In mid-July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of a pilot program designed to give people easier access to loans and grants to repair homes damaged by fire, flood, severe storms, and future natural disasters in presidentially declared disaster areas. This USDA pilot program significantly expands eligibility for people seeking Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants to repair and rebuild their homes damaged in areas of presidentially declared disasters. As a part of this pilot, USDA is making a number of changes, including:
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Lowering the minimum age from 62 to 18 for eligible homeowners.
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Refinancing debt and reimbursing repair costs incurred as a result of the natural disaster and prior to the date of the application.
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Financing costs to relocate mobile and manufactured homes.
Funds may be used in presidentially declared disaster areas that occurred in California since July 18, 2022. Funds may also be used in areas subject to future natural disasters in the next two years. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov or directly to the Rural Development State Office. For more information on how to apply, contact Debbie Morris at Debbie.morris@usda.gov or 530-792-5820, or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ca.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will.