HOME IMPROVEMENT and REPAIR LOANS and GRANTS

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Services, USDA Rural Development Program

PURPOSE: One of the programs administered through the Rural Housing Service, the Home Improvement and Repair Loans and Grants program, enables very low income rural homeowners to remove health and safety hazards in their home and to make homes accessible for people with disabilities. This program is also referred to as 504 Loan and Grant.

CONTACT

Oklahoma Rural Development Local Office www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/programbriefs/

See Appendix B for Oklahoma Rural Development Local Offices USDA.

FINANCIAL CRITERIA Income must be below 50% of the area median income.

ELIGIBILITY

• Individuals must be at least 62 years old.

• Must reside in and own the home that needs improvements.

• When requesting a grant, the person must be unable to repay a 1% loan.

• The home must be in a rural area of less than 20,000 in population based on an individual’s address.

• Grants and loans are dispersed based on financial eligibility.

AT SERVICES PROVIDED/COVERED: No AT services are provided or covered.

AT DEVICES PROVIDED/COVERED: Home Modifications

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Contact the local Oklahoma Rural Development office nearest you to apply for services.

• In the initial interview, the USDA staff will assist you in obtaining the needed information to complete the application.

APPEALS PROCESS: Any applicant over the age of 62 has the right to appeal an adverse decision.

PIECES OF THE PUZZLE

• Funds that are available for the Home Improvement and Repair Loans and Grants are very limited and may not be available until the next funded year. You may be placed on a waiting list to receive the funds.

• If a house is in such disrepair that it is not decent, safe or sanitary, assistance will not be considered.

• At this time $7,500 is the maximum lifetime grant amount.

• At this time $20,000 with a 20 year amortization is the maximum loan amount.