Home Ownership Assistance Fund

Home Ownership Assistance Fund

HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAM

PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

This Participation Contract (this "Contract") with respect to the North Platte Rental Project at 5th & Miles is entered into by and between Lincoln County CDC and ______(adult head of household) and ______(adult head of household).

The family includes everyone in the household and is referred to in this Contract as "family" or "tenant." Members of the family include:

______

______

Purpose of Contract

The purpose of this Contract is to state the rights and responsibilities of the family and Lincoln County CDC (LCCDC), the resources and supportive services to be provided to the family by Lincoln County CDC and the activities to be completed by the family.

Terms of Contract

This Contract will be effective on ______and expires on ______. Lincoln County CDC may renew this Contract annually. Extension of this Contract will be at the sole discretion of Lincoln County CDC .

Resources and Supportive Services

During the term of this Contract, Lincoln County CDC will assist the tenant/family in identifying and accessing the necessary resources and services to help it achieve the goals outlined in the tenant's/family's Home Ownership Plan, as described below. These goals are designed to help the tenant/family overcome its obstacles to purchasing and maintaining its own home.

The adult members of the family agree to:

(a) Meet at least three times annually with the Lincoln County CDC Counselor and/or Property Manager to:

  1. determine each tenant's progress toward meeting the goals outlined during the application process and incorporated into a written agreement called the Home Ownership Plan;
  2. make any necessary modifications to the Home Ownership Plan as recommended by the Housing Counselor;
  3. discuss difficulties experienced by tenant in reaching goals;
  4. define areas of needed improvement; and
  5. Determine tasks or outcomes to be completed during the quarter.

(b) Attend two workshops on home ownership. The Housing Counselor will schedule these workshops for the tenant based on the tenant's availability and readiness for the workshops.

(c) Sign a Maintenance Contract with Lincoln County CDC. Lincoln County CDC will offer an annual maintenance-training workshop. These workshops will seek to familiarize the tenants with the major electrical, heating and plumbing systems in their homes as well as discuss do it yourself repairs and home safety tips. Attendance at this workshop is mandatory for Tenants.

(d) Provide the Housing Counselor with requested information to assist in evaluating the tenant's progress toward completing its Home Ownership Plan.

All family members of the tenant agree to:

a) Abide by terms of the Maintenance Agreement

b) Be law abiding citizens and good neighbors to other residents in the area; and

c) Comply with all terms of the lease agreement.

Responsibilities of Lincoln County CDC:

a) Provide a Housing Counselor to provide case management support to participants in the Home Ownership Incubator Program.

b) Assist tenants in identifying the services they need as well as how to access these services and support.

c) Assist tenants with maintaining positive relations with all families in their neighborhoods as well as the agencies they are working with.

d) Assist tenants to select a property and identify the public and private resources necessary to purchase this property.

e) Establish a Home Ownership Assistance Fund to be used solely at the discretion of Lincoln County CDC to assist tenants with financial deterrents to their purchase of a home. No tenant shall be guaranteed to receive funds from the Home Ownership Assistance Fund. The following list, while not inclusive, describes uses of funds in the Home Ownership Assistance Fund:

  1. Down Payment Assistance;
  2. Closing Costs Assistance;
  3. Hardship credit assistance to assist in paying off hardship debt such as emergency medical bills;
  4. Home Improvement Assistance to make repairs to purchase an existing home;
  5. Costs of major appliances applicants may need for their new homes; and moving expenses
  6. Moving expenses

Completion of Participation Contract

Completion of this Contract occurs when the Housing Counselor determines that:

a) the tenant has fulfilled all of its responsibilities under this Contract;

b) the tenant has identified a property to purchase;

c) the tenant has secured financial resources necessary to purchase a home; and

d) the tenant closes on their purchase of a property.

Termination of Participation Contract

Lincoln County CDC may terminate this Contract when one or more of the following occur:

a) the tenant and Lincoln County CDC agree to terminate this Contract;

b) Lincoln County CDC determines that the tenant has not fulfilled its responsibilities under this Contract; and

c) the tenant is in default on its lease agreement and subject to eviction.

Lincoln County CDC may declare this Contract null and void if the resources and services necessary to complete this Contract are not available.

Lincoln County CDC must give notice of termination or nullification to any adult listed on the family's lease agreement. The notice must state the reasons for Lincoln County CDC's decision to terminate or nullify this Contract. If this Contract is terminated or nullified for any of the above stated reasons, the lease agreement will also be terminated.

Adult Family Members

SignatureDate

______Signature Date

Lincoln County CDC

Signature of OfficialTitleDate

Maintenance Contract

I. Orientation and Training

Resident hereby agrees to attend an orientation as well as one annual maintenance workshop conducted by personnel of Lincoln County CDC ("LCCDC"). At the time of execution of the Lease, LCCDC personnel will conduct an orientation with each participant that involves a “walk through" of the house and demonstration of maintenance of the mechanical systems of the house.

II. On Going Maintenance

Resident agrees to perform certain minor maintenance in the house. Those items of minor maintenance that the Resident is expected to perform include but are not limited to:

Exterior

a) Cut grass, trim bushes and shrubs, rake leaves, weed and fertilize all plants and flowers as needed.

b) Maintain front and rear yard (keep yard free of trash and debris), keep garbage cans covered at all times.

c) Shovel snow in winter. Keep steps free from snow and ice at all times.

d) Repair/replace all broken windows (including repair or replacement of damaged door glass).

e) Repair/replace torn screens.

f) Replace mailbox as needed.

g) Replace broken or missing address numbers on house.

h) Maintain and repair all fences.

i) Clean and maintain gutters.

j) Other minor exterior maintenance as needed.

Interior

a) Paint all walls, ceilings, trim and any other paintable surfaces as needed.

b) Clean carpet as needed (at least annually).

c) Caulk sink and tub areas as needed.

d) Replace washers/cartridges in kitchen and bathroom faucets as needed.

e) Change furnace filters at least twice per heating season.

f) Replace broken or missing doorknobs.

g) Replace window locks and lifts when broken or missing.

h) Test smoke detectors monthly, replace batteries every 6 months.

i) Maintain and clean major appliances

j) Other minor interior maintenance as needed.

Report any peeling paint, plumbing leaks, running toilets, leaking roofs and any other serious problems to the Home Ownership Counselor.

I/we have read this contract of care and understand and accept responsibility for all the above

items.

______

Adult Family Member Date

______

Adult Family Member Date

______

Lincoln County CDC Home Ownership Counselor Signature Date

Home Ownership Plan

I (We) understand that I (We) have completed the pre screening required for participation in the North Platte Home Ownership Program including the formulation of goals and strategies listed below.

I understand that in signing a lease to rent the property at______,

I(We) are committed to the completion of individual counseling focused on the goals and strategies outlined below. I am committed to attend counseling sessions every quarter that will:

1. Determine my (our) progress toward meeting the goals outlined in this Home Ownership Plan.

2. Make any necessary modifications to my (our) Home Ownership

3. Define areas of needed improvement

4. Determine tasks or outcomes to be completed during the quarter.

Goal I:______

______

Strategies: ______

______

Goal II: ______

______

Strategies______

______

Goals III: ______

______

Strategies______

______

______

Adult Family MemberDate

______

Adult Family MemberDate

______

Home Ownership Counselor SignatureDate

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