The Owner Occupied Rehabilitation (OOR) Program, funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), enables communities in Indiana to establish local initiatives to assist low-income homeowners with necessary home repairs. The program focuses on improvements that enhance the safety, comfort, and accessibility of owner-occupied residences. Eligible repairs may include roof replacement, heating, cooling, and water heater replacement, lighting and electrical upgrades, and ADA accessibility modifications up to the threshold of the home. These efforts aim to improve housing quality, help homeowners age in place, and ensure better mobility.

Eligible applicants for the OOR Program are non-entitlement local units of government in Indiana, such as cities, counties, or incorporated towns, with the legal capacity to manage the proposed program. Communities that have previously received CDBG funding from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) or the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) must have no outstanding audit findings, overdue reports, or incomplete grant closeout documents. All applicants must notify their community liaison about their intention to apply, and those without prior OOR-related experience are required to schedule a site visit with their liaison before submitting an application.

The application period for the OOR Program opens on October 17, 2024, and closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on November 15, 2024. Applicants should submit their proposals through the Indiana Electronic Grants Management System and are advised to complete their submissions by 4 p.m. on the deadline date to ensure access to technical assistance if needed. Applicants are also encouraged to collaborate closely with their community liaison during the application process to strengthen their proposals.

Additional resources, including the OOR Program webinar and detailed application instructions, are available to guide applicants through the process. The program seeks to improve housing conditions for low-income homeowners while fostering safer, more accessible, and sustainable communities in Indiana.