As state and federal offices continue outreach for disaster relief, the USDA Rural Development is offering “disaster assistance in communities affected by crises and disasters.”
They support homeowners, businesses and communities to aid in recovery and rebuilding processes.
Recently, 11 Ohio counties were designated as Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas (PDDA) as the result of tornadoes on March 14. Those counties include Auglaize, Crawford, Darke, Delaware, Hancock, Licking, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Richland and Union.
The response came after Gov. Mike DeWine sent a letter to President Joe Biden on March 29, requesting a federal disaster declaration. Union County had damage after the March storm from a confirmed EF-2 tornado that hit the northern part of the county, including Broadway.
“Ohio EMA and my administration have worked tirelessly to advocate on behalf of the victims of the recent tornadoes in and around Indian Lake,” said DeWine said in a press release. “ I thank FEMA and the President for hearing our calls to provide needed federal relief to affected Ohioans as soon as possible.”
This FEMA assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, rental assistance, and replacement of personal property to help homeowners and renters recover from the effects of the disaster. The Presidential Disaster Declaration also allows the Small Business Administration to offer low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses for homeowners, renters, and business owners impacted by the disaster.
“This federal assistance will supplement the local and state recovery efforts, which are ongoing,” said Ohio Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Sima Merick. “It will provide assistance directly to homeowners, renters, and businesses affected by these storms.”
DeWine also designated Merick as the State Coordinating Officer for this presidential disaster declaration.
At this time the USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants in Presidentially Declared Disasters Pilot program is available to eligible very low-income Ohio homeowners, providing loans and grants to repair disaster related damage caused to homes.
To determine eligibility based on income go to: https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/RD-DirectLimitMap.pdf, and then click on “OH.”
This pilot program ends July 18, 2025.
The funding available includes:
Maximum loan is $40,000 (available to all eligible very low-income homeowners).
Maximum grant is $15,000 (only available to very low-income homeowners aged 62 and older).
Loans and grants can be combined for up to $55,000 in assistance.
To qualify applicants must:
Have disaster related damage to your home cause by a Presidentially Declared Disaster.
Be the homeowner and be able to occupy the house within 12 months.
Have a household income that does not exceed the very low limit by county.
For more information, please contact Christie Hooks, USDA Rural Development in Ohio Housing Programs Director, at 614-255-2401 or christie.hooks@usda.gov.
Find the Ohio office nearest you at www.rd.usda.gov/oh/ohio-contacts.
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