gauze of rjarruntatives COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA HARRISBURG

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1 FRANK BURNS, MEMBER 72ND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT DISTRICT OFFICES: 535 FAIRFIELD AVENUE JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA (814) FAX: (814) S. CENTER STREET EBENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (814) FAX: (814) A MUNSTER ROAD PORTAGE, PENNSYLVANIA (814) OR (814) FAX: (814) September, gauze of rjarruntatives COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA HARRISBURG HARRISBURG OFFICE: 323 MAIN CAPITOL P.O. BOX HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (717) FAX: (717) COMMITTEES CONSUMER AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR, TELECOMMUNICATIONS GAME & FISHERIES LIQUOR CONTROL, SECRETARY TOURISM & RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, TRAVEL, PROMOTION, HISTORY & HERITAGE POLICY To Whom It May Concern: Public service is a community effort, and I am honored to work with you to strengthen Cambria County and keep its citizens safe and prosperous. As your representative to the state government in Harrisburg, it is my goal to keep you informed about programs and initiatives that can benefit our neighborhoods. The ongoing project to upgrade our sewer systems and improve the health and safety of our water sources comes with a high price tag that many of our local residents will struggle to pay. Fortunately, there are several federal and state programs that can mitigate this cost for end users of the new system. I hope the enclosed information can help you link your constituents, friends, and neighbors with resources that will ease some of the burden of this important transition. Specifically, I encourage you to connect seniors in rural areas of the county with USDA 504 Home Repair Loans & Grants. by contacting the program's, main line at (717) , or by reaching out to James Rhea or Heather Bloom at (724) arp pnclosing dbrociltirelliat detailhow citizens can apply for a 20-year, I -percentinterest loan, of up to $7,00, or a giant -of that'artioubt, to Make repairs to their homes that bring them in line with regulations. At the state level, the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency offers the Keystone Renovate & Repair Loan Program to assist homeowners and buyers with hooking up to the new municipal system or installing a codecompliant septic or well system. PHFA has also teamed with PENNVEST and the state Department of Environmental Protection on the PENNVEST Homeowner Septic Program, offering a low-interest loan to homeowners who must repair or replace an on-site septic system; this initiative requires close cooperation between homeowners and municipal officials, and I urge you to learn more about both of these state programs online at Finally, the state Department of Community and Economic Development administers Community Development Block Grants to help homeowners who are below 80 percent of the area's Median Family Income with the tap-in fee and lateral hookup assistance. This aide must be applied for by the municipality, not the end user. The City of Johnstown is classified as an "entitlement community," and city officials should look to portal.hud.gov/hudportal/hud?src=/states/pennsylvania/community/cdbg for guidelines. The rest of Cambria County is "non-entitlement," and its officials should visit understand the complications that an infrastructure project such as this can create, but 1 am sure that if we work together to connect our community with programs such as these, we can propel Cambria County forward to a cleaner, safer, and more efficient future. The staff at iny'district offices in JohnstoWn,. Ebensburg, and Portage stand ready to help you navigate this landscape of federal and state departments and agencies. and 1 am, as always, just a phone call away. Sincerely, Rep. Frank Burns 72nd Legislative District PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

2 USDA United States Department of Agriculture Section 504 Rural Housing Repair Loans and Grants for Families with Very Low Income What does this program do? The Section 504 Repair Program provides loans to very-low-income homeowners in eligible areas to repair, improve, or modernize their homes, OR provides grants to elderly (62+ years of age) very-lowincome homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. Who may apply? To qualify, you must: Be the homeowner and occupy the home Be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere Have family income below 50% of the area median income (see income limits) For grants, be at least age 62 and not be able to repay a repair loan What is an eligible area? Rural areas, small towns and open country, or viral towns of 10,000 population (Standard Metropolitan Statistical Counties) and up to 20,000 populations (Non-Standard Metropolitan Statistical Counties) that are not associated with an urban metropolitan area. Property eligibility may be determined by calling a Rural Development office or at the following website: How may funds be used? Section 504 grant funds may be used only to pay costs for repairs and improvements which will remove identified health or safety hazards. Loan funds may be used to improve or modernize dwellings regardless of the removal of health and safety hazards. All work shall be in accordance with local codes and standards. Authorized loan and grant purposes include but are not limited to the following: 1. Insulate 2. Provide storm windows 3. Purchase or repair heating systems 4. Repair roofs 5. Repair siding 6. Repair or supply structural supports.7. Provide a convenient and sanitary water supply 8. Provide bathroom facilities 9. Provide handicap accessibility 10. Pay expenses, such as fees for legal and other technical services and reasonable connection fees for water, sewage and electricity or gas. How much money can I get? Loan amount not exceed a cumulative total of $20,000 Maximum life-time grant amount is $7,500 Loans and grants can be combined for up to $27,500 in assistance What are the terms of the loan or grant? Loans can be repaid over 20 years Loan interest rate is fixed at 1% Compliments of STATE REPRESENTATIVE FRANK BURNS 72nd Legislative District

3 2 Full title service is required for loans of $7,500 or more Grants have a lifetime limit of $7,500 Grants must be repaid if the property is sold in less than 3 years If applicants can repay part, but not all of the costs, applicants may be offered a loan and grant combination Is there a deadline to apply? Loans and grants are available year round as long as funding is available Applications are processed in the order they are received How long does an application take? The application process takes approximately days to establish final approval. Repayment Agreement (for grants only): Grant recipients will be required to sign a Grant Agreement which requires that if the property is sold by the grantee or the grantee's heir or estate within three (3) years of the date of the agreement, the full amount of the grant will be repaid to the government. The Application Process: Application Processing: this is the collection of all information used to determine your eligibility for loan/grant assistance. Should we require additional information not received in your application package, we will contact you. Eligibility Review. your request for assistance will either be accepted and move to the next step, or denied with given reason. Field Visit with Rural Development Agent at your property Final Review Closing: this step finalizes your loan/grant assistance. You will sign loan/grant documents during a closing interview via telephone with a Rural Development agent and send the "closing documents" back to Rural Development via mail. You will be responsible for contacting your contractor(s) after your closing to schedule home repair/improvement work.

