Rural Development Housing Grants
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a number of grants to assist rural communities with housing. Kent Colwell, area director of Rural Development programs at the USDA office in Hays, Kansas, said the USDA's definition of a "rural area" is one with a population of 20,000 or less. USDA also offers loans, some in connection to grants. The services are part of USDA's Rural Development Housing and Community Facilities (RDHCF) program.
Farm Labor Housing Loan and Grant
Designed as a source of funding to build, buy, repair or improve housing for farm laborers, this program is a combination of grants and loans. Grants for up to 90 percent of the project cost are available to farm worker associations, Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies. Those same groups, plus family farm corporations, farmers and associations of farmers, can get loans through the program. This is the only RDHCF program that allows funds to be used for housing in urban areas-as long as the housing is for people who work in an agriculture-related industry, such as a meat-packing plant.
Rural Housing Repair Loans and Grants
This program gives loans of up to $20,000 for repairs that correct health or safety hazards in homes. Applicants age 62 and older can get grants of up to $7,500. Colwell said income guidelines established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are the criteria the USDA uses to qualify applicants. To qualify, applicants must have incomes deemed "very low."
"We go by HUD's median income. 'Very low income' is 50 percent of HUD's median income figure, and 'low' is 80 percent of HUD's median income," Colwell said. The income guidelines are specific to the area and are revised every year.
Individual Water and Waste Grants
This program is available only to homeowners in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas, and is for the installation of plumbing and sewer fixtures and services in the home.
Housing Preservation Grants
Local governments, state agencies, non-profit organizations and Native American tribes can apply for funding through the Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program for repair and rehabilitation of housing for low-income residents. Sponsoring agencies give grants or loans to qualifying applicants. Funds can be used for rental property as well as owner-occupied housing.
Rural Rental Assistance
Rural Rental Assistance grants are awarded to owners of housing projects funded through the Rural Rental Housing and Farm Labor Housing programs. Funds are used to pay rent for tenants unable to pay the basic monthly rent themselves.
Tags: Rural Development, Development Housing, median income, Rural Development Housing, Rural Rental
