Mutual Self-Help 

Housing

By working in partnership, this program gives 

very-low- and low-income families a chance to 

build their own affordable homes. We provide 

grants to qualified organizations to help them 

carry out local self-help housing construction 

projects. Grant recipients supervise groups of 

individuals and families as they construct their 

own homes. Group members provide most of 

the construction labor on each other’s homes, 

with technical assistance from the organization 

overseeing the project. We also offer home 

loan financing to participating families.

PA-2193

February 2016

www.rd.usda.gov

1 (800) 670-6553 (toll free)

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender.

From USDA Rural Development

For More Information

Information on all USDA Rural Development 

programs is available online or from the office 

serving your area.

Intermediary 

Relending Program 

We provide low-interest loans to local 

intermediaries, including nonprofits, that 

re-lend to businesses and for community 

development projects. Recipients may use 

the loans to start, improve, or expand a 

business or community project. Ultimate 

recipients may be individuals, public or 

private organizations, or other legal entities. 

Intermediaries must have the legal authority 

to operate a revolving loan fund.

Help for Nonprofit 

Organizations
Our programs for nonprofits include:

• Grants to help build 

or repair housing;

• Loans and grants for community 

facilities and services; and

• Grants to promote 

economic development.

Assistance under these programs is 

available to applicants in areas designated 

as “rural.” Under law, the definition of 

“rural area” is different for each program. 

Does your nonprofit organization 

need funds for a public-service 

project in a rural area? We may 

be able to help.

Rural Business 

Development Grants 

These are competitive grants to encourage 

development or expansion of rural small 

businesses. The grants may be used for activities 

such as targeted technical assistance, training, and 

other activities. 

Community Facilities 

Loans and Grants 

We offer flexible, inexpensive funding to improve 

your rural community. We can help you build large 

projects like libraries, child-care facilities, and 

schools, and small ones like curbs and gutters, 

to make your community a better place to live. 

We provide direct loans and grants, and work 

with private lenders to offer loan guarantees. 

Our guarantee makes it possible for the lender to 

provide a more affordable financing option.

Housing 

Preservation Grants 

We can partner with your nonprofit to help make 

essential repairs to low-income rural housing. 

Participating organizations provide grants or 

low-interest loans to individual homeowners, 

rental property owners, or housing cooperatives 

to repair housing and make it safe and accessible. 

To qualify, your organization must have the 

background experience and proven ability to 

carry out housing repair and rehabilitation. You 

hire the contractors, supervise the work, and are 

responsible for ensuring that all building codes 

and other requirements are met.