U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director Maria Gallegos Herrera announced Monday, Jan. 23 that increased grant limits are available to homeowners needing to make important repairs to their homes. As a result of the Presidentially-Declared Disaster from severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides impacting California, grant limits have increased to $36,250 from $10,000 in Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties.
“People in rural communities continue to experience the impacts of climate change – they are often the hardest hit and last to recover,” said Gallegos Herrera. “This is why we are honored to join our federal, state, and local partners in helping those impacted by the disastrous floods to rebuild and recover. By enhancing our assistance available to very low-income homeowners 62 or older, we are better able to serve those most in need and help rural California build back better.”
Funding is available through Rural Development’s Single Family Housing Home Repair Loan and Grant (Home Repair) program that helps income-eligible homeowners in rural communities make health and safety repairs to their homes.
Increased grant limits are only available until Jan. 14, 2024, then grant limits will return to $10,000. To access the full increased amount, homeowners must apply by this date. In addition, one percent loans up to $40,000 are also available to assist with repairs and other home improvements.
Applicants for the Home Repair program in eligible areas must:
Own and occupy their home located in eligible rural areas including the listed counties.
Have a household income at or below the county’s very low limit.
Grant applicants must be age 62 or older, however there are no age restrictions on loan applicants.
For more information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/ca.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day. USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
