FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Tim Jones (315) 477-6436

<timothy.jones@ny.usda.gov>

**USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT HOME REPAIR PROGRAM HELPS**

**MANNSVILLE COUPLE FIX THEIR HOUSE**

**WATERTOWN, N.Y., May 29, 2007 \--** Donald and Madolyn Sackett of
Mannsville were encountering several major problems with their home of
47 years.

The house's shingled roof was leaking and had suffered wind damage. The
wooden siding and front door provided poor insulation and offered little
protection from the cold weather. To make matters worse, the Sacketts
were on a fixed income and didn't have the money to repair their home.

The Sacketts then heard about the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural
Development's home repair program for very-low income, rural homeowners.
The couple contacted the USDA Rural Development Service Center in
Watertown, applied for the program and received a home repair loan and
grant to fix their house.

"We're extremely pleased with the help we've received from USDA Rural
Development," said Madolyn Sackett. "It was an answer to our prayers."

"Improving the quality of life in rural areas is one of USDA Rural
Development's primary missions," said Patrick H. Brennan, State Director
for USDA Rural Development in New York, "Helping families repair their
homes is one of the ways achieve that goal and I urge those interested
to contact their local office to find out how we can help them."

USDA Rural Development's Section 504 Home Repair Program offers very-low
income homeowners loans to make general home repairs or modifications,
which may improve or modernize a home. The interest rate on these loans
is one percent and the maximum term is 20 years. Applicants may obtain
multiple loans, with a maximum outstanding loan amount at a given time
of \$20,000.

Grants are also available to very-low income homeowners age 62 or older
who cannot afford a loan. Grants are limited to a lifetime assistance of
\$7,500 and must be used to remove health and safety hazards or make a
home more accessible for a household member with a disability. Loans
also may be used for these purposes.

To be eligible for home repair loans, an applicant must live in a rural
area, have the ability to repay the loan, an acceptable credit history
and an income that falls within the very-low income category for the
size of their household.

For more information on the home repair program and other USDA Rural
Development programs, Jefferson and Lewis County residents should
contact the Watertown Service Center at (315) 782-7289, extension 4.
Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

USDA Rural Development\'s mission is to deliver programs in a way that
will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of
life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, USDA Rural
Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and
foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical
community and technology infrastructure. USDA Rural Development's
housing, utilities and business programs combined to invest more than
\$250 million in New York last year, raising its total investment in the
state to more than \$1.2 billion since 2001.

Further information on rural programs is available by contacting the
USDA Rural Development state office at (315) 477-6400 or by visiting
USDA Rural Development's web site at <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ny>.

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