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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

10.420:  Rural Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance

Popular Name:  Section 523 Technical Assistance

Objectives:  To provide financial support for programs of technical and supervisory assistance that will aid needy very low and low-income individuals and their families in carrying out mutual self-help housing efforts in rural areas.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

10.420 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Must be a State or political subdivision, public nonprofit corporation or a private nonprofit corporation. Assistance is authorized for eligible applicants in the United States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana's.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Very low and low-income rural family, usually in groups of 6 to 10 families.

Credentials/Documentation:  Applicants must furnish evidence of the need for such services, have legal capacity to incur the obligation and operate the proposed project, and be unable to obtain the necessary funds from other sources. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

10.420 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by Departmental Regulations 3015 and 3016 must be used for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102.

Application Procedure:  Form SF-424 is submitted to the District office of the Rural Development (RD) , including information attached to Part IV, fully documenting the applicant's experience, need for the grant and the proposed amount needed. Attachments relating to the size of the proposed project, estimated cost, budget and need are also required. This program is subject to provisions of Departmental Regulation 3015 and 3016.

Award Procedure:  Award is made by the State Director.

Deadlines:  None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 60 to 190 days from the time discussion begins.

Appeals:  Agency regulations providing customers with the rights for an informal review, mediation or alternative dispute resolution (ADR), or appeal to the National Appeals Division (NAD) are contained in 7 CFR Part 3550. NAD regulations are found at 7 CFR Part 11. Requests for an informal review, mediation and ADR must be received within 30 days from the date of the adverse decision. Requests for an appeal to NAD must be received within 30 days of receipt of the adverse decision.

Renewals:  Applicants may reapply at any time, if need to help low-income families build homes in rural areas by the mutual self-help method is clearly evidenced.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  The criteria for selecting proposals are the evidence of a clearly defined need in an area for mutual self-help housing and the families in the area cannot afford or obtain a modest house by customary methods, and the applicant possesses the expertise to provide the technical assistance (TA) required.

Examples of Funded Projects:  An example of a funded project is Self-Help Enterprises, Visalia, California and the City of Casa Grande, Casa Grande, and Arizona.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Fiscal year 1999 average of $537,930.

10.420 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 10.410 Very Low to Moderate Income Housing Loans;
• 10.411 Rural Housing Site Loans.

10.420 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

There were 102 grants made in fiscal year 1999.

10.420 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  RURAL HOUSING SERVICE (RHS) (DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE )

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants and Contracts) FY 99 $26,168,000; FY 00 est $29,215,000; and FY 01 est $40,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  12-2006-0-1-604.

Authorization:  Housing Act of 1949, as amended, Section 523, Public Laws 89-117 and 89-754, 42 U.S.C. 1490c.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  7 CFR Subpart I of Part 1944; Chapter XVIII; RD Instruction 1944-I, "Self-Help Technical Assistance Grants"; (PA 1254) (no charge).

10.420 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Consult your local phone directory for Rural Development District Office number. If no listing, contact the appropriate Rural Development State office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or on the internet at www.rurdev.usda/recd_map.html.

Headquarters Office:  Director, Single-Family Housing Processing Division, Rural Housing Service (RHS), Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Phone: (202) 720-1474. Use the same number for FTS. (Home Page)

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

10.420 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Grants are typically for a 2-year period, however, other time periods may be authorized if appropriate. Applications for assistance far exceed available funding. There is generally a waiting list for funding.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Not-for-profit organizations may use technical assistance funds to hire the personnel to carry out a program of technical assistance for self-help housing in rural areas; to pay necessary and reasonable office and administrative expenses; to purchase or rent equipment such as power tools for use by families participating in self-help housing construction; and to pay fees for training self-help group members in construction techniques or for other professional services needed. Funds will not be used to hire personnel to perform any construction work, to buy real estate or building materials, or pay any debts, expenses or costs other than previously outlined for participating families in self-help projects.

10.420 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Quarterly progress reports are to be made to the RHS\RD District Office.

Audits:  Annual audits should be made as part of the recipient's systems of financial management and internal control to meet terms and conditions of grants and other agreements.

Records:  Adequate operating records must be maintained by Grantee.