A furnace that quits in January. A roof that leaks every time it rains. For older homeowners on a fixed income, an emergency repair can be impossible to pay for.
New York’s RESTORE program helps homeowners 60 and older pay for emergency repairs that threaten their health and safety. The program can provide up to $20,000 per home for eligible repairs and related project costs.
But you can’t apply to the state directly. You apply through a local organization that receives RESTORE funding. Here’s how it works.
What Does RESTORE Pay For?
RESTORE covers emergency repairs and code violations that make your home unsafe or affect its livability.
According to the state’s RESTORE fact sheet, eligible repairs may include:
- Serious structural problems
- Leaking or damaged roofs, vents and gutters
- Broken windows or outside doors that won’t lock
- Unsafe inside or outside stairs
- Accessibility modifications needed for safety
- Broken heating or cooling systems and chimneys
- Mold removal when it addresses a health or safety hazard
- Electrical problems that create a hazard
RESTORE is intended for urgent health and safety problems, not routine maintenance or cosmetic improvements. Repairs to separate structures that aren’t part of the residence generally aren’t covered.
Your local administrator will determine whether a repair qualifies.
How Much Can I Get?
RESTORE can provide up to $20,000 per home, including eligible project delivery costs.
New York increased the limit from $10,000 to $20,000 in 2022, according to the Governor’s announcement.
That doesn’t mean every homeowner receives $20,000. The amount depends on the repairs needed, program rules and available funding.
The limit also includes certain costs incurred by the local administrator to carry out the project, so the amount spent directly on repairs may be less than $20,000.
RESTORE funding is administered through local organizations rather than paid directly to homeowners as unrestricted cash.
Who Qualifies?
To qualify for RESTORE, you must generally meet these requirements:
- Be 60 or older.
- Own your home and live there as your primary residence.
- Have a total household income at or below 100% of the area median income (AMI).
- Be current on your property taxes.
- Maintain comprehensive homeowners insurance.
The income limit depends on where you live and your household size. Your local administrator can explain the limit that applies to you.
You’ll also need to show that your home requires an eligible emergency repair or correction of a serious code violation.
The administrator may request proof of your age, income, homeownership, residency, property taxes and insurance. Income documentation may need to be updated during the process.
Meeting these requirements doesn’t guarantee assistance. Your area must have an administrator with available RESTORE funding, and your proposed repair must be approved.
How Do I Apply?
This is the part that trips people up. Homeowners can’t apply directly to New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).
The state awards RESTORE funding to local nonprofits and municipalities. These organizations become Local Program Administrators and work directly with eligible homeowners.
To find help:
- Find your local administrator. Check the state’s list of local grant partners and look for a RESTORE organization serving your county or community.
- Ask whether funding is available. Contact the organization and explain the emergency repair you need. Ask whether it’s accepting RESTORE applications.
- Follow its application instructions. The administrator can explain the eligibility requirements, documents and repair assessment process.
- Ask about other options if funds aren’t available. Your county housing or community development office or local Area Agency on Aging may know about other home repair programs.
Funding is awarded through competitive rounds, so an organization may have money available one year and not the next. Not every county has an active administrator at all times.
Once work begins, RESTORE generally requires approved repairs to be completed within 60 business days, subject to permitted exceptions. This is a project completion requirement, not a guarantee that your application will be approved or that repairs will start within 60 days.
If you’re facing an urgent safety problem, contact a local administrator as soon as possible rather than waiting for the next funding round.
Relief Recap
Emergency repairs can push older New Yorkers out of homes they’ve lived in for decades. RESTORE may help eligible homeowners age 60 and older address serious safety problems, with up to $20,000 per home for approved repairs and project costs.
You’ll need to meet the income, homeownership and other eligibility requirements, and funding must be available through a local administrator.
If something in your home is unsafe, start by checking New York’s list of local grant partners. Even if RESTORE funding isn’t currently available in your area, a local housing organization may be able to point you toward other repair assistance.
