USDA Makes Grants Available to Help Rural Kansans Repair Their Homes Damaged by Snowstorms, Wildfires

US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Kansas State Director Christy Davis has announced the availability of grants to help people repair their homes that were damaged by snowstorms or wildfires in 2022.

The homes must be located in presidentially declared disaster areas. People living in 22 counties in Kansas are eligible for the funding.

"When an unexpected crisis impacts our lives, it reminds us of our connection to our communities and to the places we call home," Davis said. "That's why the USDA stands ready to help people across rural Kansas access the resources they need to rebuild their homes, their communities and their lives."

The grants are being made available through supplemental disaster funding under the Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant Program. Through this program, people may apply to receive grants of up to $40,675 directly from USDA to repair their homes.

Funds will be available until expended. They may be used to pay for home repair expenses that were the result of declared disasters in calendar year 2022, prepare a site for a manufactured home or relocate a manufactured home.

To be eligible, applicants must have household incomes that do not exceed the low-limits based on their household size and county, homes must be located in an eligible rural area and homes must be located in a declared disaster area.

Residents in the following counties may be eligible for funding: Barton, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Ellis, Ford, Graham, Gray, Harvey, Hodgeman, Kiowa, Lane, Meade, Ness, Pawnee, Phillips, Reno, Rooks, Rush, Stafford, Trego and Wallace.

For more information on how to apply, contact KSDirect@ks.usda.gov.

In the coming weeks and months, USDA expects to announce additional funding availability to help rural people in presidentially declared disaster areas who were impacted by natural disasters in 2022.

This additional funding will assist eligible organizations help rural people repair and improve their homes. It will also help rural communities repair water infrastructure and essential community facilities.

Additional resources to support rural communities seeking disaster assistance are available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/rural-development-disaster-assistance.

(Information courtesy USDA.)