Officials announced Wednesday that the Bucks County Home Repair Program (BCHRP) will start accepting applications on July 1.
The program, pronounced as “bee-chirp,” was created to support low to moderate income homeowners by providing up to $50,000 for necessary home repairs and modifications, according to county officials.
The program seeks to address between 120 and 150 owner-occupied homes in the county.
Eligible repairs include critical updates to roofing, plumbing, electrical systems, heating, and necessary accessibility modifications like ramps and grab bars.
“The County of Bucks is committed to ensuring our residents are safe, healthy and comfortable in their homes,” said Commissioner Chairperson Diane Ellis-Marseglia. “Through these investments in Bucks County’s current housing stock, we will be improving lives and advancing living standards for current and future generations of county residents.”
The $10 million initiative is funded through a mix of Pennsylvania’s Whole-Home Repair Program and local fiscal relief funds provided by the Bucks County Commissioners. The program is administered jointly by Capital Access Inc. and Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County.
Applications can be submitted online until 11:59 p.m. on August 15, with mailed applications requiring a postmark by that date.
A preliminary eligibility review must be completed by August 6.
Jeffrey Fields, director of the Bucks County Housing and Community Development, highlighted the importance of the program.
“We are excited to launch this program to support homeowners in Bucks County in need of critical home repairs that may have been deferred during the duress of the past few years,” said Fields.
Funds for approved projects will be disbursed directly to BCHRP-certified contractors. Fifty percent of these funds will be issued as grants, with the remainder provided as a deferred payment loan that does not accrue interest and is due upon the property’s resale, title transfer, or refinance. Mobile homeowners may receive up to $15,000 as a grant for eligible repairs, county officials said.
To assist residents with the application process, BCHRP will host two in-person sessions on July 11 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., and July 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County located at 539 Jacksonville Road, Suite 100 in Warminster Township.
For more details on the program, including eligibility criteria and application instructions, visit the BCHRP website at BucksCounty.gov/BCHRP or call the BCHRP Helpline at 267-899-6544.
