Contact: Program Manager (click Program Manager to e-mail) at 614-645-8526

*Presently, there are no funds available for this program.*

2010 Program Guidelines

This purpose of this program is to protect the health and safety and improve water standards of the residents of Columbus. This program will provide funding to assist eligible low and moderate-income owners occupying single-family residences within the City of Columbus, to abandon on-site water supply systems through the connection to the city water system. 

Eligible Applicants

 Eligible applicants include households earning 80% or less of the area median income (AMI) as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations, with adjustments for smaller and larger families/households. 

2009 HUD Income Guideline - 80% Area Median Income
Family	One	Two	Three	Four	Five	Six	Seven	Eight
Yearly Income	$38,450	$43,900	$49,400	$54,900	$59,300	$63,700	$68,100	$72,450

Property must be residential and located within the boundaries of the City of Columbus.This property must be accessible to a main water supply line. 

Eligible Work

Work eligible under the program shall include but is not limited to: the connection cost, which includes the installation of the water supply line, the meter fee, the tap fee, the system capacity charge and the disabling of the on-site supply. The front footage charge will be an eligible expense with funds other than CDBG funds. 

Financing Guidelines

Assistance will be offered in the form of a 0% interest deferred or a low interest loan (3%) for the costs associated with the connection to the City of Columbus water supply.

To qualify for a low-interest loan, the applicant must have an annual gross income between 51% and 80% of AMI and spend no more than 30% of their gross monthly income on for housing expenses. The maximum loan available is determined on a case by case basis. The term of the loan is negotiable with the interest rate at 3%. 

Repayment of the loan begins on the 1st day of the month 30 days after closing. No equity is required. A maximum loan amount is 110% loan to value ratio. Households in Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 are not eligible. 

To qualify for a deferred loan, the applicant must have an annual gross income less than 50% of the AMI and spend more than 30% of their gross monthly income on housing expenses. 

The maximum loan available is determined on a case by case basis. Payment of the loan is deferred until the ownership of the property is transferred other than to a surviving spouse. The interest rate is 0.0%. 

The loan will be due in full upon the sale or transfer of the property other than to a surviving spouse. No equity is required for this deferred loan. A maximum loan amount is 110% loan to value ratio. Households in Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 are not eligible unless all legal considerations can be addressed.