Mobile Home Replacement Program
North Country provides assistance of up to $100,000 to low-income owners in Jefferson county, for the replacement of the mobile home with new, energy efficient modular units.
History
1994, North Country Affordable Housing, Inc. conducted a survey of mobile home conditions in Jefferson County in northern New York State. With 1990 census data indicating that mobile homes comprised fifteen percent of the housing stock, and the monthly cost of owner occupied mobile homes was 123% of the monthly cost of other owner occupied housing units, we thought there would be some interesting issues for this not-for-profit housing agency to consider.
Trends were also an important aspect of the investigation, as the number of mobile homes in the County had increased threefold since 1970, while over the same twenty year period total housing units had increased merely 72%. ("Merely" is a relative term within the context of the massive demographic changes engendered by the expansion of Fort Drum from a seasonal training camp to a permanent home of the U.S. Army's Tenth Mountain Division (some 10,000 troops) announced in 1985. County population increased 26% between 1980 and 1990).
About the Program
North Country Affordable Housing, Inc. has designed a program to eliminate older mobile homes, by giving low-income owner-occupants a grant up to $100,000 towards the erection of a new modular home on the site. The homeowners are responsible for the additional costs through mortgage financing. Grant funds have been provided by the State of New York Affordable Housing Corporation and the federal government through the locally administered North Country HOME Consortium. The grant funds are secured by a note and mortgage, the terms of which expire upon ten years of continued occupancy by the homeowner.
Download the Mobile Home Replacement Program Brochure
In 1999 North Country Affordable Housing contracted Jefferson Community College's Center for Community Studies to conduct a survey of households that had completed the Mobile Home Replacement Program. The survey proved the tremendous success of the program.
Supporters
- NYS Affordable Housing Corporation
- North Country HOME Consortium
- NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal
- Northern New York Community Foundation
- Development Authority of the North Country (DANC)
- USDA Rural Development
- Local Lenders
Program Qualifiers
- You must own and live in a mobile home that is at least ten years old, in Jefferson County, on land that you own (not in a trailer park), with the deed in your name. There can be no liens on the land after closing the grant other than the new home financing and currently existing mortgages.
- You must meet the income guidelines for your household size.
- Your real property taxes must be paid to date.
- You must be able to pay your share of the project. The actual grant amount, not to exceed $100,000, will be determined by the total development cost, subtracting from it the amount of mortgage the bank will lend you. The remainder will be the amount of grant you will be eligible to receive, if within program guidelines.
- You must agree to attend an approved homeownership training program as part of the application process. A fee may be charged for program participation.
- Applications will be processed on a first-come first-served basis. This means that you need to submit your application, with the required income documentation, to us as soon as possible to be considered for a grant. Applications will not be considered as submitted until all information requested on the form and the proper income documentation is received.
