- Application Screened
- You may receive a phone call to clarify items on your application.
- You may receive an email or letter requesting additional documents.
- From the point of receiving your application you should hear from us within 30 days via phone call or letter.
The Repair Program
Restoring Hope for Safe, Comfortable Homes
The Home Repair Program at Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity makes essential repairs to owner-occupied homes. This helps preserve the home’s value and allows families in New Hanover, Pender, and Duplin Counties to remain in the homes that they have owned, often for many years.
What started as an effort to repair homes after Hurricane Florence blossomed into a permanent program that assists lower-income homeowners with necessary critical repairs.
Common Repair Services
Homes are assessed for risks to health, safety, and the viability of the home as a long-term asset for the family.
Common repairs include:
- Rehab of kitchen and bathrooms
- Flooring and drywall replacement
- Addressing plumbing and electrical issues
- HVAC repair and replacement
- Ramps, grab bars and aging in place modifications
- Roofing
- Storm recovery
Qualifications
Eligibility
- Your home must have critical needs for repairs that put your health or safety at risk.
- You must be unable to afford and/or perform the home repairs yourself
CHART FOR MAXIMUM HOUSEHOLD INCOMES PER COUNTY:
Income limits are effective as of July 2025 and change every year.
- Residency: The home must be located in New Hanover, Pender, or Duplin County.
- Ownership: The applicant must be the legal owner listed on the current recorded deed for the home and the land it sits upon. Owner must have lived in the home for at least one year prior to application (exceptions may apply if temporarily displaced due to repair needs).
- Property Standing: Property taxes and mortgage (if applicable) must be current.
- Plans to remain in the home: The applicant must intend to remain in the home for at least 12 months after repairs are completed.
- Contribution: We ask all applicants to contribute something toward the cost of repairs, based on what’s affordable for your household. (A credit check may be requested depending on your income to determine affordability; no minimum score is required.)
- Mobile/manufactured homes/trailers may be eligible for limited repairs and are reviewed case-by-case. For these homes, we can usually help with roofs, decks, ramps, HVAC and hot water tanks.
- Documentation: All required documents must be submitted with the application.
- Volunteer Support: Some repairs are completed by Habitat volunteers.
- Flood Zone: The home must not be located in a high-risk flood zone (e.g., AE or VE).
Partnership
- Applicants are expected to actively participate in the process by:
- Signing a clearly defined repair agreement (Scope of Work)
- Being open to photos of the work and/or brief interviews for grant and outreach purposes
- Helping raise awareness by sharing flyers or referring others when possible
Application Steps
Step 1: Turn in Application
To request an application be mailed to you, please call 910-762-4744 or email info@capefearhabitat.org. Please specify that you want a REPAIR application and provide your name, address, and phone number.
- Application Screened
- You may receive a phone call to clarify items on your application.
- You may receive an email or letter requesting additional documents.
- From the point of receiving your application you should hear from us within 30 days via phone call or letter.
Step 2: Application Review
Step 3: Construction Assessment
- Our Construction Department will call to schedule an assessment. Staff will…
- Review structural damages, photograph the repair needs.
- They will not determine eligibility.
The construction department will aim to provide an estimated job cost for a recommendation or to deny the Home Repair request within two weeks of the assessment. However, additional time may be required in certain circumstances.
Be Ready To…
- Keep your appointment window (30-45 minutes).
- Have all pets confined.
- Identify all damages to staff.
- If at any point in the process your project is deemed ineligible, you will receive a letter of denial which will include referral information to other assistance agencies.
Step 4: Financial Review
- If the assessment confirms eligibility for our program, our finance department will determine an affordable payment plan for you to contribute to the estimated cost of Repairs on a sliding scale based on affordability. This may require additional documentation.
Step 5: Agreement Meeting
- This meeting is to discuss the Scope of Work, the cost of repairs, repayment plan, and possible lien, if applicable.
- You will only be asked to pay what you can afford, based on your financial situation as calculated by our Finance Team.
- If we need you to vacate the property for work to commence, or entirely or partially remove belongings, you will be told at this meeting. This will depend on the extent of the work.
- You may choose to take the agreement home to consider and sign within two weeks.
- Any lump sum payment would need to be remitted at this time or prior to work commencing. Checks can be made payable to Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity.
- If you agree to the terms and sign the agreement, you will move on to Step 6.
- You are under no obligation to use Habitat’s Repair program. Nothing will be charged to you until an Agreement is signed.
- Depending on the extent of the repair project, you may be asked to agree to a limited lien on your property.
Step 6: Work Begins
- Construction staff will contact you regarding scheduling. There may be a wait, depending on our repair case load.
- Our development department may contact you for photos of the project or to ask you a few questions in order to report to our donors or complete grant reports.
Step 7: Work Completed
- Staff will meet with you to complete a Certificate of Completion
Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity conducts business in accordance with Federal Fair Lending Laws.
From House to Home
Homeowners Share Experiences with Habitat's Repair Team
