Did you know homeowners with low incomes who need repairs to their homes might be eligible Rural Home Repair grants and/loans from USDA Rural Development? Any rural areas and communities that have a population of 20,000 or less are eligible. Types of repairs that can be done range from improving the safety or sanitary conditions of a home to correcting any safety or health hazards as well. However, grants are used for the removal and repair of safety or health hazards only.
The Purpose Of Loans And Grants
Grants are available only when the repairs or improvements will take away any safety or health hazards that have been previously identified. However, if the goal is modernizing or improving a home in addition to health/safety hazards being removed, then loan funds may be available. Also, the repairs made to a home with grant or loan funds do not have to meet the development standards of the agency, nor do all known hazards have to be removed as long there’s no further major safety/health concerns when the scheduled repairs have been done.
The work covered by authorized grants and loans includes, but isn’t totally comprised of, the following:
Sanitary Disposal Systems: repair or installation, including fixtures or plumbing, that are in line with the requirements of the area health department.
Needed Insulation
It is required, before filing the USDA Rural Development application, that the applicant is the owner and has been living in the home. A permanent foundation defined as either:
A foundation that is a complete below grade, or
The home sits on piers, blocks, or a similar foundation that has anchored tie-downs and skirting.
Maximum Amount of Grant or Loan
Rural Development rural home repair loans have a maximum limit of $20,000, either initial or subsequent, to any person.
Limitations On The Use Of Grant/Loan Funds
Grant funds or a home repair loan from Rural Development cannot be used for:
Help for the construction of a new home.
Limitations On How Grant Funds Are Used
Additionally, the grant funds from Rural Development rural home repair cannot be used for any changes made for convenience or cosmetic purposes unless those changes have a direct connection to the hazards that are being removed. The definition of convenience and cosmetic changes might include, but will not be limited to:
Any Painting
Requirements For Eligibility
Applicants for Rural Development rural home repair are expected to meet these requirements:
Must be a United States citizen.
Application is for only a Rural Development rural home repair grant.
Must be a minimum age of 62 years.
You can get additional information at any of the USDA Rural Development Offices, located in all the states, for Rural Home Repair Grant and Loan Programs.
