To make loans to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing for domestic farm labor in areas where needed, and provide grants where a pressing need exists for such facilities in an area for farm laborers, and there is reasonable doubt that housing can be provided without the grant assistance.

Farm-owners, family farm partnerships, family farm corporations, or an association of farmers whose farming operations demonstrate a need for farm labor housing, or an organization which will own the housing and operate it on a nonprofit basis.

To be eligible for a loan the applicant must meet the following:

• Must be unable to provide needed housing from their own resources and unable to obtain credit elsewhere.

• Have sufficient initial operating capital to pay costs such as property and liability insurance premiums, fidelity bond coverage, utility hookup deposits, maintenance equipment, printing other lease forms, and other initial expenses. Can include up to 2% of the development costs for the initial operating capital for nonprofit organizations and State or local public agencies.

• Own the housing and related land or become the owner when the loan is closed.

In addition to the above, to be eligible for a labor housing grant the applicant must meet the following:

• Must be a broad based nonprofit or nonprofit organization of farmworkers only.

Loan will be amortized for 33 years at 1 percent interest rate.

Applications are processed in Vermont at the Montpelier Area office, and in New Hampshire at our Concord office. Allocations for loans and grants are maintained by the National Office. Must get authorization from National Office before proceeding with final requests.

• Build, buy, improve or repair housing.

• Purchase and improve the necessary land on which the housing will be located.

• Develop and install water supply, sewage disposal, streets, storm water retention facilities, and heat and light systems necessary.

• Construct other related facilities in connection with the housing such as maintenance workshop, storage facilities, recreation center, central cooking and dining, laundry, etc.

• Purchase and install ranges, refrigerators, drapes, washers and dryers.

• Provide landscaping, foundation planting, seeding or sodding of lawns, and necessary facilities related to building such as walks, yards, fences, parking areas and driveways.

• Provide funds to enable a nonprofit group or public body to be reimbursed for technical assistance.

A grant may be made to an eligible applicant when the following requirements are met:

• The applicant will contribute at least 10% of the total development costs from their own resources.

• The Davis-Bacon Act applies to construction if a grant is involved.

Grant funds are made available only through a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).