PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach is encouraging local, qualifying homeowners to apply for the federally-funded Home Improvement Roof Grant Program (HIRGP), available for income-eligible homeowners to have their roofs repaired or replaced by qualified contractors.

“We are happy to offer this very practical program to help local families stay safe and warm in their houses,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “The City is dedicated to investing in initiatives like this, which directly support the needs of our community.”

Facilitated by the Development Services Department, the HIRGP will provide eligible owner-occupied, single-family residence property owners with up to $20,000 for the rehabilitation or replacement of their home roof. Eligibility for the program is limited to properties located in sections of the city known as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) areas. To determine if a specific property is eligible, prospective applicants can use the City’s address look-up map.

The goal of the HIRGP is to improve the city’s housing stock and quality of life for very low-income property owners, specifically those on fixed incomes such as older adults, by helping them acquire a safe and code compliant roof. A total of $500,000 has been set aside for the program.

To be eligible under federal guidelines, applicants must earn 50% of the area median income or less, adjusted for family size. For information about the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) income limits and to apply, please see the program documents and resources presented on the HIRGP webpage.

If approved, the property owner will select a licensed contractor of their choice to do the repairs and the City will approve and disburse all payments to the contractor on behalf of the property owner.

“We know that this assistance program can be very helpful for eligible residents and property owners in Long Beach,” said Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau Manager Meggan Sorensen. “Our Bureau team remains dedicated to promoting equity and supporting those in need across our designated improvement areas of the city.”

HIRGP, a CDBG program funded by HUD, was approved by the Long Beach City Council by a 9 to 0 vote in July 2022 as part of the City of Long Beach’s 2022-23 Action Plan.

For more information, contact Teresa Casares, Home Improvement Coordinator, at 562.570.6866 or Teresa.Casares@longbeach.gov.

For more information on the City’s various HUD funding entitlements as related to community planning and development grant programs, the community can visit the City’s HUD webpage.

About the City of Long Beach 
Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health and Human Services; Parks, Recreation and Marine; Development Services; Public Works and more. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, 12 libraries, five golf courses, 169 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths and a Bike Share program. 

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Long Beach Development Services 
Serving residents, businesses and the community at large, the award-winning Long Beach Development Services Department sets a standard for high-quality, innovative urban planning and livability efforts that create more progressive and sustainable communities within the diverse City of Long Beach, CA. Through a variety of development, code enforcement, housing and neighborhood services and building activities, the Department builds a better future for the city while also honoring its unique past. For more information, visit longbeach.gov/lbds. Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.