The RSH Webinar: Aging In Place will begin shortly

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1 Welcome!! The RSH will begin shortly This will be a muted call, please submit your questions via the Q&A feature. (please do not use chat) Housing Assistance Council Webinar Aging In Place: Home Repair for Rural Seniors 1

2 Housing Assistance Council USDA Rural Development s Section 504 Housing Repair Loans and Grants Presenter: Michael Feinberg, Research Associate, Housing Assistance Council 2

3 Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Purpose: This Housing Repair program provides loans and grants to very low-income homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize their dwellings or to remove health and safety hazards. Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Funds may not be used to: Assist in construction of a new dwelling Pay for off-site improvements Refinance debt Purchase/install appliances Site preparation or landscaping (some examples, this is not an exhaustive list) 3

4 Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Repairs to Manufactured Homes: Applicant must already own and occupy home and site Repairs are needed to remove health or safety hazards Home must be on a permanent foundation (when work is complete) Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Eligibility: Homeowner-occupants must be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere and must have very low incomes, (at or below 50 percent of area median income). Repairs and improvements must make the dwelling more safe and sanitary or remove health and safety hazards or make the home accessible. 4

5 Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Eligibility: Grants are limited to homeowners who are: 62 years old or older, and Cannot repay a Section 504 loan. Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Terms: Loans of up to $20,000 and grants of up to $7,500 are available. Loans are for up to 20 years at 1 percent interest. 5

6 Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Terms: A grant/loan combination is made if the applicant can repay part of the assistance package. Loans and grants can be combined for up to $27,500 in Section 504 assistance. Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Terms: Grants must be repaid if the property is sold in less than three years. Repairs financed with grant funds must result in the removal of health and safety hazards. 6

7 Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Security: Loans $7,500 or more secured by real estate Smaller loans secured by promissory note Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Property Requirements: Must be considered modest for the area. Must not have an in-ground pool. Must not have a value in excess of the area loan limit. 7

8 Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Standards: Repaired properties need not meet RHS code requirements, but water and waste systems and related fixtures must meet local health department requirements. Water supply and sewage disposal systems should meet RHS requirements. Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Standards: Major health and safety hazards must be corrected. All work performed must meet local codes and standards. 8

9 Section 504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans and Grants Security Requirements: Loans of $7,500 or more require a mortgage. Program Funding USDA Rural Development. Program (millions of dollars) 504 VLI Repair Loans FY11 Final Approp. FY12 Final Approp. FY13 Final Approp. FY14 Admin. Budget FY14 House Bill $23.4 $10 $ 28 $26.3 $ VLI Repair Grants $34 $29.5 $29.5 $25 $18.6 9

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11 RD Funding Cycles Fiscal year starts October first of each year and ends September 30th of the next year. Funding allocated by formula and distributed to each State on a quarterly basis. Many States hold funds in the State Office and the Area Offices must request funds. Maintain a close relationship with your Area Office to determine when funds are available and the kind of funds that are available. Pooling of Funds Unobligated funds are pooled and redistributed by National Office. Usually occurs in mid July/August. Applications may be selected for processing based on date completed and on processing priority, in the event there is a waiting list at the local office. 11

12 Program Regulations and Guidance Regulations for all USDA/RD single family housing programs, including Section 502 direct loans, are compiled in 7 CFR Part Two handbooks provide details and instructions about the various aspects of the 502 program. HB covers tasks undertaken by RD field offices. HB explains the work of the agency s centralized servicing center. Finding A Local Office USDA s Office Locator Web Site: Check in the white pages in your local phone book under USDA/Rural Development Call Rural Development s Public Information line to be connected to the State Office servicing your area

13 Click on By City Enter the city name and select the State where the home to be repaired is located. 13

14 Locate the Rural Development office Application Forms USDA E-Forms Website Form RD 410-4, Uniform Residential Loan Application efileservices/eforms/rd410-4.pdf Form RD , Authorization to Release Information efileservices/eforms/rd pdf 14

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16 Rural Development Service Area & Eligibility Information Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loan and Grant program serves eligible rural areas. Service area, income and property eligibility can be determined by contacting the local RD Service Center or online at 16

17 For additional information from USDA To locate the Rural Development State Office for your state: or by telephone at USDA Rural Development Website: Early County Community Development Corporation (ECCDC) P. O. Box S Main Street Blakely, GA Phone Fax earlycocdc06@windstream.net Nancy Wright, Executive Director 17

18 ECCDC Organizational Background The Organization Community Overview Mission Programs/Services ECCDC is located in Early County. Early County is one of the poorest counties in the State of Georgia. Total Population of 11,008 of which a total of 2,193 (19.9%) are Seniors over 62 years old or older. Of the 2,899 owner-occupied housing units in Early County, 984 of the homeowners are 65 years or older, and of the 1,329 renteroccupied housing units 232 residents are 65 years or older. 28.9% of individuals in Early County are below the Poverty Level* 13% of Georgia is below the Poverty Level 12.4% of the US is below the Poverty Level *Low-income families are unable to acquire and/or maintain safe, decent, affordable housing. 18

19 ECCDC s Mission Provide community based, economic development to empower very low-income people to earn more money, own homes, acquire better health care, better jobs, and improved education. SELF-SUFFICIENCY Housing Counseling Program ECCDC s HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency provides counseling services that enable clients to make informed and reasonable decisions to achieve their goals by meeting their housing needs or resolving their housing problems by using all available resources. 19

20 Early County Community Development Corporation Services Provided Pre/Post Purchase Counseling Homebuyer Education Training/Certification Fair Housing Predatory Lending Foreclosure Intervention Counseling Financial Literacy Training, budgeting, and debt management Credit Counseling Mortgage Default/Loss Mitigation Home Improvement Rental Counseling Services for the Homeless Senior Housing Program Objective: Expand and maintain programs where clients can seek advice, training, counseling, and referrals for resources to help them purchase, rent or remain in their current homes. 20

21 Barriers to Seniors Aging in Place Caregivers Lack of Services Loneliness Housing Acquiring and maintaining safe, decent, and affordable housing Knowledge about housing assistance programs Home Repairs/Renovations Design and Construction Acquiring and maintaining safe, decent affordable housing To address these barriers ECCDC offers: Financial Literacy Classes Pre-purchase one-on-one counseling Homebuyers workshops Rental Assistance Homeowner Services Maintenance and Repairs Mortgage Default Counseling Predatory Lending How to Identify and Prevent Homeowner s Scam 21

22 Financial Literacy Class ECCDC s staff travel to rural Georgia cities educating senior citizens about senior scams and ways they can manage and make better use of the income they have. USDA Section 504 Loan/Grant Program The objective of the Section 504 loan/grant program is to help very low-income owner occupants of modest single family homes in rural areas repair those homes. Loan funds are available for repairs to improve or modernize a home, make it safer or more sanitary, or remove health and safety hazards. For homeowners 62 and over who cannot repay a loan, grant funds are available to remove health or safety hazards, or remodel dwellings to make them accessible to household members with disabilities. 22

23 Provide knowledge about housing assistance programs. 1. Advertise in the local newspaper, churches, other non-profits, etc. concerning available resources. 2. Provide assistance with the USDA 504 Loan/Grant Application Completion of application Gather required information Determine eligibility & need Submission of application Help to resolve follow-up issues with USDA 3. Referrals to other agencies Sometimes when I am entering my bathroom I am afraid I will fall thru the floor. Handicap Accessibility Front Porch Hallway Bathroom: The floor is very weak. 23

24 Handicap Accessibility Windows and Wiring 24

25 Housing Needs Handicap Accessibility Septic System Wiring Bathroom I need repairs done to my home but I am not financially able to make them myself. Bathroom Repairs Windows 25

26 Windows and Bathroom Many elderly homeowners in Early County, GA have very low incomes or no income and they cannot afford to make needed repairs to their homes. I am in a wheelchair with 3 different types of arthritis and if my bathroom is handicap accessible it will allow me to enter with ease and it will be more comfortable. Handicap Accessibility The wiring has not had any work done on it during the past 17 years. The back door is not in good shape and it causes it to stay cold in the house during the winter. 26

