Was your rural home damaged in California’s floods? Here’s how to get $36,000 for home repairs

Homeowners in rural California areas can now receive additional federal grant money to make important repairs to homes that were damaged from the California storms.

The grant limits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development were originally $10,000, but have now increased to $36,250 for California residents whose homes were flooded or damaged by landslides or mudslides.

Residents ages 62 or older in Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties can apply.

The funding for the income-based program helps homeowners in rural areas to repair “health and safety repairs” in their homes. Loans for up to $40,000 are also available to homeowners.

“People in rural communities continue to experience the impacts of climate change – they are often the hardest hit and last to recover,” said Maria Gallegos Herrera, USDA’s rural development state director. “This is why we are honored to join our federal, state, and local partners in helping those impacted by the disastrous floods to rebuild and recover. By enhancing our assistance available to very low-income homeowners 62 or older, we are better able to serve those most in need and help rural California build back better.”

The program provides grants and loans to “help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas,” read a statement from the USDA. The program supports rural areas, tribal communities and impoverished neighborhoods with business development, changes to infrastructure, housing, and community facilities including schools and internet access.

Funding is available until Jan. 14, 2024. Grant limits will return to $10,000 after that deadline.

This story was originally published January 24, 2023 at 6:00 AM.