Accessibility Assistance Program

The Accessibility Assistance Program provides assistance to homeowners/renters in Montgomery County outside the cities of Dayton or Kettering, who have a member of the household with physical disabilities or seniors with age related disabilities. The assistance is to remove material or architectural barriers, which restrict access or otherwise impede mobility, and to install hardware that lessens hazards that are aggravated by a disability.

The level of assistance is limited solely to the amount required to address the modification. The maximum amount of assistance is $5,000. The assistance is provided in the form of a grant. Applicants who have the need for modifications that exceed the Accessibility Assistance Program’s maximum amount of assistance will have to secure additional funds from other sources. The additional funds will have to be secured before any work begins.

Part of the application process involves a determination that the modification requested can be provided in accordance to zoning/code regulations, existing structural constraints, and the cost of the project.

Guidelines

Conditions for Repairs or Replacement

The following are examples of items eligible for funding:

• Ramps
• Entrances free from steps
• Railings
• Grab bars
• Roll-in type shower
• Cabinet alterations
• Widening of doors

Eligible Households

Applicants must not exceed annual household incomes as follows. Please note the income is total household income of all adults 18 years of age or older living in the home. Incomes are the maximums derived from the median income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is determined by the total number of occupants in the home. To be eligible, the household cannot exceed 50% of the area median income.

The applicant must be the owner or the renter of the property and occupy the unit in which the condition exists.

Applicants cannot own more than one property or residential building.

The property taxes must be current or the homeowner must be on a verifiable payment plan with the Montgomery County Treasurer’s Office. In addition, the applicant’s mortgage must be current or an executed modification plan must be provided with a statement that the homeowner is paying as agreed.

Financing

Households with income above 50% of the median income are not eligible for Accessibility Assistance.

Assistance is provided as a grant, funds need not be repaid unless fraudulently obtained.

Eligible Properties

• Residential structure must be located in an area that is zoned appropriately
• Owner occupied or rental
• Single-family or multi-family
• Must occupy the unit needing the assistance as their principal residence
• Condominiums

Mobile homes are not eligible.

Application Process

The Accessibility Assistance Program is administered by CountyCorp. We welcome referrals from other agencies who are working with households in need.

The homeowner must complete the Accessibility Assistance Program Application.

1. Interested households are advised of eligibility criteria and the application process.
2. Potential applicants are provided forms needed to determine eligibility.
3. Upon successful determination of preliminary eligibility, staff completes necessary title and income verifications. This includes obtaining documentation from the landlord (if applicable) to demonstrate that the mortgage and property taxes are current.
4. The site is inspected and a list of repairs/modifications is prepared. In the case of a rental the owner of the property must sign-off on the modifications.
5. CountyCorp staff will obtain construction estimates from contractors who have been screened by CountyCorp and are approved by us to do business.

The following information must be provided by the Applicant:

1. Income documentation for all persons in the household, 18 years and older: last two and most recent employment pay stubs, bonuses, social security award letter, welfare payments, alimony, pension, print out from Job and Family Services for Child Support, etc.
2. If the applicant is the homeowner a Current Mortgage Statement showing amount due or past due amount must be provided. CountyCorp checks public records to verify that there are no open foreclosure actions against the property. If delinquent, the applicant must provide an executed modification plan with a statement that the owner is paying as agreed.
3. If the applicant is the homeowner the Deed to Property
4. If property taxes are delinquent, homeowner must provide a copy of a “current delinquent contract” from the Montgomery County Treasurer’s Office.

CountyCorp reserves the right to seek third party verification for income, ownership and those residing in the household. Credit reports may be requested.

Falsification of income and other required information is grounds for disqualification and may result in criminal prosecution.

Rental Properties

If the tenant desires modifications to be made, the owner of the property must agree to the modifications. The owner must also agree that CountyCorp is not responsible to return the modification back to the original condition or configuration when the tenant moves from the unit.

The owner will also have to demonstrate that they are current on their mortgage and payment of property taxes.

Work In Process

Any changes to the work will be documented through a Change Order and approved by CountyCorp Construction staff prior to work being performed.

The contractor is responsible for any permit/inspections and a final inspection will be made by CountyCorp’s Construction staff.

All warranty for work is between the contractor and the homeowner. CountyCorp does not warranty work. If the homeowner does not feel that the contractor lived up to the warrantee obligations, they are advised to work through the Better Business Bureau and request binding arbitration.