timeline specifics suggests that applications may be accepted on an ongoing basis. All grant work is subject to budget constraints and is ultimately approved by the administering entity. Repairs are prioritized based on severity, with an emphasis on addressing life safety and code issues. Applicants are encouraged to contact Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley for additional information or to begin the application process. Tim Pace, HPP Administrative Associate, is the primary contact and can be reached at (847) 836-1432 Ext. 114 or via email at [email protected]. Further documentation, including the program overview and full application packet, is available online through the official city website.