27 We have arthritis and the toilet is so low that we have to grab the door sometimes to keep from falling on the floor. Bathroom Repairs: They have not had any repairs or remodeling since

28 I wish to have heating and cooling. Heating and Cooling Bathroom Repairs Kitchen Floor 28

29 My tub never stops leaking water from the faucet. Roofing Heating and Cooling 29

30 Roof Repair Home Repairs and Renovation Assist with the construction/renovation process Bid review Contractor Selection Monitor the renovation process Assist in the grant/loan closing process 30

31 I thank God that I was able to get my heating & cooling and my bathroom repaired! Renovated Bathroom 31

32 Design & Construction Homeowner will most likely need to modify their house as they mature to increase access, maneuverability and safety. The modifications range from the installation of bath and shower grab bars, to adjusting countertop heights, increasing doors and hallway size for accessibility.. Other common modifications include installing ramps and grab bars. Program Overview ECCDC has assisted in completing more than 75 USDA 504 loan/grant applications for seniors in Early and surrounding counties. More than 20 homes have been repaired and USDA has a waiting list with more than 30 applicants. Type of Repairs Completed Heating & Coolings Systems Roof Replacement/Repair Wiring Bathroom Repairs 32

33 Aging in Place: Home Repair for Aging Seniors Maine Keeping Seniors Home A Statewide Program for Low Income Seniors Presenter: Janice E. Daku, CCAP, NCRT The Need in Maine People 65+ in Maine will more than double by Every day an elder remains at home, tax dollars are saved ($140/day per person). One of every 5 elders 70+ are nursing home eligible. 80% of Maine elders own their home 56% rural areas. One-third have incomes below 50% of median. Energy assistance and home repairs are the two greatest needs for low-income elder homeowners. 8.5% of Maine elders live in poverty. Source: MaineHousing and Maine Office of Elder Services Data 33

34 Maine Keeping Seniors Home (KSH) WMCA contracts with 10 community action agencies Program focus: low-income elder-owned homes All 10 CAAs connected through regular KSH training Maine CAAs report performance data quarterly Goal: Maintain low-income elder independence Original Core Services Home safety assessments Home repairs/accessibility modifications Home rehabilitation plans Leveraged home investments Connections to additional resources based on need 34

35 Additional Services After 2008 Comprehensive energy audits Energy conservation recommendations Work with homeowner to implement energy conservation measures Falls Risk Safety Assessments/Education A Few KSH Outcomes Since ,286 low-income elder homeowners served 1,325 home modifications made for accessibility 903 energy conservation measures installed Over $11.3 million in leveraged home investments statewide More than 617 community partnerships created at the local level with elder service providers. 35

36 A Project in Remote, Rural Maine 36

37 Past and Present Funding USDA Rural Community Development Initiative Enterprise Community Partners John T. Gorman Foundation The Betterment Fund NCRC National Neighbors Silver United Way of the Tri Valley Area Franklin County Commissioners Maine State AARP Maine State CSBG Discretionary Past and Present Funding Efficiency Maine Trust Sandy River Charitable Trust DHHS Weatherization DOE Weatherization USDA Housing Preservation Grants USDA Section 504 Grants Elderly Hardship Grants (MaineHousing) Home Repair Grants Department of Economic & Community Development 37

38 Multi-Family Housing: Seniors Solar Panel Domestic Hot Water 38

39 Before and After Homeowner Sweat Equity. 39

40 Home Replacement Janice E. Daku: or WMCA, P O Box 200, East Wilton, ME

41 Housing Assistance Council Webinar Aging In Place: Home Repair for Rural Seniors Thank You for attending this webinar! Questions? Presenters Janice Daku, Western Maine Community Action: Maine Keeping Seniors Home A Statewide Program for Low Income Seniors Michael Feinberg, Housing Assistance Council: USDA Rural Development s Section 504 Housing Repair Loans and Grants Nancy Wright, Early County Community Development Corporation (ECCDC): Early County USDA RD Section 504 Counseling Program 41