20 Homeowners will receive assistance
STEVENS POINT, Wis., Oct., 19, 2020 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wisconsin Rural Development State Director Frank Frassetto announced that two partner organizations are receiving $155,000 in Housing Preservation Grants for the repair and rehabilitation of housing owned or occupied by very low and low-income rural residents.
“By partnering with these Agencies, USDA is ensuring that home ownership for rural Wisconsinites is affordable when it comes to housing repairs,” Frassetto said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, we have been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Wisconsin in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
In Southwestern Wisconsin:
- Couleecap Inc in Westby will receive a $80,000 grant to assist nine very-low income homeowners in rural Crawford, Monroe, Vernon and La Crosse counties to repair or rehabilitate their homes. The USDA grant will be leveraged with $5,000 in funds through Weatherization Public Benefits, $15,000 through HOME, $20,000 through the Community Development Block Grant program and $40,000 through Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program and/or homeowner contributions. Couleecap has been partnering with USDA in this program for the last 12 years.
- Community Development Alternatives Inc (CDA) in Prairie du Chien will receive a $75,000 grant to assist two low-income and nine very low-income households in the counties of Crawford and Grant to renovate their homes. The USDA grant will be leveraged with $105,000 in funds through the Community Development Block Grant program. CDA has been partnering with USDA in this program for three years.
The Housing Preservation Grant is administered by sponsoring organizations such as state and local government entities, non-profits and federally-recognized Tribes. Individual homeowners are not eligible for the program, which serves rural areas with populations of 20,000 or fewer. Rental property owners also may be eligible to receive assistance if they agree to make housing units available to low- and very low-income rural residents. Eligible expenses include repairing or replacing electrical wiring, foundations, roofs, insulation, heating and cooling systems and water and waste disposal systems. Funds also may be used to adapt homes for those with mobility or other accessibility considerations.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/wi, call us at 715-345-7600 or email wi-rd-stateoffice@usda.gov.
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