U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn Representative for Iowa's 3rd District | Facebook Website
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn Representative for Iowa's 3rd District | Facebook Website
U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) has introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at helping very-low-income families in rural areas repair and modernize their homes. The Rural Housing Assistance Act, co-led by U.S. Representative Don Davis (NC-01), seeks to update the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Section 504 Home Repair program to assist more families in maintaining their homes.
“As prices continue to skyrocket, repairing a home is extraordinarily expensive,” said Rep. Nunn. “Homes in rural communities are often older and need repair to keep them inhabitable. Unfortunately, in rural Iowa, more than 10% of the population lives in poverty – and can’t always afford to make necessary repairs or updates to a home. By doubling the loan assistance from USDA, we can give greater assistance to those who need it most.”
The USDA Section 504 Home Repair program offers loans to very-low-income homeowners for repairs, improvements, or modernization of their homes and grants for elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.
“Making much-needed repairs and improvements to aging homes in rural communities can be too costly, especially for low-income homeowners and older adults on a fixed income,” said Rep. Davis. “By increasing the grant and loan amounts for the Sec. 504 Home Repair program, Congress can enhance the quality of life, remove health and safety hazards, and work to maintain the housing inventory in eastern North Carolina and rural America.”
In recent years, costs for building materials and labor have risen significantly. Currently, under existing law, the maximum grant amount provided by the USDA Section 504 Home Repair program is $10,000 while the maximum loan amount is $40,000. Due to inflationary pressures, these amounts often fall short of covering necessary repair costs.
The bipartisan Rural Housing Assistance Act aims to modernize this program by adjusting these financial limits.
The legislation has garnered support from organizations such as the Housing Assistance Council, a nonprofit that promotes affordable housing efforts across rural America.
Text of the bill can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up