4 Compliments of STATE REPRESENTATIVE FRANK BURNS 72nd Legislative District June 2(116 FUNDING RESOURCES TO ADDRESS: WASTE / WATER HOOKUPS FOR HOMEOWNERS Waste and water treatment projects are typically multi-million dollar endeavors and more than likely include a fee structure that has a direct financial impact on the end user. The following provides funding assistance opportunities for homeowners. 1) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 504 Home Repair Loans & Grants applicants qualify for the 504 grant if they are very-low-income rural seniors aged 62 or older, have adjusted household incomes below the very low-income limits as established by the USDA, and must be located in a USDA designated Area In addition, the grant threshold max is $7,500 and applicants must be able to demonstrate repayment ability for the loan. The USDA 504 program is to help improve, repair or rehabilitate a residence, see the attached 504 Fact Sheet, contacts are: James Rhea (724) 482 * 4800 ext. 118, james.rhea@pa.usda.gov Heather Bloom (724) ext. 110, heather_bloorn@pa..usda,gov Housing Program Main Line (717) ) Pennsylvania Housing Financing Agency (PRIFA) has a loan program for homeowners and homebuyers, the Keystone Renovate & Repair Loan Program (R&R Loan), which can be used to hook up to municipal water and sewer systems, and improve or install code-compliant septic or well systems see fa.9glp r r o rar n x 3) KIVA has teamed with PENNVEST and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) on the PENNVEST Homeowner Septic Program*. This program offers low interest funding for individual homeowners to pay for repair or replacement of a malfunctioning on-lot system that serves their principle residence or assist with first time connection to a public sewer system. Homeowners must obtain a sign-off from the local sewage enforcement officer that the improvements are necessary and the on-lot system will work. The township must also sign-off on the project to ensure that a wastewater disposal system neither exists nor is planned in the next five years_ See the attached Fact Sheet, and for more information see littpliwww.phfa.org/prograrris/repairs.aspx 4) Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (OCED) Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) homeowners that are below 80% of the area's Median Family income (MF1) may be eligible for the tap in fee, lateral hook-up assistance, contacts are: Entitlement communities (Large Urban Areas) see: PA entitlement municipalities or non-federal entitlement municipalities competitive program see: -ograms/community-development-block-grant-edbg/#.v1q3ketdolu Units of general local government must apply for funding to assist low and moderate income homeowners.

5 USDA Rural Development recognizes the home repair needs of eligible rural homeowners, A 504 loan lo those income eligible and a 504 Grant to seniors age 62 and older (or a combination) assist very-low Income and other income eligible rural homeowners to make vital repairs. 504 Grant The 504 Grant Program is available excluaiveiy to very-tow-income rural seniors aged 62 or older A combination of grant and loan funds may be used ff some payment ability is demonstrated. The maximum lifetime grant amount is $7, Grant terms Grant agreement signed at closing, states that if the home repaired with grant funds is sold within three years of the grant approval, the full amount of the grant will be repaid. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA, Assistant SK-retary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SM., Stop 9410, Washington, DC Or call toll -free at (868) (English) or (800) (TDD).or (866) (English Federal-relay) or (800) (Spanish Federal-relay), USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer." 594 L can Applicants must have adjusted housetiol,4 incomes below the vetry low-income limits listed on the web site and be able to show repayment ability for the loan requested. Maximum outstanding balance must not exceed $20, Loan rates & terns A 1 % interest rate; O Maximum term is 2C years, term determined based on ability to repay; and Mortgages taken on loans of $7,500 or more. The payment on a $5,000 1% loan is only $231 month (20 year term). SCA LOAN EUGHIILITY -"Credit hisiory must indicate a reasonable ability and wiilingneso to meet financial obligations. There is no charge for a credit report "Linclid assets exceeding $15.00 ($20,000 for senior applicants) need to be considered and may affect loan Cr grant amount. far Which appliamts are eligible "Applicants MOM show a dependable source of Income which is sufficient to repay the loan "Property must be owned and occupied by the applicant, Documentation of ownership must be provided The 504 Loan and Grant ProtftenV allow income eligibie rang homeowners with very low incomes to repair or improve a home, making it safe and sanitary by removing health and safety hazards. Property Eligrbiliiy Modest in size and design it No In-ground swimming pool For property eligibility, visit:bhp:1/ a FigIbIllty.st_nov usda.gpviellglbsiltyl viklesrneact)on. -da Fees a An appraisal fee and a tax service fee is required for initial loans greater than $15,00Q Recording fees, if a mortgage Is required (lean of $7,500 or more); Title Insurance when the total debt to the Agency fs $7,500 or mare; and a Hazard Insurance must be maintained if Agency debt is greater than $15;000, Escrow of Taxes 14 inearanca If the applicant's total outstanding debt to the Agency is greater than $15,000, an eterow account must be established. M escrow account already established with am)ther lender is satisfactory. LOAN AND GRANT FUNDS - MAY NOT 41 Assist in new construction c Make repairs that will not result in correcting all mister hazards Pay for off-site improvements 3/l3

6 504 Home Repair Loans & Gran s To apply for a 504 Horne Repatr Loan or Grew!: Visit the PA Website for your closest USDA Rural Development Office: httpj7www.rurckv.usda.govi PA_C'anusetiis.har I Health & Safety Hazard Repair assistance to in-come eligible horneewhars In rural sins USDA