What does this program do?
Provides grants to qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction projects. Grant recipients supervise groups of very-low- and low-income individuals and families as they construct their own homes in rural areas. The group members provide most of the construction labor on each other’s homes, with technical assistance from the organization overseeing the project.
Who may apply for this program?
Eligible applicants include:
- Government non-profit organizations
- Federally-recognized Tribes
- Private non-profit organizations
What is an eligible rural area?
Utilizing the USDA Eligibility Site you can enter a specific address for determination or just search the map to review general eligible areas.
How may funds be used?
- Give technical and supervisory assistance to participating families
- Help other organizations provide self-help technical and supervisory assistance
- Recruit families, help them complete loan applications and carry out other related activities that enable them to participate
Funds MAY NOT be used to:
- Hire people to perform construction work for participants
- Buy real estate, building materials or other property
- Pay debts, expenses or costs for the participants
- Pay other indirect costs
How do we get started?
Applications for this program are accepted through our local offices year round.
Who can answer questions?
Contact your local office.
What governs this program?
- The Housing Act of 1949 as amended, 7 CFR 1944-I
- Agency Instruction – 1944-I
Why does USDA Rural Development do this?
By working in partnership with trusted local organizations, this program helps very-low- and low-income families get affordable, clean and safe homes of their own in rural areas. Very-low-income families living in substandard housing are given first priority for loan assistance.
NOTE: Because citations and other information may be subject to change please always consult the program instructions listed in the section above titled "What Law Governs this Program?" You may also contact your local office for assistance.
NOTE: If state specific forms are not shown above, please ensure that your state is selected in the dropdown menu above to find the State Office contact information and speak to a Housing Programs Specialist before attempting to fill out any forms or applications. This will save you valuable time in your application.
Application Forms
Post Award Forms
There are no other additional requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements they will be listed above.
Most loans and grants are originated and/or serviced in the Area Office. Please contact the Area Office that services your County or Town. See our: Florida County Map. Please contact the USVI St. Croix Office for all of the USVI.
CRESTVIEW AREA OFFICE
Jeffrey Archer, Area Director
3070 Adora Teal Way, Suite C, Crestview, FL 32539
Work phone: 850-682-2416
Business cell: 850-333-2031
Fax: 855-473-8755
Counties served: Escambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton.
MARIANNA AREA OFFICE
Loria Phillips, Area Director
2741 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 5, Marianna, FL 32448
Work phone: 850-526-2610
Business cell: 850-317-6572
Fax: 855-474-6969
Counties served: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla and Washington.
LAKE CITY AREA OFFICE
Bruni Robles, Area Director
971 W Duval St, Suite 190, Lake City, FL 32055
Work phone: 386-719-5590
Business cell: 386-365-9576
Fax: 855-474-6983
Counties served: Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Nassau, Suwannee, St. Johns, Taylor and Union.
OCALA AREA OFFICE
Stephanie Hodges, Area Director
2441 NE 3rd Street, Suite 204-1, Ocala, FL 34470
Work phone: 352-732-7534
Business cell: 352-843-0042
Fax: 855-474-6990
Counties served: Alachua, Citrus, Dixie, Flagler, Gilchrist, Lake, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia.
CHAMPIONS GATE AREA OFFICE
Angela Smith, Area Director
8390 Champions Gate Blvd, Suite 210, Champions Gate, FL 33896
Work phone: 863-420-4833
Fax: 855-474-8230
Counties served: Brevard, Hernando, Hillsborough, Indian River, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk.
ROYAL PALM BEACH AREA OFFICE **(see Sub Office information)
Ada Rivera, Area Director
420 South State Road 7, Suite 166, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33414
Work phone: 561-792-2727
Fax: 855-475-4827
**N. Ft. Myers (Sub Office of Royal Palm Beach)
Ada Rivera, Area Director
3434 Hancock Bridge Pkwy., Suite 209-A, N. Ft. Myers, FL 33903
Work phone: 239-997-7331
Fax: 855-475-8043
Counties served from Royal Palm Beach and North Fort Myers: Broward, Dade, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Martin, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota.
ST. CROIX U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AREA OFFICE
Kimme Bryce, Area Director
4401 Sion Farm, Ste. #2, Christiansted, St. Croix, VI 00820
Work phone: 340-773-9146
Business cell: 340-201-4211
Fax: 855-475-6940
Locations served: St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas.
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