USDA announces $29 million for farmworker housing
October 31, 2014 | 03:53 PM
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA will make $29 million in loans and grants to provide housing for farmworkers and their families.
“Housing is often the first step on the road to more economic prosperity for farmworker families,” Vilsack said. “These loans and grants will significantly improve the lives of farmworkers, who are vital to America's agriculture sector. This program is one of many tools that USDA has to strengthen the rural economy, which will help bring a brighter future for children from farmworker families.”
USDA is providing assistance through the Farm Labor Housing Loan and Grant program. Financing is available to qualified organizations to develop housing for domestic farm laborers. USDA also provides rental assistance to help very-low-income families afford the monthly rent.
Through today’s announcement, USDA is awarding $20.7 million in loans and $8.3 million in grants for 10 projects in six states. When completed, the properties will provide 320 farmworker families with new homes. Rental assistance will be offered for 315 of the new housing units.
“I have witnessed firsthand the way these loans and grants help farmworkers and their communities,” said Tony Hernandez, administrator of USDA’s Rural Housing Service, which runs the farm labor housing program
Earlier this month, Hernandez toured the Sugarloaf Apartments farm labor housing complex in Hendersonville, N.C., USDA said, noting that since the complex opened in 1995, it is usually fully occupied. Sugarloaf has two day care facilities onsite, one of which is year-round, making it a convenient place for residents to work and raise their families.
Below is a complete list of loan and grant recipients announced today. Funding is contingent upon the recipients meeting the terms of their agreements.
California
Colorado
Florida
Mississippi
Oregon
Washington
“Housing is often the first step on the road to more economic prosperity for farmworker families,” Vilsack said. “These loans and grants will significantly improve the lives of farmworkers, who are vital to America's agriculture sector. This program is one of many tools that USDA has to strengthen the rural economy, which will help bring a brighter future for children from farmworker families.”
USDA is providing assistance through the Farm Labor Housing Loan and Grant program. Financing is available to qualified organizations to develop housing for domestic farm laborers. USDA also provides rental assistance to help very-low-income families afford the monthly rent.
Through today’s announcement, USDA is awarding $20.7 million in loans and $8.3 million in grants for 10 projects in six states. When completed, the properties will provide 320 farmworker families with new homes. Rental assistance will be offered for 315 of the new housing units.
“I have witnessed firsthand the way these loans and grants help farmworkers and their communities,” said Tony Hernandez, administrator of USDA’s Rural Housing Service, which runs the farm labor housing program
Earlier this month, Hernandez toured the Sugarloaf Apartments farm labor housing complex in Hendersonville, N.C., USDA said, noting that since the complex opened in 1995, it is usually fully occupied. Sugarloaf has two day care facilities onsite, one of which is year-round, making it a convenient place for residents to work and raise their families.
Below is a complete list of loan and grant recipients announced today. Funding is contingent upon the recipients meeting the terms of their agreements.
California
- Coachella Valley Villa Hermosa Phase II – $3 million loan to add 68 units.
- Peoples Self Help – $3 million loan, 33 units.
- 9355 Avenida Maria – $3 million loan, 60 units.
- 1006 Golden Valley – $3 million loan, 41 units.
Colorado
- San Luis Valley – $1.5 million loan and $1.5 million grant, 30 units.
- Straton Area Foundation – $750,000 loan and $1.6 million grant, 12 units.
Florida
- Homestead Housing Authority – $2 million loan and $1 million grant, 20 units.
Mississippi
- BDT Housing – $1.5 million loan and $1.1 million grant, 20 units.
Oregon
- Farmworker Housing Development Corporation – $1 million loan and $2 million grant, 20 units.
Washington
- Grant County Housing Authority – $2 million loan and $1 million grant, 16 units.
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