Homeowners in several underserved neighborhoods in Dallas that were hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for federal grant funds of up to $100,000 per household for home repairs.

According to the city, the eligible neighborhoods are Joppa, Five Mile, Tenth Street Historic District, and The Bottom. Up to 20 homes will be able to get funding under the program.

The funds are available via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Neighborhood Revitalization Program and the money can be used for residential repairs in areas identified within Qualified Census Tracts across Dallas.

The city said the initiative is intended to retain affordable housing while enhancing the overall living conditions, in those areas.

Catrice Robison, an outreach specialist at Dallas Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, told Dallas Metro News that maintaining homes in good condition contributes to improved health outcomes for residents.

“Since the start of COVID-19, more residents have engaged in activities inside the home,” Robison told the news outlet. “This has caused greater wear and tear on aging houses, which can create a difficult living situation.”

More on eligible neighborhoods and criteria

Joppa, also known as Joppee, is a Freedman community founded in the late 1870s in southern Dallas by emancipated slaves, Dallas Metro News said. It has a median home value of roughly $94,500.

Five Mile Creek is near South Lancaster and Simpson Stuart roads in southern Dallas and has a median home value of roughly $91,420.

The Tenth Street Historic District, which is recognized as one of the few remaining Freedman’s Towns in the nation, has a median home sale price of $325,000.

“The Bottom,” a historically Black neighborhood in East Oak Cliff, recently was included in the areas eligible for ARPA funding, Dallas Metro News reported. Property listings in The Bottom shows land prices ranging from $18,000 to $215,000.

Roughly $2 million has been allocated for the repair and improvement of at least 20 homes and some projects already are underway.

Here’s the criteria to qualify for ARPA grant funding:

• The home must be a single-family detached dwelling built in or before 1959.
• The homeowner must live in the home as their primary residence.
• The home must be within one of the qualified neighborhoods.
• The home must need eligible repairs.

Property owners who rent or sell to a tenant or buyer in the area who earns less than 80 percent of the Area Median Income also are eligible.

For more information on the program, call 469-799-2761.

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