The City of Cleveland rolls out new home repair application

As Cleveland’s housing stock continues to age, some residents need help making necessary repairs. Last fall, the City of Cleveland rolled out a simpler process for eligible homeowners applying for grants or loans to cover costs of crucial repairs such as a new roof or electrical work.

With a housing stock more than a century old, Cleveland’s is the oldest stock in Cuyahoga County. For example, the average suburban house was built in 1955, while the median year for Cleveland houses in 1930.  

Since launching in October, the program has received more than 1,323 requests through its new Universal Home Repair Application. Previously, residents had to submit a separate application for each of the city’s four repair programs:

• Exterior Paint Program
• Healthy Homes Program
• Senior Homeowner Assistance Program (SHAP)
• Repair-A-Home (RAH)

“The new application is just the ‘front door’ of a whole new system for tracking and managing the home repair process,” Arin Miller-Tait told Signal Cleveland. She helps lead the city’s Department of Community Development, which houses the home repair program.

Staff can now review one home repair application and make recommendations based on eligibility. In some cases, staff can also combine funding sources. For example, a homeowner may be eligible for multiple programs based on their application.

The universal application is meant to “take the burden off” homeowners, Miller-Tait said. She hopes that the application will help keep people in their homes and preserve the city’s housing stock.

Questions? Contact the Cleveland Department of Community Development at (216) 664-4000 or drop by Cleveland City Hall at 601 Lakeside Ave, Room 320.

Learn more about Cleveland’s home repair programs

Each program has income restrictions that homeowners are required to meet. Even if you don’t know if you’re eligible, you can still submit an application. You can also call the Division of Neighborhood Services at 216-664-2045.

See below for more general information about each program or visit the city’s website. Each home repair program is available based on funding. The paint program typically opens once a year, but the rest accept applications year-round. 

Exterior Paint Program

The Exterior Paint Program gives residents vouchers to purchase paint and other supplies. You don’t need to own your home to be eligible for the program.

There is no deadline, but the city opens the program once a year. In 2024, the city delayed the spring program in response to a cyberattack, which the city said shut down many of its systems for weeks. The program opened in August and is closed until 2025.

Healthy Homes Program

This program targets lead hazards, radon risks and “general home safety concerns” such as:

• Mold and asthma triggers
• Verified pest control
• Electrical problems
• Trip and fall hazards
• General maintenance

The city will inspect selected homes  to determine lead and/or radon risk.

Senior Homeowner Assistance Program (SHAP)

SHAP is limited to income-eligible seniors and disabled people whose homes need a “critical or safety repair.” The home cannot be larger than a two-family house and a person can only qualify for SHAP once every 10 years. The person applying must own and live in the home in need of repairs.

SHAP can be used for:

• Roof replacement
• Porch replacement
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm installation
• Major electrical work
• Major plumbing work
• Handicap accessibility

Repair-A-Home (RAH)

RAH is a loan for homeowners who are not eligible for traditional financing for a one- or two-family home. The money must be used to get the house up to city code and housing standards. The applicant must own and occupy the home for at least a year before applying.