WASHINGTON, D.C.
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| NEWS RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C. |
Wayne Maloney (202) 690-0498
WASHINGTON, September 2, 2005--Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr said today the agency is moving quickly and decisively to assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina. An assessment of Rural Development housing has identified nearly 800 vacant housing units near the hurricane-affected area.
"Our state offices are identifying vacant housing units for the newly homeless and we're working to get generators to the affected area. As far away as South Dakota our agency is finding shelter for hundreds of people who are without homes," said Dorr. "We are offering assistance to our borrowers by encouraging Rural Development homeowners in the affected area to get a six month moratorium on their mortgage payments simply by asking for one."
Rural Development has also designated a toll free number to provide assistance to homeowners, renters and others in need of housing assistance. That number is 1-800-414-1226. Information is also available on the USDA web site: http://www.usda.gov.
Renters, individuals or families made homeless by the disaster may apply for occupancy at any other apartment complex as a "displaced tenant." Applicants will be placed on a special list to be offered any vacant unit, or the next one available if no vacancies currently exist.
For residents receiving rental assistance (RA) in units made uninhabitable by Hurricane Katrina, Rural Development will allow the transfer of the RA to another eligible apartment complex. The transfer must be agreed to by all parties and be designed for the return of the residents -- if they so choose -- and the RA to the original complex and unit after the property has been restored.
Assistance is also being offered to those communities in the affected areas that have Community Facilities loans and when requested, the Business and Industry Program will place a moratorium on Intermediary Relending Program payments. In addition, an estimated 50 Rural Development "circuit riders," who maintain and repair small sewer and water systems across the country, are being dispatched to the disaster area to provide technical assistance to operators of sewer and water systems.
USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in rural communities. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development has invested over $54 billion since the beginning of the Bush Administration to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Over one million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
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