FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 19, 2007                                      Contact-  Harold Alford  (785) 271-2701

Greensburg ‘Community Self-Help Housing Program’ Announced

Affordable Housing Program To Assist Returning Residents

Greensburg, KS – USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks was joined this evening by Greensburg City Administrator Steve Hewitt, along with United Way of the Plains President Patrick J. Hanrahan and Mennonite Housing Rehabilitation Services President & CEO Andy Bias, in announcing an innovative new affordable housing program for the community.  USDA Rural Development and the United Way’s funding, collectively totaling up to $400,000, will allow the City of Greensburg to work with Mennonite Housing Rehabilitation Services to oversee the construction of affordable single-family homes for residents returning to the community. 

"USDA Rural Development is very pleased to partner with the United Way of the Plains and Mennonite Housing Rehabilitation Services to assist Greensburg to create this community self-help housing program.  Residents returning to Greensburg need affordable housing, and this innovative partnership and resulting funding will allow the City to assist its residents in achieving this very important long-term recovery goal," remarked USDA Rural Development State Director Banks. “This 'Community Self-Help Housing Program', modeled after USDA's successful Mutual Self-Help Housing Program, will also include other non-profits and faith-based organizations to help reduce the cost of the houses that will be built to replace those homes lost from the devastating May 4th tornado that struck the Greensburg area.”

City Administrator Steve Hewitt commented, “On behalf of the City of Greensburg, we are pleased to support the Community Self-Help Housing Program.  As a community one of our biggest challenges is affordable housing.  This program under the partnership between the City of Greensburg, USDA, and others such as Mennonite Housing, United Way, and many more gives our community a great resource to rebuild and grow.”

USDA Rural Development low-interest loans will also be used to provide financing for the homes' mortgage.  The Agency recently was approved to receive additional low-interest loan and grant funding to support the financing of new affordable homes and home repairs, along with workforce and senior rental housing in Kiowa County and other FEMA-designated counties in Kansas.  Individuals interested in learning more about the Greensburg 'Community Self-Help Housing Program' are encouraged to contact the Agency at 785-271-2718 or at tim.rogers@ks.usda.gov. 

Additional partners who will be contributing in this affordable housing construction effort are Greensburg – Greentown; Kansas Housing Resources Corporation; FHLBank Topeka; South-central Kansas Community Foundation; South-central Kansas Tornado Recovery Organization; and Community Housing Services, Inc.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs that support increasing economic opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for rural Americans.  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 in rural America.  Since 2001, USDA Rural Development has invested over $1.2 billion in funding to expand single family homeownership, multi-family and senior rental housing, community facilities, economic development, water and waste disposal, renewable energy and energy efficiency, telecommunications, and value-added producer programs across Kansas.  Agency funding has benefited over one million Kansans during this period, and will support more than $5.5 billion in future economic development in Kansas.

For additional information regarding USDA Rural Development programs, interested parties may call the Agency’s state headquarters at 785-271-2700 or log onto the state’s USDA Rural Development website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks

USDA Rural Development – Committed to the Future of Rural Communities.