Homeowner with Rentals (HWR) Owner-Occupied 2-4 Unit Housing Rehab Program

Homeowner with Rentals 2-4 Unit Housing Rehab Program

The City of Biddeford's Homeowner with Rentals (HWR) Owner-Occupied 2-4 Unit Housing Rehab Program is an initiative to improve and preserve quality, affordable homeownership and 2-4 unit rental housing for low-moderate income households by:

  • Bringing properties up to current Building Codes
  • Improving exterior appearance (paint, siding, porch improvements)
  • Increasing energy efficiency (newer windows, doors, insulation)
  • Helping assure financial sustainability of the property model

The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program with matching funds from MaineHousing.

For more information, please contact the City of Biddeford Housing Department at 207-284-9115 or at gail.wilkerson@biddefordmaine.org.

Biddeford City Seal
MaineHousing Logo
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Logo

Why Focus on 2-4 Unit Housing Structures?

Two- to four-unit housing structures are prevalent in Biddeford. In fact, 2-4 unit structures account for:

  • 1/3 of all Biddeford housing (approx. 3,100 properties)
  • 48% of all downtown housing (or 2,870 properties) 
  • 9% of all Biddeford owner-occupied housing
  • 20% of all downtown owner-occupied properties

Additionally, the city's 2-4 unit housing stock is aging. 89% of owner-occupied downtown housing was built prior to 1980, and the median age is 77 years. Aging buildings face more problems with maintenance, energy efficiency, electrical & plumbing failures, and general deterioration. They also may not meet modern building codes due to health and safety issues. Citywide, 1/5th of all multi-family housing is in "fair" or "poor" condition.

Benchmarks

After three years, the program will:

  • Invest approx. $1.35 million of CDBG and MaineHousing funding into the community

  • Rehab 45 housing units for use by low-moderate income tenants for a period of at least 10 years

  • Leverage federal lead grant dollars to address lead paint hazards in same units (up to $10K available per unit, max of 10 units)

  • Foster local ownership of rental units and neighborhood engagement

  • Reduce outward migration of low-moderate income families

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