Urgent Advocacy Alert: Sign letter to Congress about funding home repairs

We need your help! URGENT: Sign on to our advocacy letter today. 

Good news: the White House's FY2023 budget proposal includes more funds for USDA Section 504 Home Repair Grants & Loans and for USDA Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants!

Bad news: the House of Representatives' Agriculture Appropriations Bill that was released on June 14 includes lower levels of funding - no increase. 

USDA Section 504 provides loans to very-low-income rural homeowners to repair their homes and grants for elderly very-low-income rural homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. USDA Section 533 provides grants to sponsoring organizations (such as Coalition members) for the repair or rehabilitation of housing owned or occupied by low- and very-low-income rural citizens. 

The White House’s FY2023 budget proposal for USDA Section 504 Single Family Housing Repair Loans is $50 million; we support this request. This is a $22 million increase from FY2022. The loans can be for up to $20,000 and are payable in 20 years at a 1% interest rate; they make it possible for very-low-income homeowners to be able to afford urgent home repairs. Increasing the amount of loan funds available will ensure thousands of additional people can make necessary home modifications.

The Biden Administration’s FY2023 budget proposal for USDA Section 504 Single Family Housing Repair Grants is $45 million; we support this request. This is a $13 million increase from FY2022. By increasing the funds available for grants, health and safety hazards could be removed from thousands more homes owned by very-low-income older adults.

Nonprofits can assist homeowners with applying for USDA 504 Loans and Grants and can serve as the contractor completing the repairs, which helps to stretch the funds further. Learn more about the program via this Shelterforce article that mentions the Coalition and quotes the Housing Development Alliance, one of our members. 

The Coalition also supports the $30 million request for USDA Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants included in the White House’s budget proposal for FY2023. This is a $14 million increase from FY2022. These additional resources are crucial so that organizations including our Coalition members can repair more homes for low- and very-low-income rural citizens. 

Will you join with us and voice your organization's support too? Congress need to know that these programs provide critical resources for people in need of home repairs and that more funds are urgently needed. Having a safe, healthy home has never been more important.

URGENT! Please sign on to our advocacy letter today. 

We worked closely with Habitat for Humanity International, Housing Assistance Council, and Fahe to write this letter. Last year, we had 66 national and local organizations sign. We hope to have 75+ this year! You can view the current signers here. 

Thanks in advance for your participation in our advocacy campaign. Together, we can make a difference! Please contact Becca@CoalitionforHomeRepair.org if you have any questions.