“Work Up a Sweat” While
Building Your Own Home…
…
The Mutual Self-Help Housing Loan Program helps low-income
households construct their own homes. Families perform
approximately 65% of the construction labor on each
other’s homes with professional supervision.
This “sweat equity” reduces labor costs
and the price of the home. Mortgage payments are 22
to 26 percent of the applicant’s income. For
further information see www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/sfh/brief_selfhelpsite.htm.
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Only 25% of Government Grants
Have Income Requirements…
…
Only about one out of four federal benefit dollars
flows through programs that use any measure of financial
need as a criterion for eligibility.
“Running On Empty”, Peter
G. Peterson
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$50,000 Grant To Help People
Who Need Jobs…
…
..The Able Trust give grants to non-profits and individuals
who help people with disabilities get jobs including,
including on-the-job coaching, supported employment,
job skills-training, job development, employer outreach,
ADA facility compliance, skills evaluation and programs
leading to employment. To find out more about this
program go to: http://www.abletrust.org/links/agency_listings.shtml.
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Home Repair Grants and Homes
At Below Market Cost…
…
The Arlington Housing Corporation located in suburban
Washington, D.C., buys homes in poor condition and
renovates them to sell to qualified first time homebuyers
at below-market cost. Grants and low interest loans
up to $70,000 are available for home remodeling as
well as assistance with down-payment money. See http://www.ahcinc.org/client/client.html.
You can see if your county has similar programs by
contacts your local county administrator or locating
them on the web at www.govengine.com.
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$7,500 Grant For Seniors
to Fix Up Their Home…
…
The Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Grants
Program provides loans and grants to very low-income
homeowners to repair or improve their homes or to remove
health or safety hazards. Applicants must be 62 years
of age or older and must have incomes below 50% of
the area median. That can be up to $27,000 for seniors
in Maryland, which includes most seniors I know. For
more information or to apply contact the USDA Rural
Development office at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/sfh/brief_repairgrant.htm.
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You Don’t Have To
Lose Your Home…
…
If you have lost your job or are unable to work because
of injury or illness, you can save your home from foreclosure
if you know the steps to take. The Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) offers information and
web links to organizations that will help you keep
from losing your home. Go to www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/econ/econ.cfm.
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Home Loans for Native Americans…
…
The Indian Home Guarantee Program is funded annually
by Congress and provides homeownership opportunities
for Native Americans throughout Indian country in the
United States. Contact the Office of Native American
Programs at 1-800-561-5913 or go to www.hud.gov/offices/pih/ih/homeownership/184/about.cfm.
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Seniors Get The Money
In “Reverse Mortgages”…
…
A new type of housing assistance is gaining popularity
across the United States -- reverse mortgages. These
are a special type of home loan that allows a homeowner
to convert a portion of the equity in his or her
home into cash. Many seniors use reverse mortgages
to supplement social security, make home improvements,
or meet unexpected medical expenses. To receive more
information contact the AARP at 1-800-209-8085. Or
go to http://www.aarp.org/revmort-basics/Articles/a2003-03-21-revmortfactsheet.html.
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Ask Lesko…
Each week, I answer a reader’s question about
government grants. If yours is selected, you will receive
a free copy of my book, “Gobs and Gobs of Free
Stuff”. Send your questions to Dixiestjohn@earthlink.net.
This week’s question was submitted by Theresa:
“Like
other people I have seen ads that seem unlikely...When
you follow up on the leads the company/agency
acts as though they HAVE NO IDEA as to what you are
referring
to. Is this a part of the ‘red tape’ process
or are the representatives truly unaware?”
Answer: I think the answer is both.
The reasons that people at a government agency may
not be aware of a
specific
program are:
-
The material you are using as
a source may be out of date. Even our books are quickly
out of
date. Any
directory, like the yellow pages, goes out
of date as soon as it is published. I estimate that
every year about 10-15% of government programs
either move
or go out of existence. This is why we try
to
update
our material every 6 to 12 months.
-
It is
impossible for people in government offices
to know about every program available
in their
agency. Government offices have thousands
of employees and
talking to one person in an agency
is certainly no guarantee that they know what all
the
other employees
are doing. I live in a house with my
two teenage boys and I couldn’t even tell you
what they are doing most of the time, and there
are only four of us living
there. You may even be talking to a
temp employee who is just there for the day. What
you should
do is ask
for a description of all their money
programs and then call them back with their paper
in
hand and tell them
what they have.
Thank you for your question.
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Your State Housing Authority
Can Help…
…
Every state has offices that will help you buy or
fix up real estate. Go to http://www.govengine.com/ and look for your state housing office for information
about all their programs.
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Own Your Dream House…
…I’ll show you
4,000 money sources for buying a house, fixing up
a house or becoming a real estate investor. Get Free
Money For Real Estate at a special price plus free
shipping and handling by going to www.freemoneyforrealestate.com/respecialhome7.
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