Housing Preservation Program

Program Overview

This program is designed to ensure decent and safe living conditions for eligible applicants. Single family homes may be rehabilitated to improve livability, to increase energy efficiency, to extend the life of the home, or they may be modified for accessibility. 

Funding for the program is through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

The Housing Preservation Program (HPP) is available to low-to-moderate income homeowners who live in Clark County, outside Vancouver city limits, and within Woodland city limits. If you live within Vancouver city limits, please contact Bryan Monroe at 360.487.7958 or bryan.monroe@cityofvancouver.us. 

NOTE: Due to high demand, the housing rehabilitation program is experiencing a large backlog of applications. Assistance may not be available within 12 months or more. To be placed on the waitlist, see information below under Application Process.

Households are served on a first-come, first-served basis unless the Rehab Specialist deems the repairs an emergency. 

Types of eligible repairs
  • Exterior repairs
  • Roof repair/replacement
  • Electrical, plumbing or mechanical repairs to existing systems
  • Reconstruction or replacement of structural components
  • Septic repair/replacement
  • Roll-in showers and grab bars
  • Accessibility ramps

All work is performed by licensed contractors. Clark County staff will facilitate the development of a contract between the contractor and homeowner. All eligible payments will be made by Clark County. 

More information

For more information about the program, please review:

City of Vancouver residents

The City of Vancouver manages the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program for homeowners living within the city limits of Vancouver. For information, contact Bryan Monroe at 360.487.7958 or bryan.monroe@cityofvancouver.us. 

 

Program Eligibility

To be eligible for assistance, the following requirements must be met:

  • Income: Household income must not exceed 60% of the area median income, as established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 
  • Residency: 
    • Home where work is to be performed is located in Clark County, outside Vancouver city limits, or in the city of Woodland. 
    • Home where work is to be performed is the applicant's primary residence. 
    • Homeowner must have lived in the home where work is to be performed for at least one year. 
  • Property: 
    • Home has not previously received assistance through this program. 
    • Repairs must be economically feasible for rehabilitation. 
  • Equity: The equity for the primary residence cannot exceed $200,000. Equity is the value of the property minus debt owed. 
    • An exemption to the equity limit may be provided for households where:
      • All adults in the household are age 65 and older, or
      • The primary income for the household is from disability benefits.

The maximum amount available for financial assistance is $40,000, available as a grant. 

The home is inspected by a Rehabilitation Specialist to determine if the repairs requested are within the scope of the program. Eligible home improvements must meet HUD's Housing Quality Standards.

Income Guidelines

The maximum income a household can earn is 60% of the area median income. The limits are set by HUD and updated annually. If your household has more than 8 members, contact program staff. The amounts listed below are effective May 1, 2024. 

Household Size

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

60% Income Limit

$49,560

$56,640

$63,720

$70,800

$76,500

$82,140

$87,840

$93,480

 

Application Process

NOTE: Due to high demand, the housing preservation program is experiencing a large backlog of applications. Assistance may not be available within 12 months or more.

Step 1: Waitlist

To be added to the waitlist, send the following information to Dawn Lee, Cnty.CommunityHousingandDevelop@clark.wa.gov. 

  • Address of the home needing repairs
  • Confirmation the home is the primary residence of the owner for the last year
  • Number of people residing in the household
  • Approximate annual income of all household members aged 18 and over (this will be verified during the full application process)
  • Approximate value of the home and mortgage(s) remaining
  • General description of needed repairs
  • Contact phone and email address

If at any time you decide to withdraw your name from the waitlist, please contact us immediately. 

Step 2: Application 

Staff will contact applicants when their project is estimated to start within the next six months. Applicants will receive an email and a letter in the mail. Applicants are able to apply online or by printing the Housing Preservation Program application. The application will determine the household eligibility for the program. Please review the Application Checklist, included in the application packet, for all required documentation. 

Step 3: Inspection

The Housing Rehabilitation Specialist will conduct an inspection of the property to determine all the repairs needed and confirm the property is eligible for the program. 

Step 4: Project Tracking

Please see the Step-by-step tracking sheet to determine where your project is in within the process. 

Denial Policy

If the local agency determines that an applicant or a dwelling unit is ineligible, the applicant shall be notified within 10-business days of that determination. If the denial is based on household eligibility, the applicant may re-apply if there has been a change in circumstances that would then make the household eligible. This restarts the application process.

Grievance Policy

If an applicant has a grievance about the outcome of their application, they may discuss their concerns with Clark County Community Services Program Coordinator Rebecca Royce at Rebecca.Royce@clark.wa.gov. If this discussion does not result in a satisfactory outcome, the applicant may request the grievance be considered by Clark County Community Services Program Manager, Michael Torres who has final decision in all grievances for this program. 

 

Contractor Information

All contractors working through the Housing Preservation Program are required to follow Washington State Prevailing Wage requirements. Contractors are responsible for setting up each project awarded. Contracts are between the contractor and the homeowner; Clark County will not be responsible for setting projects up in the online system. For more information about Washington State Labor & Industries requirements, visit https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/register-as-a-contractor/.

Contractors must provide Clark County with the Intent to File Prevailing Wage at the beginning of the project and the Affidavit of Wages Paid at the end of the project. 

The contract will be between the contractor and the homeowner; however, all payments for work performed will be billed to, and paid by, Clark County. Please contact Housing Preservation Program staff with any questions. 

If you are interested in placing bids on jobs, please contact Dawn Lee at 564.397.7811 or submit this application: Contractor Application.

 

Contact Info

For more information, contact Dawn Lee at Cnty.CommunityHousingandDevelop@clark.wa.gov