HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 25-0075INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0075
a
11575
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
June 3, 2025
Page 1 of 2
SUBJECT: PRIORITY REPAIR PROGRAM POLICY UPDATES
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the proposed updates to the City's Priority
Repair Program (PRP) Policy in advance of City Council action on an M&C scheduled for June 10.
PRP provides home repairs to very low- and low-income single-family homeowners using funding
from both the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and PayGo transfers from the General
Fund, allocated through the annual budget process.
The program has been operating for more than 16 years and has served over 3,800 households in
Fort Worth in the last 12 years alone. Over the last three years, applications for this assistance have
increased dramatically. PRP is attempting to serve over 300 households each year, depending upon
funding availability and program policies.
In an effort to create a more streamlined and efficient policies and procedures manual, as well as to
expedite delivery of assistance, City staff recommend modifications to the existing PRP policy. In
addition, based upon a review of home repair programs in other cities, staff's review of existing City
resources and programs, and the unmet repair needs across the City, staff proposes additional,
more significant, amendments to the PRP Policies and Procedures, as follows:
• Add General Fund PayGo funding as a source to pay for repairs for homes of participants in
the PRP.
• Clarify that, in an effort to expedite repair time, homes funded through PayGo will not be
subject to unnecessary federal requirements associated with CDBG funds, such as
regulations under 24 CFR Part 570 (Community Development Block Grants) and 24 CFR Part
58 (Environmental Review Procedures).
• Clarify the Repair Eligibility section in the policy to include specific conditions and types of
repairs eligible under the program, focusing on health and safety concerns.
• Establish repair limits to a maximum lifetime cap of $100,000 per property.
• Add requirements for properties built prior to 1978 to comply with the Lead Safe Housing
Rule.
• Allow for homes with inactive utility accounts to qualify if there is a documented plan for
reinstating utilities.
• Establish that, regardless of funding source, homes located in floodplain areas are not eligible
for the program.
• Adjust prioritization criteria for emergency repairs to receive 10 additional priority points.
• Add that the policy in effect at the time repair work begins will be the prevailing policy for the
repair work being performed.
• Add guidelines to integrate Specialized Group in the PRP policy with the intent to allow
flexibility in adapting household eligibility criteria for specialized populations —such as
disabled individuals, the elderly, and veterans —without requiring the development of
separate policies or additional approval processes.
• Permanently remove the lien requirements after performing research to determine if homes
were being flipped. The results of this research are as follows:
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0075
a
1673
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
June 3, 2025
Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: PRIORITY REPAIR PROGRAM POLICY UPDATES
o Out of the 356 units completed in 2023-2024, seven properties have a different owner,
two of which are in an estate. None of the seven properties would have triggered a lien
as none of the repairs were over $20,000.
o Out of the 125 units completed in 2024-2025, two properties have a different owner.
Neither of the two properties would have triggered a lien as the repairs were not over
$20,000.
For any questions, please contact Kacey Bess, Neighborhood Services Director.
Jesus "Jay" Chapa
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS