USDA Rural Development Awards Gloucester County Nearly $90K Grant For Home Rehab

CLAYTON, N.J. – The US Department of Agriculture through Rural Development has awarded the county $89,837 in Housing Preservation Grant fund, the largest award to date according to a press release from the county.

This is the tenth year the county has received this grant to help low and moderate income homeowners who reside in eligible USDA rural designated municipalities renovate their homes through emergency repair loans and deferred payment loan programs through the Housing Rehabilitation Program. 

“This grant will be used to assist more families to live in a safe environment,” Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger said.  “We want people living in safe homes and some repairs, like emergency repairs to older housing stock can be debilitating to a residents’ finances.” 

Freeholder Heather Simmons, liaison to the Division of Housing and Community Development, said the increase in funds will aid more people to help pay for renovations.

“The funds we receive from the Housing Preservation Grant provide repairs to income-eligible households,” Simmons said.  “This increase in funds will allow us to provide for eighteen households at up to $5,000 each to cover rehabilitation construction costs.”

Simmons also said that often the Housing Preservation Grant funds leverage HUD CDBG or HOME funds to also provide weatherization services such as roof replacement and windows as well as other repairs to create safe, clean living environments for residents.

For more information on the Housing Rehabilitation Program,HUD, CDBG, and HOME visit http://www.co.gloucester.nj.us/depts/p/pw/planning/hcdev/oorp.asp.