Housing Rehab Program Helps Transform Homeowners’ Lives

Published on September 28, 2026

By Office of Communication

For JoAnn and Carrol Thacker, their Arlington home is more than a house. It is where they raised their family, watched their children grow up and built about 40 years of memories.

“We liked the neighborhood. We liked our house. It just needed some repairs that we could not afford at the time,” Carrol Thacker said.

The Thackers applied for the City of Arlington’s Housing Rehabilitation Program in December 2025, hoping to address repairs that had become difficult to afford. After assessing the home, housing rehabilitation specialist Lorenzo Corral determined that the repairs needed exceeded what could be covered through the program alone.

Rather than stop there, Corral brought the situation to the Housing Rehabilitation team, which looked for other ways to help.

One solution was the City’s Architectural Barrier Removal Program. Because Carrol met the program’s disability requirements, the Thackers were able to receive assistance to make their bathroom more accessible. The project included widening the doorway, removing a pony wall, replacing the bathtub with a walk-in shower and adding grab bars and a shower bench.

“The bathroom is beautiful. Now we can go in there and not worry about falling,” Carrol said.

The City also worked with the Arlington Board of REALTORS Community Service Foundation, known as ARBOR, to address exterior issues, including deteriorating wood, trees and shrubs around the home. The additional work reduced the number of repairs needed, allowing the Thackers to potentially qualify again for the City’s forgivable loan program.

“The Housing Rehabilitation team works to meet homeowners’ needs while also making homes more code-compliant and energy-efficient,” said Corral.

The City is also determining whether the Thackers qualify for a Veterans Grant, which could help address additional electrical repairs.

“We understand that home repairs are expensive, and our goal is to assist them with those expensive home repairs so that they can remain in their home and live there for years to come,” said LaToya Lewis with the City’s Housing Rehabilitation Program.

For the Thackers, the assistance has made a meaningful difference.

“The whole program has been a blessing to us,” JoAnn Thacker said.

She encourages other homeowners who receive information from the City about the program to take a closer look.

“It’s made a 100% difference in our lives,” Thacker said. “And it’s our home.”

Could the program help you?

The Housing Rehabilitation Program is available to eligible Arlington homeowners who meet income, residency and property requirements. Depending on the homeowner’s needs and eligibility, assistance may be available for major repairs, emergency repairs or accessibility modifications.

To learn more, visit ArlingtonTX.gov/HousingRehab or call 817-276-6707.