AUBURN LEAD & HEALTHY HOMES PROGRAM (ALHHP)

In partnership with the US Housing and Urban Development Agency, the City of Auburn is providing support to homeowners and landlords for the purposes of protecting children from the dangers of lead-based paint hazards. This assistance is in the form of assessing hazards, prioritizing needs and overseeing a coordinated response. Units qualified under this voluntary program will conform to federal eligibility requirements. These requirements include income limits as established by HUD for the Lewiston-Auburn, ME MSA as well as occupancy conditions as outlined in the Unit Eligibility Table below.

Click here to apply for the Auburn Lead & Healthy Homes Program (ALHHP)

Program Benefits

Funds are available to both owner occupied and rental units.
Free lead paint inspection/risk assessment services (valued at $600 per qualified dwelling unit).
Local approval up to $30,000 per unit to repair identified hazards (No unit maximum with HUD approval).
Up to $10,000 in CDBG funds to repair critical building systems.
Free healthy home assessment services (valued at $500 per qualified dwelling unit).
Health and safety corrections/supplies to the property valued up to $3,000 per approved dwelling unit (for example: mold remediation, electrical, plumbing repairs, or supplies such as vacuum cleaner, air filters etc.).
Free clearance testing valued at $300 per dwelling unit will be provided by the City of Auburn for each enrolled dwelling unit.

Multi-Unit Owner Obligations: In return for program support building owners need to provide safe housing for eligible tenants for 3 years from the date of clearance. Existing qualified tenants are encouraged to stay in the units but any new tenants, or initial occupancy of vacant units MUST be qualified prior to moving in. At the time of screening the tenants must be eligible based on family size and income. If income or family size changes after the initial screening, the tenants have previously been accepted and the owner is not required to evict them. Failure to follow required conditions will result in immediate default on loans and repayment of any additional granted funds.

The owner agrees to maintain the property in lead-safe condition, keep city debts paid to avoid any liens, and maintain ownership for a minimum of 3 years, or until the loan is repaid whichever is later.

Cost Breakdown

Other Cost Considerations: If cost comes in higher than grant funding levels can cover, the owner will be required to secure and provide the additional funding along with the original match commitment. Acceptable changes in Scope of Work which come up after contracting will be paid for by the grant program. The owner will not be asked to pay extra for qualified change orders to complete the Lead Hazard control activities.

Program priorities: This program focuses on units occupied or regularly visited by children under 6 years old or pregnant individuals. Rental units need not have a child resident at the time of assistance but further restrictions on the unit including but not limited to the following will apply:

Requiring compliance as a condition of assistance agreement with owners;
Registering assisted units in a publicly accessible lead-safe housing registry; and/or
Following up with the owner(s) at least annually and document in the unit file that the owner has attempted to comply.

Timetable: The expectation is up to 8 weeks to complete application, income qualifications, assessments, and bidding. The contractor has a minimum 1 week notice to provide Maine DEP before they can start any activities. The project site work will be scheduled by the contractor after work previously committed by other contracts, which is typically 1-2 months. Average site work takes 1.3 weeks per unit. Project size and scope can make this faster or slower. Average results from the previous Lewiston-Auburn Lead program have been 28 weeks from enrollment to clearance (6 ½ months).

For information or to apply, contact the Lead Program Coordinator:

Phone (207) 333-6601 or email intake@AuburnMaine.gov

PROGRAM GUIDELINES