Financial assistance available

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Greg Newing

MRC DE PONTIAC – A government-funded program that helps low and moderate income homeowners pay for necessary repairs and renovations has relaunched for 2022 and will continue until 2025. The RénoRégion program provides financial support ranging from 20% to 95% of the total cost of necessary repairs or renovations to eligible homeowners living in MRC Pontiac.

Eligibility for the program

MRC Pontiac, through the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ), received approximately $260,000 for the RénoRégion program to help homeowners cover the cost of fixing major defects. Applicants (single or couples) must have earned $45,000 or less in 2021 to be eligible. Anyone earning under $35,000 is eligible for a maximum coverage of 95%; those earning more than $35,000 will receive coverage of at least 20%.

Applicants must be the owners of a home which they currently use as their primary residence. The value of the building, excluding the land-value, must be under $150,000 and the required repairs should be at least $3,500; repairs cannot exceed $20,000 to $25,000, depending on household income. Building values can be found on municipal tax statements.

In addition to this, eligible buildings must have no more than two dwellings including the one that the owner is requesting repairs for. However, mixed-use buildings such as those with a business on the first floor and a residence on the second floor, are eligible for the program provided the other conditions are met.

Major defects covered by the program include roofing, doors, windows or insulation. Other major defects would be structural damage and damage to exterior walls, problems related to plumbing, heating, electricity as well as overcrowding and unfinished construction.

All repair or renovation work must be approved by the MRC and performed by a contractor licensed by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). Those who have already benefited from other programs in the past 5 years such as the RénoVillage program or the Emergency Repair program are not eligible for the RénoRégion program.

How to apply

For more information about the RénoRégion program as well as to access the application form visit the MRC Pontiac’s website at:
https://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/en/programs/renoregion/.
Those unable to access the form online can call 819-648-5689 ext. 238 to obtain a form.

Pontiac Warden Jane Toller stated, “I encourage all
residents who qualify for this funding to take advantage of this opportunity to renovate and improve their homes.”