Rural Housing Preservation Grant

The Housing Preservation Grant program is administered by the Rural Housing Service, an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development mission area. The program is authorized under Section 533 of the Housing Act of 1949 and implemented through federal regulations. It is designed to support housing rehabilitation and preservation activities in rural areas across the United States. The agency provides funding to qualified intermediary entities that then deliver assistance to eligible homeowners or property owners. The fiscal year funding cycle described in this notice makes approximately 8.3 million dollars available for distribution, including allocations for disaster recovery efforts tied to prior events. The primary purpose of the program is to assist very low income and low income households in rural communities by improving the safety and livability of their housing. Funds may be used by grantees to provide grants or low interest loans to homeowners for repair and rehabilitation activities. In addition to single family homes, eligible uses include assistance to owners of rental properties and cooperative housing, provided those units are made available to qualifying tenants. Rental property owners must commit to maintaining affordability for at least five years for units improved with program funds. The program also places limits on how much of a project cost can be covered, such as a cap of seventy five percent for rental or cooperative property rehabilitation costs. Eligible applicants include public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized tribal entities. These applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity, legal standing, and compliance with federal regulations. They must not have unresolved federal debt issues or be debarred from federal programs. Applicants may not hold more than one active grant at a time unless prior grants are substantially complete and compliant. The program is targeted to rural areas with significant concentrations of substandard housing and is intended to prioritize communities with the greatest need. The application process requires submission of a preapplication either electronically through grants.gov or via email, or by paper submission delivered to the appropriate Rural Development office. Applicants must prepare a detailed statement of activities outlining their proposed program design, including how recipients will be selected, how work will be carried out, and how environmental compliance will be addressed. Additional required materials include financial documentation, proof of legal existence, a budget, staffing plan, and evidence of consultation with local governments. Applicants must also provide a narrative describing housing needs in the proposed service area and demonstrate outreach and public engagement efforts prior to submission. Applications are evaluated through a competitive process using criteria established in federal regulations. Threshold requirements must first be met, including completeness and eligibility. Scoring criteria then assess factors such as the percentage of very low income households served, the efficiency of fund usage relative to total project costs, the administrative capacity of the applicant, and the geographic focus on rural areas. Additional points may be awarded for minimizing administrative costs and addressing overcrowding. Tie breaking procedures consider additional quantitative factors and may ultimately involve a lottery if necessary. The application window for this funding cycle opens with the publication of the notice and closes on September 8, 2026. Preapplications must be received by the specified deadline, with no extensions permitted. The agency anticipates making award decisions approximately sixty days after the deadline. Successful applicants will enter into a grant agreement and may begin project activities only after execution of that agreement. The performance period for funded projects ranges from twelve to twenty four months. Questions regarding the program may be directed to the listed agency contact, who provides both phone and email support for applicants.

Prioritize serving high percentages of very low income households; demonstrate strong administrative experience; minimize administrative costs; leverage additional funding sources effectively