Press Release
APCHA launches second year of essential home repairs grant program
Up to $10,000 can be granted to enhance health, safety of properties
Aspen, CO – The Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority is thrilled to announce the launch of the second round of funding for the Essential Repairs Home Grant program. This initiative is designed to assist qualified APCHA homeowners in addressing critical home repairs that impact the health and safety of their households. Applications for grants will be accepted on a rolling basis until the allocated funds are fully expended.
For the second consecutive year, Aspen City Council and the Pitkin County Board of Commissioners have each contributed $200,000, bringing the total funding available to $400,000 for essential home repairs in 2025.
"We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from the city of Aspen and Pitkin County," said Matthew Gillen, executive director of APCHA. "This funding allows us to help homeowners maintain safe and healthy living environments, ensuring the longevity of their homes, protecting the housing inventory and improving people’s quality of life."
During the program's first year, APCHA approved 46 grants totaling just over $362,488. A total of 92 applications were submitted, underscoring the community's need for such assistance.
The Essential Repairs Home Grant program provides financial assistance to qualified APCHA homeowners for critical repairs. The program is available to category 1-4 homeowners for general repairs and to all income categories for emergency repairs exceeding $20,000. Grants are available up to $10,000 per unit, with required owner match contributions based on income category requalification.
Eligible repairs include but are not limited to furnace and water heater replacements, plumbing fixes, roof repairs, and window replacements. Cosmetic upgrades and homeowners' association responsibilities are not covered under the program.
To qualify, homeowners must meet APCHA eligibility requirements, remain current on dues and taxes, and submit necessary requalification documents, including 2023 W2s, 2023 tax returns, and a current employment verification (if not retired), within two weeks of applying. If self-employed, personal and business tax returns and year-to-date profit and loss are required to submit. Match level will be determined based on the category of requalification. The percentage indicated is the amount of the total repair cost the applicant is required to pay:
- Category 1 - 10%
- Category 2 - 20%
- Category 3 - 30%
- Category 4 – 40%
Professional estimates for repairs and adherence to permitting and completion deadlines are also required. Owners are fully responsible for acquiring permits and hiring a contractor. If applicants need assistance finding a contractor, the Community Office for Resource Efficiency keeps a list of recommended contractors on its website.
Repairs with paid invoices completed within four months prior to applying are eligible for the program. Any repairs that received funding through the 2024 program are not eligible to receive more funding. Those who received funding in 2024 are eligible to apply for a different project than what received funding in 2024.
Homeowners interested in applying can find more details and submit applications through Google Forms, available here. The full program guidelines can be found at https://www.apcha.org/399/Essential-Repair-Program or contact program administrators Emily Maynard at emily.maynard@aspen.gov or Liz Axberg at liz.axberg@aspen.gov.
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For more information, please contact:
Matthew Gillen, APCHA executive director
Phone: 970.920.5068
Email: matthew.gillen@aspen.gov
Carolyn Sackariason, communications manager
Phone: 970.319.2791
Email: Carolyn.sackariason@aspen.gov