Roanoke Electric partners with USDA to help member-owners make home upgrades

Roanoke Electric Cooperative is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help low-income and elderly member-owners make much-needed upgrades to their homes.

Through the USDA’s Section 504 Home Repair program, the co-op is offering funding to low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes, as well as to remove any health and safety hazards from them.

Member-owners who qualify can apply for loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000. The co-op is also contributing up to an additional $7,500 through its Upgrade to $ave program, allowing member-owners to access up to a total of $17,500 in grant funding.

“I am so excited about our partnership with USDA, and how we will be able to assist more member-owners with health and safety concerns in their homes,” said Susan Williams, the co-op’s coordinator of Community Programs. “This collaboration enables us to expand our reach in the community to make living conditions better for those we serve. I am humbled to be part of such a great undertaking and look forward to working with our membership.”

Homeowners must meet the following requirements to qualify:

  • Be the homeowner and occupy the house
  • Be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere
  • Have a family income below 50 percent of the area median income
  • Be age 62 or older and not be able to repay a repair loan, if applying for a grant

Applications are accepted year-round, as long as funding is available. Requests will be processed in the order they are received.

”We encourage member-owners to apply as soon as possible,” Williams said, adding that the co-op can also assist them with the application process.

For more information on how to get started, please contact Susan Williams at 252-569-8116 or 252-287-6376.