Low-income home owners can apply for grants to finance housing projects.
Low income home owners can apply for grants to pay for construction, renovation and improvement projects. Grants are used to pay for the removal of safety and health hazards from homes as well as to correct defects in areas such as heating, insulation, electrical and plumbing. These grants do not have to be paid back by the home owners. Grant programs, however, can recoup funds if recipients do not satisfy the obligations outlined in the grant agreement.
Housing Preservation Grants
The United States Department of Agriculture provides grants to property owners and landlords in rural areas to make improvements to very low or low income homes and housing units. Very low income is considered below 50 percent of the area median income while low income is 50 to 80 percent. The Housing Preservation Grant program provides assistance to homeowners, rental property owners, landlords and co-op managers to carry out renovation and repair projects. These grants are available to areas with fewer than 20,000 residents. Eligible sponsors of the grant include state, local and tribal government agencies and nonprofit organizations. HPG recipients have two years to use funds.
Housing and Community Facilities Programs National Office
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Room 5014 South Building
14th St. and Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20250
202-720-9619
www.rurdev.usda.gov
Home Investment Partnerships Grant Program
State programs are available to provide financial assistance to low income home owners. For example, the Mississippi Development Authority sponsors the Home Investment Partnerships Grant Program which provides grants to families to reconstruct, renovate and make improvements to their homes. Municipalities and counties can apply for these grants on behalf of low income families. Grants amounts and eligibility requirements for homeowners are determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Mississippi Development Authority
P.O. Box 849
Jackson, MS 39205
601-359-3449
mississippi.org
Very Low Income Housing Repair
The Very Low Income Housing Repair Program provides grants to low income home owners to make necessary repairs and improvements to their homes. Sponsored by the USDA, these grants cover repairs that are necessary after health and safety hazards have been removed from inside and around the recipients' homes. To be eligible to receive grants, home owners must be 62 or older and unable to afford to pay back loans. This grant program requires recipients to not sell their homes for three years or be subject to having the funds recouped.
Housing and Community Facilities Programs National Office
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Room 5014 South Building
14th St. and Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20250
202-720-9619
www.rurdev.usda.gov
Tags: home owners, Department Agriculture, provides grants, their homes, 14th Independence, 14th Independence Washington
