Weatherization & Rehab

Safe, warm, and energy-efficient homes change lives. Our weatherization and rehabilitation programs provide energy audits, insulation, and critical repairs that lower utility bills and improve comfort. Specialized programs also fund urgent repairs and accessibility modifications for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Rehabilitation & Weatherization Location

Our housing rehabilitation and weatherization programs serve Haywood and Jackson Counties, and are based out of our Main Office in Waynesville.

Central Intake

Call this number to begin

828-452-1447

Program Contacts

These are your contacts after any work has begun

Housing Rehabilitation Manager
Vivian Bumgarner
828-492-4107

Housing Rehabilitation Specialist
Vicky Ferguson
828-492-4093

Program Comparison: Which Program Fits Your Needs?

Here’s a quick guide to help you understand which Mountain Projects program may be right for your situation:

Weatherization

Purpose: Reduces the energy burden on low-income families by installing cost-effective energy efficiency measures.

Income Limit: Families with income up to ≤ 200% of the federal poverty level

Maximum Assistance:No uniform state policy. Caps depend on available funding sources.

Special Requirements: Prioritizes service to the elderly, persons with disabilities, and households with children.

HARRP

Purpose: Repair or replace failing heating/air systems

Income Limit: ≤ 200% Federal Poverty Level

Maximum Assistance: Varies (system-based, typically up to full repair/replacement cost)

Special Requirements: Must own or rent with landlord permission; system must be failing/unsafe

URP

Purpose: Fix urgent safety hazards (e.g., roof, wiring, septic, accessibility)

Income Limit: ≤ 50% Area Median Income

Maximum Assistance: Up to $15,000

Special Requirements: Household must include elderly, disabled, veteran, or child age 6 or under with elevated blood lead levels (EBLL), single parent household with (one or more children in home under 18) or large family (five or more permanent residents).

ESFR

Purpose: Major repairs to improve long-term safety, accessibility, livability

Income Limit: ≤ 80% Area Median Income

Maximum Assistance: Based on project scope; 0% interest, forgivable loan

Special Requirements: Priority points given for elderly, disabled, veteran, or low-income households

Safe at Home

Purpose: accessibility modifications and home safety improvements so that older adults, people with disabilities, or others with mobility challenges can live more safely and independently in their own homes.

Income Limit: Client assessment on individual basis.

Maximum Assistance: No uniform state policy. Caps depend on available funding sources.

Learn more

Weatherization

The Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program reduces the energy burden on low-income families by installing cost-effective energy efficiency measures.

Mountain Projects’ Weatherization technicians use computerized energy audits and advanced diagnostic technologies, such as blower doors and duct blasters, to determine the most cost-effective measures for each home. They also assess related health and safety conditions. After our crews provide services, families experience an average energy use reduction of 20 percent or more. This means that hundreds of dollars are put back in their pockets to buy groceries, visit a doctor, buy medicine, or improve some standard of living.

Serving as the nation’s core program for delivering energy efficiency services to low-income households, the Weatherization Assistance Program prioritizes service to the elderly, persons with disabilities, and households with children. The Weatherization Program serves every county in the nation through its network of state and local agencies. This program allows us to help families with income up to ≤ 200% of the federal poverty level

Heating and Air Repair or Replacement Program (HARRP)

The HARRP program helps low-income homeowners (and sometimes renters) repair or replace failing heating and/or air conditioning systems to improve energy efficiency, safety, and comfort.

Income Limit

Household income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level for their household size.

Home Type & Occupancy

The property may be a single-family or manufactured (mobile) home. Both owners and renters may be eligible (renters must have need landlord permission).

Ownership or Permission (for renters)

Owners must document ownership. Renters must have written consent from the landlord to perform heating/AC repairs or replacement.

System Need / Condition

The heating or air system must be failing, inefficient, unsafe, or beyond economical repair. The program is intended to repair or replace the primary heating or cooling system.

Periodic Limit

A home may only be eligible for HARRP services once every 15 years.

Cost-sharing (in rental cases)

For rental units the landlord must pay a portion (e.g. 50%) of repair or replacement costs unless the landlord also qualifies.

