City of Aurora Archives - Brothers Redevelopment

Brothers Redevelopment and the City of Aurora are encouraging Aurora residents to apply for the City’s Minor Home Repair Program.

In partnership with the City of Aurora, Brothers provides much needed home repairs, accessibility modifications, deferred maintenance renovation, and general home rehabilitation services for income qualified Aurora homeowners through the program.

The Minor Home Repair Program allows Aurora homeowners to receive up to $15,000 for impactful home rehabilitation services.

Among the services the program offers includes the following:

Roll-in shower conversion
Wheelchair ramp construction
Exterior rail repair, and installation
Exterior plumbing and minor electrical repairs
Repair or installation of furnaces
Repair or installation of hot water heaters
Plumbing repairs for items like sinks, faucets, valves, drains, and toilets

In January, Aurora City Council approved $160,000 in community development block grant funds for Brothers to administer the Minor Home Repair Program to Aurora residents. The nonprofit coordinates a wide variety of repairs and modifications through its Home Modification and Repair Program — a service that helps low-income homeowners with disabilities or physical limitations avoid injury and enjoy increased mobility in their homes.

“This program allows us to take stress and anxiety away from Aurora homeowners in crisis and enhance their homes. Our goal is for our clients to stay in their homes for as long as they can,” said Brothers Home Modification and Repair Program Director Jason McCullough. “Every Aurora resident deserves a secure place to live, and we look forward to making Aurora homes more livable, safe and comfortable.”

To qualify, applicant’s total annual gross household income cannot exceed 80% of the Area Median Income as defined by HUD’s low/moderate income guidelines. For example, a household size of two people in Aurora qualifies for the program if the household’s maximum gross income is $63,950. Residents can determine their financial eligibility by visiting https://www.auroragov.org/residents/community_development/housing_rehabilitation_programs.

Qualifying applicants must also:

Own the property
Occupy the property as their primary residence
Home must be within the Aurora city limits
Be current on all debt secured against the property
Have no liens or judgements
Have a current homeowners insurance policy
Have a current mortgage payment history for the past 12 months
Have a property that is in need of essential home repairs

Last year, Brothers served seven households in Aurora through the Minor Home Repair Program. In total, Brothers completed 303 projects worth $1.6 million throughout the Denver metro area and Colorado Springs last year through the Home Modification and Repair Program.

Brothers is no stranger to the City of Aurora, as the organization works with the City to address other housing challenges. In 2019, Brothers saw unprecedented investment and cooperation from the city to open the Paris Family Apartments — a 39-unit affordable housing community for families located at 1702 Paris St. The agency also manages other affordable housing communities in the state’s third largest city, offering a total of 129 apartments to income qualified Aurorans.

Brothers is also encouraging eligible Aurora homeowners to apply for its Paint-A-Thon Program — a resource that utilities volunteers to paint the exterior of homes for low-income aging adults and disabled residents.

Aurora residents interested in the Minor Home Repair Program can learn more information and apply for it by emailing HMR@brothersredevelopment.org or by calling 303-685-4225. Those interested in applying for the Paint-A-Thon Program can do so by emailing chad@brothersredevelopment.org or by calling 720-339-5864.

Elizabeth Reed’s life has been complicated due to her battle with multiple sclerosis — a disease that causes symptoms like vision loss, pain, fatigue and impaired coordination.

The 65-year-old Aurora resident works hard to maintain her home, but the physical demands are often too much for her. Her house’s exterior paint was chipping and peeling off. And she also needed assistance with cleaning her home but couldn’t afford a housekeeper.

But through word of mouth, Reed learned of Brothers Redevelopment’s Paint-A-Thon Program — a service that utilizes volunteers to paint the exterior of homes for low-income and disabled homeowners. Through the program, Reed not only got her house and deck updated with fresh paint — she was also connected to the nonprofit’s senior services Aging in Place Program. Through Aging in Place, Reed was able to acquire assistance with cleaning her house, thanks to Brothers staff.

“I couldn’t afford to get my house painted, and I don’t know who else would’ve been able to do it. The paint alone made me feel better about pulling up into the driveway and seeing my house,” said Reed. “It looks so much better. It’s also been nice being able to get help accessing the resources I need.”

Since May, Brothers Senior Services Coordinator Rene Quihuiz has been assisting Reed by helping her secure long-term Medicaid and homecare. Reed said that before she accessed the Aging in Place Program, she was ready to give up on her quest to receive home cleaning services.

“I was frustrated because it was a long process of going back and forth with (other agencies). (Quihuiz) encouraged me to keep going at it and that he was going to do his part to see if he can get the ball rolling,” said Reed. “If it wasn’t for him, I probably would’ve given up.”

This year, the Paint-A-Thon served 151 people and completed 95 projects across the metro area and in Colorado Springs. The Aging in Place Program has served more than 2,000 Coloradans this year.

You can help Brothers continue to support residents like Reed by donating to us on Colorado Gives Day (Dec. 7). You can schedule a donation here.

Brothers Redevelopment celebrates milestone July 12 with HUD Secretary Ben Carson,
Gov. Jared Polis and Sen. Cory Gardner

AURORA, CO – Brothers Redevelopment, Inc., cut the ribbon July 12 on Paris Family Apartments, its newest affordable community, with help from HUD Secretary Ben Carson, Gov. Jared Polis, Sen. Cory Gardner and Aurora Mayor Bob LeGare.

Colorado Housing Finance Authority Executive Director Cris White also lent a hand at festivities marking a landmark achievement in housing lower-income families and providing them supportive services. Brothers president Jeff Martinez hosted the grand opening of the 39-unit Paris Family Apartments, which drew more than 100 guests, including enthusiastic Brothers’ Board of Directors and staff, for tours of the sleek modern building at 1702 Paris St.

The $13.5 million project is a model for strong local, state and federal partnership in providing affordable housing. Nonprofit housing agency Brothers developed Paris Family Apartments with the extensive creative and financial support of the City of Aurora. Paris is Brothers’ first affordable housing development in Aurora and its first funded with competitive Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).

“Every dollar pays a dividend in the form of healthier and happier families who have a better shot at a better future,” Secretary Carson said.

Paris Family Apartments’ two- and three-bedroom units are available to families with children who have household income at or below 60 percent of Average Median Income (AMI), and many have incomes at 30 percent AMI or below. Supportive services will be offered to residents.

Gov. Polis said that the goal of his administration is to save families money, which means increasing the state’s investment in affordable housing.

Sen. Gardner said every “nook and cranny” of Colorado needs more affordable housing. “If we get housing right, we make so many other problems of people (are easier to solve),” Gardner said

Paris is made possible by federal funds from HUD that are administered by several local participating jurisdictions, including the City of Aurora, Arapahoe County and the Colorado Division of Housing. Federal funds were matched by both private and philanthropic grants that helped secure Low-Income Housing Tax Credit funds issued through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, provider of a permanent loan. Wells Fargo is the equity and construction lender.

“Every one of these partners is abundantly critical,” CHFA Director White said.

“This all had to start at the City Council level,” Mayor LeGare said. “Mayor Steve Hogan was very, very focused on the need for affordable housing. … And Brothers has been an amazing partner for this type of development. They take it from the ground up and they run with it.”

Established in 1971, Brothers Redevelopment is a nonprofit providing housing and many housing-related services to more than 5,000 low-income elderly, disabled and other households each year. Paris Family Apartments is Brothers’ 14th affordable community in the Denver Metro Area.

Brothers teams up with City of Aurora to offer home repairs to residents

Disabled woman gets house painted and secures long-term Medicaid and homecare through Brothers

Grand Opening of Paris Family Apartments in Aurora