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Nebraska Ag News Headlines
May is Older Americans Month
Nebraska Ag Connection - 05/24/2016

May has been declared "Older Americans Month" to recognize and show appreciation to our Nation's older citizens. Older Americans have provided a lifetime of contributions to their communities.

Older adults are a growing and vital part of our country. The baby boom generation is now between the ages of 52 and 70. As they grow older, they may need services to allow them to retire, live with dignity and respect and enjoy new opportunities.

To ensure decent, safe and affordable housing remains available, USDA Rural Development can provide assistance through home repair loans and grants to remove health and safety hazards or make a home accessible for household members. Funds can be used to repair or replace furnaces, appliances, electrical, foundations, siding, roofing, windows, plumbing, wells, septic systems, and other health and safety hazards. Loans are available up to $20,000 at a one percent fixed interest rate for up to 20 years. Seniors age 62 and older, who cannot qualify for a loan, may be eligible for a grant of up to $7,500, or a loan and grant combination to make needed repairs and improvements.

Program eligibility is based on household income that cannot exceed 50% of the area median income and the property must be located in rural communities. All communities in Nebraska are eligible for housing programs with the exceptions of Fremont, Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, Lincoln, North Platte, Omaha and South Sioux City/Dakota City. See http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do for eligible areas to determine if you are within the established income limit based on the size of household and county and if the property is located within an eligible area.

For example, Harriett, an 87 year old single female in Scottsbluff, was living on a limited, fixed income. Her home is an 808 sq. ft. house built in 1935 and has been in the family for many years. Harriet had been having trouble with her sewer line for quite some time. The problem was discovered to be between her house and the city main, so she was told that it was her responsibility to complete the repairs. Since she did not have the funds for these repairs, she did the best that she could. For months, she was very careful not to put any paper in her toilet, and frequently took her showers at the homes of friends and neighbors.

A friend heard about USDA Rural Development's 504 Repair program, and brought her in to the local office to apply. USDA Rural Development was able to provide grant funds to install a new sewer line from the house to the city connection in the alley. The workers dug an entry opening near her house and an exit in the alley, and then pulled the line through her old existing clay pipe--bursting it and replacing it with a seamless new pipe all at the same time. This was all accomplished without digging up the entire yard and destroying her rose bushes.

Harriet is very grateful that she heard about the USDA Rural Development program, and that USDA was able to provide the assistance that she needed.

Visit www.rd.usda.gov/ne and click on the link for "Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants" under Key Feature Programs for more information and a list of contact information.


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