Other Conditions

Services are subject to funding, prioritization, and a home assessment or inspection. Being income-eligible doesn’t guarantee service if there’s a waiting list or limited funds.

Essential Single Family Rehabilitation (ESFR)

Mountain Projects is proud to administer the Essential Single-Family Rehabilitation Loan Pool Program (ESFR). This program helps income-eligible homeowners make critical repairs that improve safety, accessibility, and livability in their homes.

This program provides a 0% interest, forgivable loan to cover the hard costs of repairing your home, along with a grant for certain soft costs. These funds can help make essential improvements, address hazards, and ensure your home is safe and secure.

Priority for assistance is based on special needs and household income. Applicants may receive points for the following:

Special Needs Priorities

Household with a child age 6 or under with lead hazards in the home (5 points)
Elderly Head of Household (62 or older) (4 points)
Disabled Head of Household (4 points)
Veteran Head of Household (4 points)
Disabled, Elderly, or Veteran Household Member (not Head of Household) (2 points)

Income Priorities

≤ 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)

Key Definitions

Elderly: 62 years of age or older.
Disabled: A person with a physical, mental, or developmental disability that substantially limits major life activities.
Head of Household: The person(s) who own the home.
Occupant: Immediate family members who live in the home at least 3 months prior to applying.
Veteran: A person who served in the U.S. military, naval, or air service (with conditions other than dishonorable). Proof of service (DD-214 form) is required.

Urgent Repair Program (URP)

Mountain Projects administers the Urgent Repair Program (URP) to help low-income homeowners in our community address emergency home repairs that threaten health, safety, or the ability to remain in their home.

This program is funded through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) and designed to provide critical, last-resort assistance when no other resources are available.

What the Program Covers

The URP provides financial assistance to correct urgent conditions in the home. These are repairs or modifications that:

Remove life-threatening hazards (such as unsafe wiring, failing heating systems, leaking roofs, or broken septic systems)
Prevent displacement (helping homeowners remain in their homes)
Improve accessibility (such as building ramps or bathroom modifications for elderly or disabled residents)

Assistance is provided as a 0% interest, deferred loan, forgivable over time, up to $15,000 per household.

Who Qualifies

To be eligible, you must meet all of the following criteria:

Own and live in your home as your primary residence
Have a household income at or below 50% of the area median income
Have an urgent repair need that poses an imminent threat to life, safety, or continued occupancy

Additionally, at least one household member must meet a special needs category, such as:

Elderly (62 or older)
Disabled
Veteran
Child age 6 or under with elevated blood lead levels (EBLL)
Single parent household with (one or more children in home under 18)
Large family (five or more permanent residents)

Program Terms

Maximum assistance: $15,000 per household
Form of assistance: interest-free, forgivable loan
Home repairs must meet all building codes, permit, and licensing requirements

How to Apply for URP

If you believe you qualify, Mountain Projects can help guide you through the application process. You will need to provide:

Proof of homeownership (deed, title, or lifetime rights)
Proof of occupancy (that you live in the home)
Verification of household income
Documentation of age, disability, veteran status, or other special need
A description of the urgent repair needed

Safe at Home: Living Safely in Your Home

Typical services include:

The Safe at Home program helps homeowners or renters with accessibility modifications and home safety improvements so that older adults, people with disabilities, or others with mobility challenges can live more safely and independently in their own homes.

Installing grab bars, handrails, or ramps
Installing door knobs / reliable lock and key
Widening doorways or improving threshold transitions
Correcting tripping hazards or uneven surfaces
Smoke / CO detector installation
Minor home / safety repairs related to mobility or fall risk
Emergency response systems for hearing impaired

Who Qualifies

Residency / Occupancy

You must live in the home (owner or renter). (For renters, you must have landlord permission to make modifications).

Age / Disability / Vulnerability

You must be 60 years or older.
The modifications address your specific accessibility or safety needs.

Income / Financial Qualification

Client assessment on individual basis.

Scope of Work / Need

The requested modifications or repairs must be necessary to reduce risk of falls, improve accessibility, or address safety issues.
Projects should directly relate to your disability or mobility limitation.