LENOX, Mass. — The town is applying for a federal Housing Rehabilitation Program to help low- and moderate-income residents fix their homes.

 

The Select Board last Wednesday voted to authorize Bailey Boyd Associates to apply for the Community Development Block Grant funding for fiscal 2026. 

 

The grant is up to $1,150,000 and will help with the renovation of 13 homes with zero-percent interest, deferred-payment forgivable loans. 

 

Cassie Boyd Marsh, president of Bailey Boyd Associates, a community development consultant, explained how the program will work. 

 

"The program prioritizes health and safety, including weather, vacant and other health and safety issues, septic, repair and replacement, roofs, windows, insulation, siding," she said. "We kind of work from the most demanding things in and so we're looking to apply for the next round, because the wait list is so long, we think we could keep applying year on year. That's the goal for as long as there's a need in Lenox."

 

Marsh said Lenox and Sandisfield have the option to apply together for upwards of $1.25 million, which would help about 13 units with repairs of up to $70,000.

 

"We can spend up to $70,000 per home. That's a 15-year, zero percent deferred forgivable loan, meaning that if you stay in your home, you don't pay it back. And with each year that passes, 1/15 of your loan is forgiven if you do happen to move and sell your home, the remaining loan comes back to the town of Lenox, which can be put toward programs like this," Marsh said.

 

Dawn Lemon of Berkshire Community Development in Great Barrington has done this program for two years, this being possibly the third. It helped assist 11 units in Lenox and Lee in the first year of the program. Marsh says because of Lemon, the program has been running great.

 

"It's a really difficult job of sticking to regulations, making sure contractors move forward and making sure that residents are happy. So it's a great program. We love to see the befores and afters and the happy residents that get to stay in their home, which is safer, tighter and more energy efficient," Marsh said.

 

Marsh gave the board a couple of glowing reviews from those who were able to use the program. Many expressed their gratitude for the helpful repairs, and their appreciation of Lemon. 

 

One anonymous note read, "Before being accepted into this program, our home was in a state of disrepair, and the necessary renovations were beyond our immediate reach. Thanks to your support, we were able to address essential problems and restore the safety and integrity of our house. This program provides an invaluable service to homeowners and my family is thankful for the work completed and that a program like this exists to help residents like us."

 

The program helped residents get proper insulation, new windows, bathroom and chimney repairs, septic replacements and more.

 

Another note read, "I needed a new roof, siding, and doors and had no money to take on the task. This was all accomplished for me with considerable oversight so I didn't have to worry about anything."

 

The county received some $3 million in fiscal 2025 CDBG funds for housing rehabilitation. More recently, Clarksburg applied for funding in the 2026 round through the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.