Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA is investing $3.7 million to help rural families repair and rehabilitate their homes. The funds are being awarded through the Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program in 46 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to support the renovation of 1,147 units.
"Many low-income families in rural areas struggle to afford necessary housing upkeep," Vilsack said. "This USDA program provides grants for repairs not only to ensure that properties are in compliance with health and safety codes, but also to help people lower their maintenance costs through energy efficiency and weatherization improvements. All of these efforts make sure rural folks can stay in their homes.”
USDA provides financing to entities such as local governments, public agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, non-profit organizations and faith-based and community groups. These entities distribute the grants to individual homeowners as well as to owners of multi-family rental properties or cooperative dwellings who rent to low- and very-low-income residents.
In Texas, the Habitat for Humanity of Smith County will use a $93,392 grant to rehabilitate 30 homes for very low and low income owner-occupied dwellings, and the Community Council of South Central Texas, Inc. will use a $93,392 grant to rehabilitate 20 homes for very low owner-occupied dwellings.
In 2012, Celia Cerda, a beloved figure in the City of Crowell, Texas, suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by an old gas water heater. She was rushed to the hospital and did not regain consciousness for two weeks. USDA provided a Housing Preservation grant to Rolling Plains Management Corporation, a local community action agency, to rewire Ms. Cerda’s bathroom and replace the defective hot water heater with a new, energy efficient, electric water heater. With the assistance of the grant, Ms. Cerda can safely continue to live in her home.
Through this announcement, USDA is providing grants for 106 projects in 46 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Funding is contingent upon the recipients meeting the terms of their grant agreement.
Since the start of the Obama Administration, USDA has provided almost $47 million in Housing Preservation Grants that have leveraged more than $167 million to repair and rehabilitate 12,000 homes and apartments in rural communities.
President Obama’s historic investments in rural America have made our rural communities stronger. Under his leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. For information on this and other USDA Rural Development programs in Texas, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/tx.