Source:  PRESS RELEASE, 7/22/11
 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that applications are being accepted for grants to eligible applicants to help low- and very-low-income rural residents repair their homes.

   "These funds help limited-income rural homeowners improve their living conditions,” Vilsack said. “The costs associated with maintaining a home are a challenge for many rural homeowners and the funding we are announcing will be used by awardees to help low and very-low-income residents in rural areas maintain and repair their homes.”

  Housing Preservation Grants are provided to intermediaries such as town or county governments, public agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and non-profit and faith-based organizations. The grants are then distributed to qualified homeowners or owners of multi-family rental properties or cooperative dwellings who rent to low- and very-low-income residents. Funding is not provided directly to homeowners by USDA under this program.

   The grants can be used to weatherize and repair existing structures, install or improve plumbing or provide access to people with disabilities. For example, in 2009, The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors in Fayette, Miss. received a $75,000 Housing Preservation Grant, along with funds from the Mississippi Development Authority to repair and rehabilitate homes. With these funds, the agency was able provide a $15,000 grant to help homeowner Willie Henry Reed make his bathroom and kitchen handicap-accessible. Funds were also used to repair a leaking roof.

   USDA may award up to $9.8 million in competitive grants through the Housing Preservation Grant program. Applications are due on August 22, 2011. For more information about application details, please view the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) published in the July 7, 2011 Federal Register.