Delaware Congressional Delegation Announces Grant Award to Low Income Residents in Kent and Sussex Counties

WILMINGTON – Today, Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Rep. John Carney (all D-Del.) announced a $50,000 grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to Kent County Levy Court and Sussex County Council for housing preservation initiatives in Kent and Sussex Counties.

These Rural Development funds will be used to provide grants to very low and low income homeowners to repair their homes and remove substandard conditions. The grants will be distributed to homeowners and owners of multi-family rental properties or cooperative dwellings who rent to low income residents. The grants may be used to make general repairs, such as installing or improving plumbing or providing or enhancing access to people with disabilities. Funding could also be used to make homes more energy efficient.

“This funding will help Delawareans in Kent and Sussex Counties get the much-needed help to improve substandard living conditions,” said Sen. Carper. “Programs like the USDA’s Rural Development’s Housing Preservation Grants program help those who live in these rural areas of our state stay safe and continue to thrive.”

“Every Delawarean deserves to be able to live somewhere safe, regardless of how much money they earn,” Senator Coons said. “The USDA’s Rural Development’s Housing Preservation Grants program will help some of our neighbors in the state’s most rural communities to improve the safety of their homes by making to easier for them to make general repairs, to weatherize, and to make their homes more energy efficient.”

“This USDA grant will help Delaware families make needed repairs and investments in their homes,” said Congressman Carney. “Regardless of their income, every Delawarean should have a safe place to call home. This funding will help many achieve that goal while creating jobs for Delaware workers and preserving communities across the state.”

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