Exploring USDA Funding Opportunities
Is USDA funding right for your home repair program?
In this panel, you'll hear from Coalition members who use U.S. Department of Agriculture funding, including Home Preservation Grants (HPG), 502 Loans, and 504 Loans, to repair homes for low-income households in rural America. Panelists will share about grant writing and fund management. The HPG grant cycle is expected to open in May or June of 2023, so this webinar is a timely opportunity to explore funds before a grant application opens.
Meet the Panelists
Sarah Hooks has worked for Blount County Habitat for Humanity for almost ten years. Currently, she serves as the Programs Lending and Operations Manager and Interim Director of Programs. In her roles within the Programs Department, she acts as the program and policy coach for all Program Department staff, working on issues related to participant recruitment, application and selection processing, education programs, program policy/procedure maintenance, vendor recruitment, and contract procurement.
Sarah is the primary loan underwriter/originator and 3rd party loan/grant packager for both Homeownership and Home Repair programs, becoming a certified packager for USDA Rural Development 502 Direct Single Family Housing Loan Program and Section 504 Home Repair Loan/Grant Program in 2015.
Julie Keel has made Grundy County, TN, her home for the past 16 years serving in various capacities with Mountain T.O.P. During her tenure; she has brought Mountain T.O.P. into connection with other social service agencies, collaborating on various housing-related projects. She is a certified USDA 502 loan packager and administers the Housing Preservation Grant for Mountain T.O.P. Her passion for the intersection of housing affordability. Community development is fueled by the inspiring people and places of this little pocket of Appalachia, with more than 20 years of program administration in nonprofits. Julie holds a certification in Nonprofit Leadership from the Center for Nonprofit Management and graduates this May with her Doctorate of Ministry in Organizational Leadership.
The webinar recording can be found here.
