Qualifying for the Program

Income Qualifications

Applicants must earn no more than the specified annual income cap. The income cap is a standard calculated each year by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) set at 80% of that year’s Area Median Income.

The maximum income depends on the number of people in your household*. The current income limits are:

• 1 person – $84,600
• 2 people – $96,650
• 3 people – $108,750
• 4 people – $120,800
• 5 people – $130,500
• 6 people – $140,150
• 7 people – $149,800
• 8 people – $159,500

* Do not count full-time caregivers as members of your household.

Interested in applying? Please complete a request for service application.

Application Process

1. Applicant submits a Request for Service through this website, by mail, email,or fax, over the phone, or in person indicating their interest in being considered for a Renew AC loan.
2. Renew AC staff will contact the applicant within ten (10) business days to review the Request, and will send a letter confirming receipt and outlining next steps in the application process,
3. Applicants who appear to meet initial program requirements are invited to fill out a program application, and to provide backup documentation that serves as proof of meeting income, property ownership, and residency requirements.
4. Within ten (10) business days of receiving the completed application, Renew AC staff will review it and request any missing documentation.
5. If all required documentation is not received within thirty (30) calendar days of request, the application may be denied due to inactivity.  Denied applicants are welcome to reapply at any time.
6. Once all documentation and a complete application are received, Renew AC staff will complete a final eligibility review and make an eligibility determination of either eligible or ineligible for a Renew AC loan.
7. Applicants will then receive a letter either approving or denying their loan eligibility. If approved, the letter will include a maximum loan amount that the applicant is eligible to receive.
8. Applicants determined to be eligible must still receive approval on the construction project once it is finalized after a home inspection by a Renew AC inspector.  
9. Once the applicant’s loan eligibility has been approved, a Renew AC inspector will contact the applicant to schedule a visit to their home.
10. At the time of the home visit, the applicant and the inspector will review any renovation needs the homeowner has identified, and discusses what work could be done to address them. The inspector, who is a construction professional, may identify and recommend repairs the applicant did not originally identify if they note any impending health and safety concerns.
11. Within ten (10) business days after the home visit, the inspector will create a list outlining the home improvements and renovations to be completed, along with an anticipated budget for the work to be completed for the applicant to approve.
12. When the work to be included in the Renew AC project has been approved by the applicant, Renew AC staff  will draw up loan documents between the Homeowner and the County of Alameda to secure the right to the funds for the project.
13. Once these loan documents are signed by all required parties, the list of home improvements and renovations is put out to bid by Renew AC staff. Any contractor who meets the County’s requirements of being licensed, bonded, and insured may bid on the project. The applicant is encouraged to invite contractors to bid.
14. Renew AC staff shares all bids received with the Applicant, who then informs staff which contractor they have selected for the work.
15. Once the contractor is selected, Renew AC staff coordinates with the contractor to sign the paperwork and the homeowner to schedule the work. Renew AC staff handles all payment to the contractors directly on behalf of the County and the homeowner.

While Renew AC staff will be working alongside the applicant homeowner throughout the process, the loan itself will be between the homeowner and Alameda County. Apply anytime– Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.