Menendez, Lautenberg Announce $100,000 to Improve Housing in Rural New Jersey

Washington, DC – October 19, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today announced that Gloucester County and the Borough of Hopatcong will each receive $50,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make repairs and improve housing conditions for low- and very-low-income rural residents. The funds from USDA’s Rural Development’s Housing Preservation Grant program will go to the town and county governments, which will then distribute the funds to homeowners and owners of multi-family rental properties or cooperative dwellings for repairs.

“This funding will help New Jerseyans with very limited means make necessary improvements to their rural homes, making living conditions healthier and safer,” said Senator Menendez, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development. “And not only will it enable property owners to make upgrades — which is a good investment — but it will give a new job to that plumber who needs it or it will make a new work order for that electrician. I applaud this USDA program that continues to make critical investments in our rural communities.”

“These federal resources will help improve housing in rural New Jersey communities for families that are struggling to make ends meet. These funds can be used for simple repairs, like fixing plumbing or heating, that are needed to maintain a safe and healthy home and ensure families have a good place to raise their children. As temperatures drop, this federal funding can also help low-income families in New Jersey’s rural communities weatherize their homes so they stay warm in the cold winter months,” said Senator Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which funds USDA.

Gloucester County plans to leverage this grant with a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to renovate 10 units. The Borough of Hopatcong also plans to leverage this grant with CDBG funding to rehabilitate between four and five homes through its Hopatcong Community Development Program.

Senators Menendez and Lautenberg successfully fought to protect thousands of New Jersey citizens who were at risk of being excluded from USDA rural development programs. An early version of the Senate’s Farm Bill revised the definition of “rural” and, in doing so, excluded rural communities as beneficiaries of business development programs. By organizing a group of Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Senators, Menendez and Lautenberg were able to ensure that the definition of “rural” included in the final Senate Farm Bill included these programs.

USDA’s Housing Preservation Grant Program has a record of helping low-income rural residents eliminate safety or health challenges. For information on other Rural Development projects, visit: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDSuccessStories.html

Press Contact

Menendez Press Office: (202) 224-4744
Lautenberg Press Office: (202) 224-3224