The City of Buffalo offers income-based funding towards emergency home repairs that affect the occupant’s quality of life, such as a leaky roof or faulty electrical services.
Emergency Assistance Program
Does your home have a repair that requires immediate attention? The City of Buffalo offers eligible homeowners emergency repairs in the form of full conditional grants, partial conditional grants and no interest loans in order to address an emergency condition in their home. HOCN is able to assist homeowners in the Fruit Belt, West Side, Upper West Side, Lower West Side, Elmwood-Bidwell, Elmwood-Bryant, Allentown, Grant- Amherst and Black Rock Planning Neighborhoods with applications. If you live in a different neighborhood, please contact our office to be referred to the organization that can assist you.
What qualifies as an Emergency Repair?
Emergency home repairs are limited to leaking/ deteriorated roof (includes gutters and chimney,) sewer line break, main water supply line break, inoperable heating system, inoperable hot water tank, electrical panel hazard, water meter connection issue, or gas line hazard. Applications to the Emergency Repair Program can only address one emergency item.
Are you eligible for assistance?
- Do you need repair to just one of the eligible emergency repair items listed above?
- Have you owned (name listed on deed) and lived in your home for at least 12 months?
- Is your home a single or double family home that was not built by or using the City of Buffalo or Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency funding?
- Are you up to date on (or on a certified payment plan) all of your taxes, obligations, and fees?
- Does your annual, gross household income and asset value fall below the required income limits defined by HUD? (Please review the income guidelines to the right. Applicants with assets that exceed $35,000 will not be considered eligible. Please call our office for more household income and asset limit information.)
If you can answer ‘YES’ to all of these questions, you may be eligible for assistance!
Please note that if you received home buyer assistance from the City of Buffalo in the past, you are not eligible for additional assistance under this program. If you have received owner-occupied repair assistance from the City of Buffalo in the past, you may not be eligible for additional assistance. Please contact our office for more information.
If you own a double family home and your tenant unit does not meet the household income limits, you will be required to pay 50% of the cost of the shared benefit (roof, water line, sewer line.) Vacant rental units are subject to BURA review and approval. Please contact our office for more information.
How can you apply?
Spaces are limited and applications are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, as available.
Applicants will be required to submit supporting documentation to verify eligibility for the program. For more information, please contact our office at (716) 882-7661.
Income Guidelines
*Household Size / Household Income Limit (80% of AMI)
| 1 | $52,000 |
| 2 | $59,400 |
| 3 | $66,850 |
| 4 | $74,250 |
| 5 | $80,200 |
| 6 | $86,150 |
| 7 | $92,100 |
| 8 | $98,050 |
*These income guidelines are based on 2023 numbers and are subject to change. Household income limits are based on gross household income.
This website was produced in part with the assistance of the City of Buffalo/ City of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency through the Community Development Block Grant and/or HOME Program(s).
Download our Emergency Program Interest Packet by clicking here.