Whole-Home Repairs Program - Luzerne County

The Luzerne County Whole-Home Repairs Program is a local grant initiative funded through the COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Managed by the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO), this program is part of a broader strategy to address housing insecurity and climate resilience by funding critical home repairs for low- to moderate-income homeowners in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The County Council allocated an additional $2.5 million to this program in August 2023, extending the pool of available resources. Funding is designated to enhance safety, efficiency, and livability in residential homes, while also supporting workforce development in the construction trades. The program offers up to $24,999 in grant funding per housing unit for necessary repairs that improve health, safety, and habitability or increase energy and water efficiency. Accessibility improvements for individuals with disabilities are also eligible. Alongside home repair support, the program aims to boost the construction-related labor market by contributing to workforce development efforts, although specific details on how this component is operationalized are not provided in the public announcement. To be eligible, applicants must own and occupy a single-family home in Luzerne County. The home must be listed in the applicant’s name via the deed or the title in the case of manufactured housing. Property taxes must be current. Incomes must not exceed 80% of the area median income (AMI), based on 2023 HUD guidelines effective June 15, 2023. Both traditional single-family homes and manufactured homes qualify under the same criteria. An eligibility checklist and income limits were made available alongside the application materials. Applications were made available for a limited time between June 20 and June 30, 2023, through CEO’s offices in Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton or online for printing. Completed applications had to be submitted in person during a five-day window from July 10 to July 14, 2023. No early or late submissions were accepted. Staff verified the completeness of applications upon submission and issued time-stamped receipts. All complete applications were processed in the order received. The application review process concluded on October 2, 2023. Applicants were notified via U.S. Mail in batches sent on September 29, 30, and October 2, 2023. A right to appeal is granted to those contesting eligibility decisions, and a detailed appeal process is outlined in an accompanying PDF document available on the program’s webpage. For questions or further information, applicants were directed to contact Theresa at 570-288-8458 x412 or Marialys at 570-288-8458 x410, with Spanish language support available. The CEO’s offices are located at 165 Amber Lane, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702, and 100 West Broad Street, Suite 11, Hazleton, PA 18201. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. More information can be found at www.ceopeoplehelpingpeople.org.