JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Update: Jan. 16, 12:45 p.m.
The City of Jacksonville announced its new program to help qualifying residents replace their roofs has reached its maximum capacity for applicants and is currently closed.
The City added applications will reopen once it finds new sources of funding. A timeline for when applications will resume was not given.
The City of Jacksonville announced a new program to help families fix their roofs amongst rising property insurance costs Monday.
The Neighborhoods Department, Housing and Community Development Division will initiate the Home Roof Rehabilitation, funded by the COJ General Fund.
The City’s financial assistance will be provided in the form of a deferred payment loan, at zero interest, for a term up to five years. No monthly payments will be due, and the loan balance will decrease on a pro-rated basis annually for the mortgage term if the property remains the applicant’s primary residence.
Applications will be available starting Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 9 a.m. The application window will end at 4 p.m. each day until the maximum number of applications are received.
You can call 904-255-2489 and ask for the Home Roof Program, or go to https://myjax.custhelp.com/.
Applicants must own and live in the house they are applying for. They must be current on their mortgage and property tax, and must provide a proof of insurance letter or an insurance company roof exclusion notice demanding roof replacement or repairs must also be provided.
Applicants need to have a gross annual income at or below 80% of the area median income in Jacksonville, adjusted for household size. This number comes from combining the income for all household members.
The program is part of the task force programs recommended by Mayor Donna Deegan's transition committee, which passed the City Council in December.
The program is designed to help individuals and families replace their roofs so they can retain homeowner's insurance and comply with mortgage requirements. Eligible properties are owner-occupied, single-family homes (one to four units), and manufactured modular homes. Mobile homes are not eligible.
The city can only provide roof replacements, and the roofs must be shingle and/or modified bitumen. The maximum cost per household is $14,999 -- but if the roof replacement costs more than that, the homeowner can pay the difference if they like.
The Council unanimously supported the task force program. City Council President Ron Salem called this program "vital," saying, "we know there is a critical need in this area from constituent engagement and through the work of our special committees."
Affordable Housing Director Joshua Hicks said this initiative is "just the start of effort to provide immediate relief to our citizens."
“I’m excited to officially launch the first of our task force programs with many more to come in the months ahead,” Deegan said. “The home roof rehabilitation program will help keep a roof over people’s heads and it’s a crucial next step towards preserving generational wealth in Jacksonville’s underserved neighborhoods.”
The 80% annual median income by household size is listed below:
- Household size of 1: $49,600
- Household size of 2: $56,650
- Household size of 3: $63,750
- Household size of 4: $70,800
- Household size of 5: $76,500
- Household size of 6: $82,150
- Household size of 7: $87,800
- Household size of 8: $93,500