Rural Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance

 

Self-Help Technical Assistance Grants provide financial assistance to qualified nonprofit organizations and public bodies that will assist very low and low-income individuals and their families build homes in rural areas by the self help method. Any State, political subdivision, private or public nonprofit corporation is eligible to apply. Section 523 Grants are typically used to pay salaries, rent, and office expenses of the nonprofit organization.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
10.420
Federal Agency/Office
Rural Housing Service, Department of Agriculture
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Authorization
Housing Act of 1949, as amended, Section 523, Public Laws 89-117 and 89-754, 42 U.S.C. 1490c.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Must be a State or political subdivision, public nonprofit corporation or a private nonprofit corporation. Assistance is authorized for eligible applicants in the United States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Marianas.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Very low and low-income rural families, usually in groups of 4 to 10 families.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must furnish evidence of the need for such services, have legal capacity to incur the obligation and operate the proposed project.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Form SF-424 is submitted to Rural Development (RD) , including information attached to Part IV, fully documenting the applicant's experience, need for the grant and the proposed amount needed. Attachments relating to the size of the proposed project, estimated cost, budget and need are also required. This program is subject to provisions of 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.
Award Procedure
Awards $300,000 and over are approved by the National Office.
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 60 to 120 days from the time of application.
Appeals
Agency regulations providing customers with the rights for an informal review, mediation or alternative dispute resolution (ADR), or appeal to the National Appeals Division (NAD) are contained in 7 CFR Part 3550. NAD regulations are found at 7 CFR Part 11. Requests for an informal review, mediation and ADR must be received within 30 days from the date of the adverse decision. Requests for an appeal to NAD must be received within 30 days of receipt of the adverse decision. Please visit: https://www.nad.usda.gov/
Renewals
Applicants may reapply at any time, if needed to help low- income families build homes in rural areas by the mutual self-help method is clearly evidenced.
How are proposals selected?
The criteria for selecting proposals are the evidence of a clearly defined need in an area for mutual self-help housing and the families in the area cannot afford or obtain a modest house by customary methods, and the applicant possesses the expertise to provide the technical assistance (TA) required.
How may assistance be used?
Eligible organizations may use technical assistance funds to hire the personnel to carry out a technical assistance program for self-help housing in rural areas; to pay necessary and reasonable office and administrative expenses; to purchase or rent equipment such as power tools for use by families participating in self-help housing construction; and to pay fees for training self-help group members in construction techniques or for other professional services needed. Funds will not be used to hire personnel to perform any construction work, to buy real estate or building materials, or pay any debts, expenses or costs other than previously outlined for participating families in self-help projects.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Annual audits should be made as part of the recipient's systems of financial management and internal control to meet terms and conditions of grants and other agreements.
Records
Adequate operating records must be maintained by Grantee.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are typically for a 2-year period, however, extension may be authorized if appropriate. Applications for assistance far exceed available funding. Interest organization work with regional technical assistance contractors to assess feasibility and available funding. Awards $300,000 and over are approved by the National Office.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
To find a local Rural Development office, please visit our website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
Headquarters Office
Andria Hively
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250 US
Andria.hively@usda.gov
Phone: (360) 999-0252
Website Address
http://www.rd.usda.gov
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-2006-0-1-604
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 22$32,000,000.00; FY 23 est $32,000,000.00; FY 24 est $32,000,000.00; FY 21$31,000,000.00; FY 20$32,784,000.00; FY 19$22,650,830.00; FY 18$28,660,183.00; FY 17$27,626,751.00; FY 16$22,148,496.00; - Fiscal Year 2024 estimates are based on the President's proposed budget.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
FY 2022 average grant assistance, excluding outliers $719,000 FY 2023 average grant assistance, excluding outliers $624,600
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
7 CFR Subpart I of Part 1944; Chapter XVIII; RD Instruction 1944-I, "Self-Help Technical Assistance Grants"; (PA 1254) (no charge).
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 


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