WASHINGTON, DC >> Lake County’s Habitat for Humanity received a USDA grant to help with the repair of local homes. The $75,000 amount is part of a $3.7 million nationwide investment to aid rural, low income families announced Wednesday by agriculture secretary Tim Vilsack.
Habitat for Humanity will use the Housing Preservation Grant for a project involving 13 houses in the county. The organization is leveraging USDA’s grant with $33,000 of its own funds.
“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 live in safe and healthy homes.”
USDA provides financing to 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.
The 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.
