AHIP Process
Step 1: Intake
Speed is of the essence when it comes to critical home repairs; however, starting off on the right foot can save us and our clients further headaches down the road.
New sign-ups will speak with our Office Manager, Laurie Southworth, in order to provide an overview of the situation. You can also get a head-start on this process with our online registration form.
Completing an intake provides the information we need to get clients on our waitlist. Once on the waitlist clients are assigned to one of AHIP’s two rehab specialists for enrollment. The amount of time a client spends on the waitlist varies. Some repair needs require a quicker response than others and funding availability the location of the residence can also impact wait times.
Step 2: Enrollment
Once assigned to a rehab specialist, clients will need to provide various documentation such as proof of income, proof of homeowner’s insurance, and other documents.
Then the rehab specialist will conduct one or more site visits with the homeowner to complete inspections.
Before any inspections can be completed, we require homeowners to clean up any rooms where damage is present so those areas can be accessed by the rehab specialist and third-party specialty inspectors. The clearer our path to the issue, the more easily we can assess the situation and plan the repairs needed to provide you with the safety you deserve.
If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.
Following the inspections conducted by our rehab specialists and third-party specialty inspectors, a scope of work will be developed that outlines the repairs to be made.
Once a scope of work has been created, we’ll be in touch to review the planned project with the client and make sure both parties are on the same page regarding the exact nature of the work taking place.
Step 3: Project Planning
Step 4: Finances
Home repair and renovations are expensive, and many projects require multiple funding sources, some of which are structured as a deferred, forgivable loan.
A deferred, forgivable loan requires a lien in the form of a deed of trust be placed on the property which is recorded in the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk. The deed of trust is in place for a period of ten years and the deferred, forgivable loan is reduced (forgiven) by 10 percent each year and is completely forgiven after year ten.
Most clients are not required to make any payments during the ten-year affordability period; however, some clients make a small monthly payment based on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Ability to Pay calculation. The Ability to Pay calculation considers the household income and certain allowable expenses.
Most of the projects AHIP completes each year are completely funded by grants with no need for a monthly payment from the client or a deed of trust. However, when a deed of trust is required, it ensures the affordability period of the project and helps avoid instances of house flipping following completion of the project.
Step 5: Job Prep
Once the scope of work is developed and a construction schedule is established, preparation can begin.
Preparation can vary on a project-by-project basis. For example, if an attic set to receive new insulation is being utilized as storage personal belongings, the client will need to have the space cleared out so that work can proceed (if the client is elderly or otherwise incapable of conducting the prep themselves, our team will plan for volunteers to come out and assist in the removal process).
At this time, AHIP’s Construction Supervisor is busy obtaining any necessary permits, scheduling subcontractors, and ordering materials.
Step 6: Rehab & Repair
All work on AHIP projects—whether conducted by AHIP’s crews or by our subcontractors—is overseen by our Construction Supervisor during periodic inspections.
The Construction Supervisor will always be the client’s first point of contact during construction, but clients can also reach out to our Client Success Advocate should they have any questions or concerns. Whenever possible, work will be scheduled around the client’s availability and preferences to minimize disruption to their daily lives.
Step 7: Closing Out
Once work has been completed, the Construction Supervisor will complete a final walk through to ensure that the scope of work has been completed.
For projects that required a permit from the locality, building inspectors will conduct their own inspections to ensure that the repairs are up to code.
Once the Construction Supervisor is satisfied that the work has been completed, a final close-out meeting will be scheduled by the Client Success Advocate with the client to review the warranty information and provide the client with a closeout letter, leaving them with their home safely repaired!
Questions?
Contact our Client Success Advocate, Nikisha Woody, at nikisha@ahipva.org, or 434-817-2447 (extension 29)
