Rural Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance

Section 523 Self-Help Housing
CFDA 10.420 Active Grant
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$25M FY2026
$28.7M
FY24
$25.6M
FY25
$25M
FY26*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 A $504,000 grant was issued for the construction of 12 new homes in rural Mississippi; an award of $555,336 to construct 7 new homes and acquire and rehabilitate 7 homes in Pennsylvania; and a $2,018,632 grant was issued to construction 44 new homes in California.

Program Objective

Improve the quality of life for income-eligible individuals and their families by providing assistance to build homes in rural areas by the self help method.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Not-for-Profit Organization
  • Federally Recognized Tribal Government
  • Local Government Consortium
  • Public Housing Authority
  • Local
  • State

Must be a State or political subdivision, public nonprofit corporation or a private nonprofit corporation. Assistance is authorized for eligible applicants in the United States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Marianas.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

Awards $300,000 and over are approved by the National Office.

From 60 to 120 days from the time of application.

Program details & compliance

Description

Self-Help Technical Assistance Grants provide financial assistance to qualified nonprofit organizations and public bodies that will assist very low and low-income individuals and their families build homes in rural areas by the self help method. Any State, political subdivision, private or public nonprofit corporation is eligible to apply. Section 523 Grants are typically used to pay salaries, rent, and office expenses of the nonprofit organization.

Mission Categories

Primary: Rural Housing

Other categories:
Rural Community Development

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Eligible organizations may use technical assistance funds to hire the personnel to carry out a technical assistance program for self-help housing in rural areas; to pay necessary and reasonable office and administrative expenses; to purchase or rent equipment such as power tools for use by families participating in self-help housing construction; and to pay fees for training self-help group members in construction techniques or for other professional services needed. Funds will not be used to hire personnel to perform any construction work, to buy real estate or building materials, or pay any debts, expenses or costs other than previously outlined for participating families in self-help projects.

Restrictions

Please see 7 CFR 1944, Subpart I for list of restricted uses of funding.

Required Documentation

Applicants must furnish evidence of the need for such services, have legal capacity to incur the obligation and operate the proposed project.

2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Reporting & Compliance

Audit Required
Yes — Annual
Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Andria Hively — Finance and Loan Analyst
253-384-6907
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-02-04. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-29 05:35:07.