USDA Rural Development has a program to help homeowners with very low incomes make home repairs after storms. It is called the 504 Disaster Pilot program. The program helps people in eligible rural areas whose homes were damaged during specific storms.
If your home was damaged during a storm that was part of a presidentially declared disaster, contact USDA Rural Development (details below) to find out if you might be eligible.
Quick facts:
• The program covers storms that happened between July 18, 2022 and July 2025.
• Homeowners 18 and older can apply.
• There are grants available up to $42,920.
• USDA Rural Development also offers home repair 20 year loans at 1% interest.
• The program may be able to reimburse homeowners for emergency repairs that they already paid for.
• This program can help cover the cost of moving a mobile home.
• USDA does not use the FEMA designations of “Individual Assistance” and “Public Assistance.” The damaged home must be in a presidentially declared disaster area (regardless of the FEMA individual/public designation) to qualify.
How to apply:
For more information about eligibility or how to apply for the Section 504 Disaster Pilot or other USDA RD Single Family Housing programs, you can email SFHMaine@USDA.gov. To find out where your nearest USDA Rural Development office is located, call 207-990-9100 x4.
You can also call your nearest USDA Rural Development office directly:
Bangor Area Office
1423 Broadway Suite 3
Bangor ME 04401-2468
Telephone: (207) 990-3676 x4
Lewiston Area Office
254 Goddard Road
Lewiston ME 04240-1000
Telephone: (207) 753-9400 x4
Presque Isle Area Office
735 Main Street Suite 1
Presque Isle ME 04769-2285
Telephone: (207) 764-4157 x4
Scarborough Area Office
306 US Route 1 Suite B1
Scarborough ME 04074-7640
Telephone: (207) 883-0159 x4
Maine Presidentially Declared Disasters
Included in the 504 Disaster Pilot:
1. January 9-13, 2024. Counties included: Cumberland, Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington, and York.
2. December 17-21, 2023. Counties included: Androscoggin, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington.
3. June 29, 2023. County included: Franklin County.
4. June 26, 2023. County included: Oxford County.
5. April 30-May 1, 2023. Counties included: Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo.
6. December 23-24, 2022. Counties included: Franklin, Knox, Oxford, Somerset, Waldo, York.
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