How do I apply for assistance?
The process starts with the client completing an application and being placed on a waiting list. Applications can be picked up at City Hall or mailed to the clients.

How do I know if I qualify for assistance?
Clients qualify if they own the house and fall within household income guidelines established by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Copies of Federal Income Tax returns establish household size. Records at the Grayson County Appraisal District establish home ownership.

What type of work is done?
The Minor/Emergency Rehabilitation program addresses five (5) areas of work. Those areas are: plumbing, electrical, level/support, roof and heating. The maximum amount that can be spent on a project is $3,500. There are limited areas that can be addressed under the Emergency Rehab such as gas leaks, broken water pipes, some sewer problems and heating issues. The maximum amount that can be spent on Emergency projects is $1,000.

How long does it take to get work done?
In early 2003, the typical waiting period to receive Minor Rehab assistance is about 1½ to 2 years. This time will increase as more names are added to the waiting list.

Who do I contact if I see a dilapidated house that need to be torn down?
The demolition process starts with a call to the Building Official. The Building Official will then determine that the structure is dilapidated and posts the house as unsafe. Location of the house determines what funds will be used to demolish the structure. The length of time from posting to demolition varies greatly due to a number of circumstances. The most time consuming task is to contact all of the people who might have an ownership in the property and have them sign a release to demolish the house. This task alone can take up to six months or more.

How do I apply for the First Time Homebuyer’s grant?
The process begins when you start discussions with your local lending institution. Early in that process, you tell the lending institution that you would like to apply for the City’s grant. The house must be in the City of Denison, not in a flood prone area and the buyer must qualify according to income guidelines. All of the paper work is done by the lending institution and submitted to the City for review. After all of the required documentation is in the project file, a check in the amount up to $2,500 is issued to the lending institution and the buyer for closing.

Who do I contact if I want to know traffic counts on some of the streets in Denison?
A. The Office of Community Development maintains maps from the Texas Department of Transportation with counts of traffic for a 24-hour period on some City streets. Requests can be made through the City Manager’s office for additional counts on streets that have not been counted or to request current raw counts for a specific location.

How do I contact the Office of Community Development?
The phone number for the office is (903) 465-2720. The mailing address is P. O. Box 347, Denison, Texas 75021-0347. The physical location of the office is 500 West Chestnut, Denison, Texas 75020. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.