The Camden Home Improvement Program (CHIP) has $8 million to help each resident of Camden, New Jersey, with $20,000 that they need to remodel certain areas of their home, such as the roof, flooring, facade or another priority area.

“The program was born because in recent years the Camden population has moved elsewhere, and we want to motivate people to stay and revitalize Camden”, said Ángel Fuentes, President of Camden’s City Council, who is promoting CHIP among the Hispanic community.

To be eligible to receive the funds from the program, you must:  Be a homeowner, have lived in such home for the last three years, have inhabited such home for over five years, and be up to day with your tax payments. 

“Applicants present themselves at the designated spots, fill out the application and include a detailed list of that which they want to fix up in their homes, the constructing company decides which of the things on the list are a priority and prepares an estimate, we chose the construction company that offers the best rate”, explained the program manager, Aída Figueroa.

It is a free program and the only stipulation is that if the property is sold before the indicated term, then the owner would have to bear the remodeling expenses.  “It is very important for our Latino community to request this service because the funds are available and if the home requires improvement, the homeowners may received up to $30,000.”, said Fuentes. “I always hear about the funds being used in the waterfront and how the neighborhoods remain forgotten.  This is the opportunity to tell our people that we are here”, Fuentes commented.

CHIP is sponsored by the Camden Churches Organization, the City of Camden and other public and private organizations.

This initiative has been divided in different phases.  “The neighbors in which we are now focusing belong to the second stage; 66 houses were finished during the first stage and 127 are in the process”, Figueroa stated.

In addition to helping the residents, this initiative seeks to generate jobs among the Hispanic and African American construction companies.

“We are inviting the construction companies to participate, especially the small ones, so that they can also benefit from this effort”, said Figueroa.

The deadline to request a CHIP is October 24.  For more information please visit http://www.camdenchip.org