Comstock Township is finalizing a grant to help lower-income residents pay for home repairs, Township Supervisor Martin told the Downtown Development Authority board.
Martin said he and Deputy Supervisor Rockwell secured the funding, with more than $500,000 available directly for property repairs once administrative costs are covered. The program isn’t limited to the DDA district — it’s open township-wide — and is intended for income-qualifying residents. Individual awards are expected to range from $1,000 to $40,000 per home, covering repairs such as roofing and other safety-related property fixes.
How it will work
The township will pay administrative fees to a community development partner to help run the program, since the grant requires third-party administration. Martin said the township is still working out details before bringing the program forward to the community.
Tied to a broader blight enforcement push
Martin also told the board the township is close to hiring a second ordinance enforcement officer, after receiving nearly 100 applications for the position. He said the township’s ordinance enforcement currently operates on a complaint basis, a longstanding policy driven in part by limited staffing. Board members were encouraged to forward any blight-related concerns they come across to Martin directly, who can route them to ordinance enforcement staff.
Martin framed the repair grant as a companion effort to that enforcement push — giving property owners a funding option to address deferred maintenance rather than facing only enforcement action.
What’s next
No formal board action was taken on the grant program during the meeting; Martin’s comments were an update on funding secured at the township level. Details on how residents can apply are expected to be announced once the program is finalized.
