30-A §4922. Maine Natural Disaster Home Assistance Program
Title 30-A: MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
Part 2: MUNICIPALITIES HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
Subpart 8: DEVELOPMENT HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
Chapter 201: HOUSING AUTHORITY HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
Subchapter 9-A: NATURAL DISASTER HOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
§4922. Maine Natural Disaster Home Assistance Program
The Maine Natural Disaster Home Assistance Program shall provide assistance to homeowners who are victims of natural disasters which have caused the State or portions of the State to be declared disaster areas by the President of the United States or the President's authorized representative. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
1. Operation. The state authority shall administer the Maine Natural Disaster Home Assistance Program which may be operated in conjunction with other programs of the state authority. Other programs of the state authority may be used to supplement or be used in conjunction with the Maine Natural Disaster Home Assistance Program to achieve the purpose of this subchapter.
A. Money in the fund may be used as security for or be applied in payment of principal, interest, fees and other charges due on loans made or insured under this program. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
B. Money in the fund may be used as grants to assist homeowners who qualify for grant assistance under this program. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
C. Money in the fund may be matched with federal money and money of political subdivisions of the State to obtain federal natural disaster relief and assistance. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
[ 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD) .]
2. Provisions governing use of money. The fund shall be administered subject to the provisions in this section. Priority shall be given to homeowners who are not adequately assisted by federal or other disaster funds and who do not have access to adequate capital or credit to recover from the effects of the disaster. For purposes of this subchapter, homeowner includes the owner of a mobile home or manufactured housing unit and the owner of rental housing.
A. The state authority, by rules adopted in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, shall establish priorities of assistance to homeowners. These priorities shall be based on the assets of the homeowner; availability of credit or assistance or income from other sources, including financial institutions, federal relief programs, investments, trust funds and other similar sources; the degree of damage incurred; the immediacy of the need for assistance; and any other variables deemed important by the state authority. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
B. Grants may be provided to a homeowner if:
(1) The grant is essential to providing housing to the homeowner;
(2) The income of the homeowner is insufficient to repay any loan or portion of a loan; and
(3) Grants shall not exceed $20,000 per homeowner household. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
C. Loans from the fund shall not exceed $45,000 per homeowner household at rates of interest not to exceed 8% per year. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
D. Loans from the fund may be made for periods of up to 30 years. In the event that a homeowner cannot repay a loan in full within the 30-year period, the state authority may extend the repayment period if the state authority determines that the loan can be repaid during the extension period. The state authority may waive the payment of interest on any loan or portion of a loan for which the interest payment will be an undue hardship on a household. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
E. Money in the fund may be used to reduce interest rates on loans provided by financial institutions located in this State to homeowners who are victims of natural disasters. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
F. The program shall be directed primarily at households without access to adequate capital or credit and which have experienced significant damage to or loss of their housing. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
G. Homeowners living in a designated flood plain shall not be eligible for assistance under the program unless they obtain flood insurance. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
H. Applications for assistance under the program by victims of the April 1987 flood must be received by the state authority on or before September 30, 1987, in order for such individuals to be eligible for assistance. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
[ 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD) .]
3. Loan insurance. The state authority may insure payments due under a loan or lease and may pledge money in the fund as security for such loan or lease, which may be in addition to or in lieu of insurance provided under other provisions of this chapter. Loans or leases shall not constitute any debt or liability on the part of the state authority or the State, except to the extent specifically provided by contract executed by the state authority.
[ 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD) .]
4. Use of loans and grants. Loans and grants provided in this subchapter may be used for refinancing mortgages, payment of interest or portion of interest on loans, home construction and home improvements.
[ 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD) .]
5. Procedures. The state authority may adopt rules in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, by which the program shall be implemented.
[ 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD) .]
SECTION HISTORY
1987, c. 737, §§A2,C106 (NEW). 1989, c. 6, (AMD). 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD). 1989, c. 104, §§C8,10 (AMD).