Very Low-Income Housing Repair Loans and Grants

 

Section 504 loans and grants are intended to help very low-income owner-occupants in rural areas repair their properties.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
10.417
Federal Agency/Office
Rural Housing Service, Department of Agriculture
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants; E - Direct Loans
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Authorization
Housing Act of 1949, Title V, Section 504, as amended, Public Laws 89-117, 89-754, and 92.310, 42 U.S.C. 1474.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must own and occupy a home in a rural area; and be a citizen of the United States or reside in the United States after having been legally admitted for permanent residence or on indefinite parole. Loan recipients must have sufficient income to repay the loan. Grant recipients must be 62 years of age or older and be unable to repay a loan for that part of the assistance received as a grant. Applicant's income may not exceed the very low-income limit set forth in RD Instructions.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Applicants must own and occupy a home in a rural area; and be a citizen of the United States or reside in the United States after having been legally admitted for permanent residence or on indefinite parole. Loan recipients must have sufficient income to repay the loan. Grant recipients must be 62 years of age or older and be unable to repay a loan for the part of the assistance received as a grant. Applicant's income may not exceed the very low-income limit set forth in RD Instructions.
Credentials/Documentation
Evidence of ownership and verification of income and debts. Grant recipients must provide evidence of age.
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. Applicants must file an application form at the Rural Development field office serving the county where the dwelling is located.
Award Procedure
Delegated to Local or Area Loan Approval Official.
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 30 to 60 days from time applications are filed if no backlog of applications exists.
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.
Renewals
Applicants may reapply at any time.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
Loan funds may be used to make general repairs and improvements to properties or to remove health and safety hazards. Grant funds may be used only to pay for the costs for repairs and improvements that will remove identified health and safety hazards or to repair or remodel dwellings to make them accessible for household members with disabilities. Loans and grants are typically used for repair or replacement of heating, plumbing or electrical services, roof or basic structure as well as water and waste disposal systems, and weatherization. Loans bear an interest rate of one percent and are repaid over a period up to 20 years. In addition to the above purpose, loan funds may be used to modernize the dwelling. Maximum loan amount cannot exceed a cumulative total of $20,000 to any eligible person and maximum lifetime grant assistance is $7,500 to any eligible person. The house must be located in an eligible rural area which does not exceed 10,000 population. Some places with populations between 10,000 and 25,000 may be eligible if not within a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Assistance is available in States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana's and the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
Borrowers and/or grantees are not required to, but should retain copies of loan or grant-related documents.
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
This assistance is available throughout the year by means of an established allocation system. Funds are usually released to borrowers/grantees as a lump sum payment for completed repairs or, as needed, for repairs in progress. Contact regional office or headquarters as appropriate for additional information.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Consult your local telephone directory under Department of Agriculture for Rural Development county or district office numbers or visit the website http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app for a State Office listing.
Headquarters Office
Myron L. Wooden,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250 US
Myron.Wooden@wdc.usda.gov
Phone: (804) 287-1559.
Website Address
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-2081-0-1-371
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 18$28,193,014.00; FY 19 est $20,000,000.00; FY 20 est $0.00; FY 17$28,873,909.00; FY 16$30,659,518.00; - Fiscal Year 2020 estimates are based on the President's Proposed Budget.(Direct Loans) FY 18$19,789,115.00; FY 19 est $17,000,000.00; FY 20 est $0.00; FY 17$19,637,606.00; FY 16$17,406,896.00; - Fiscal Year 2020 estimates are based on the President's Proposed Budget.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
FY 2018 average loan amount is $6,136. FY 2018 average grant amount is $6,148 FY 2019 average loan amount is $6,243. FY 2019 average grant amount is $6,157 FY 2019 averages are estimates.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
7 CFR Part 3550, Direct Single Family Housing Loans and Grants. (no charge); Home Improvement and Repair Loans, PA-1184, no charge.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 


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