NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Help is available for residents with mobility difficulties who want to stay in their homes. 

 

Michaela Grady, a housing planner with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, gave a presentation at the City Council's Tuesday meeting on the Home Modification Loan Program that provides zero-interest loans to make homes more accessible to aging and disabled residents. 

 

A BRPC representative will be North Adams Public Library on Thursday, Dec. 11, from 1 to 4 and Friday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide technical assistance filling out an application to the program. 

 

Councilor Andrew Fitch asked for the presentation based on what he'd been hearing in the community.

 

"I've heard from a lot of community members concerns around keeping disabled or elderly people in their homes, in their home community, and the challenges that are associated with that," he said. "So when I learned about the Home Modification Loan Program through Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, I was really excited to have them come in and just present about this, because it sounds like a great program to me."

 

Grady said the state-funded program provides zero-percent deferred loans to homeowners and 3 percent deferred loans to landlords to modify housing to allow for people to stay in their homes longer. 

 

"These projects include permanent adaptations to allow elderly people and disabled individuals to access the different parts of their home that they need to function on a daily basis," she said. "So that is bathrooms, stairs, a ramp to get into their house, chair lifts, all things like that. These are just some examples. We also help fund ADUs and widen doorways for wheelchair access."

 

Homeowners can obtain loans up to $50,000 and owners of manufactured or mobile homes $30,000.

 

"There's no interest and you can pay ahead of time but you don't have to," Grady said. "The life of the loan is 50 years, and repayment is required when the property's deed is transferred or if the beneficiary passes away before the 50 years is up."

 

Landlords with fewer than 10 units can borrow to modify apartments to meet the needs of existing tenants. 

 

It's up to the loan applicant to find a licensed contractor and manage construction or modifications; an HMLP representative will assist with loan applications, review of plans and final inspection before funds are released. 

 

The loan is a lien on the property but Grady said it doesn't matter if there's already a mortgage — or two — in place.

 

"This seems like a great way for people to improve their homes, and I'm very interested in hearing a little bit more about how this can help disabled peoples or peoples with new or oncoming disabilities, people who have struggles with mobility issues," said Councilor Ashley Shade.

 

The councilors peppered her with questions about what exactly would be covered: yes to lifts; lowering sinks and cabinets for wheelchair access; modifying bathrooms; stair lifts or an elevator; and lighting and security.

 

It's not so much about age but mobility, she said. 

 

"Our most popular project at the moment is turning clawfoot tubs into walk-in showers," Grady said. "We also install grab bars throughout the home. We've done one elevator, we've done a stair lift. If an elderly person has a wobbly floor, we can replace the floor with something nonslip so that they're able to use their walker or their wheelchair better."

 

Councilor Lisa Blackmer thought the program was great as residents would be able to stay in their homes instead of going into a nursing home or long-term care.

 

Brett Roberts, principal planner at BRPC, said the modifications have to essentially stay with the house, so something like a motorized bed wouldn't qualify. 

 

"One piece is just making sure that whatever is being funded, remains in the home, right?" he said. "Because we're securing this through a mortgage on the house, and so as long as it's a part of the property."

 

The income guidelines are quite broad: an individual can make up to $231,600 and a family of eight $436,800. The top limit on accountable assets is $175,000, not including your house, retirement accounts and or primary car. 

 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Grady said she will go to applicants home to help them fill out the paperwork because it can be difficult for elderly and mobility challenged people to get to downtown Pittsfield. 

 

She can be contacted at HMLP@berkshireplanning.org or 413-442-1521, Ext. 55. More information on the program can be found at www.cedac.org/hmlp.

 

"We have a large amount of housing programs that we work on. This one being a really great one as well," said Roberts. "And if we can ever be of help to the city of North Adams, please reach out to us. We're here to help. This is just one of our many programs, and happy to assist you in reaching your goals for the city in any way."