Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com
Published - Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Loans, grants available to rural homeowners
Low-interest home improvement loans and grants for health and safety renovations are now available to cash-strapped rural homeowners in Winona, Houston and Fillmore counties.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development funds are designed for “very low-income” people but can help supplement flood aid for eligible families, said Paul Dornfeld, Rural Development specialist in the Austin, Minn., office.
“Health and safety is kind of a nebulous term, but examples of what would qualify are repairs for water or sewage, and hooking up for city sewer. ... a leaky roof and creating handicap accessibility,” Dornfeld said.
Grants — a maximum of $7,500 — are limited to elderly families (62 years or older) and can only be used to remove health or safety hazards or remodel dwellings to make them accessible to household members with disabilities.
Loan funds can be used for making basic repairs, installing essential features or removing health and safety hazards. The maximum loan amount is $20,000, at a 1 percent interest rate with a repayment period of up to 20 years.
This program is not available in La Crescent, Winona, Goodview or Minnesota City. Rollingstone, Money Creek, Hokah, Dakota, Brownsville, Rushford and Rushford Village are eligible.
Applicants must meet income guidelines, have good credit, own the home to be repaired and be unable to obtain credit elsewhere.
The market value of applicants’ properties should be at or below $182,700 in Winona County, $177,600 in Fillmore County and $182,700 in Houston County. Some farms can qualify.
To apply or for more information, call the USDA’s Rural Development office at (507) 437-8247, ext. 4.
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