USDA Rural Development Celebrates Homeownership Month
White Sulphur Springs, WV – June 30, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Rhonda Loudermilk has a smile on her face as she talks about her new heating system in her White Sulphur Springs home. Ms. Loudermilk qualified for loan funds through USDA Rural Development’s rural housing programs late last year.
Ms. Loudermilk, who has lived in the house for 27 years, had been heating her home with a wall mount gas heater. The heater was old and wasn’t sufficient to heat the space. Loudermilk was referred to USDA Rural Development through Open Doors. She began working with John Fullen, Area Specialist for USDA Rural Development located in the USDA Service Center in Lewisburg. Mr. Fullen said, “We were glad to be able to utilize our programs to help Ms. Loudermilk. We were able to qualify her for funding last fall so that she could enjoy the new heating system this past winter.”
USDA Rural Development funds were used to install a new gas furnace and duct work throughout the house. “I want to thank USDA Rural Development from the bottom of my heart for all of their help,” said Ms. Loudermilk. “Mr. Fullen was nice to work with and the new heating system kept me warm last winter.”
USDA Rural Development West Virginia State Director Bobby Lewis said, “We are excited to be celebrating National Homeownership Month in June. For more than 60 years, USDA has worked to increase homeownership opportunities for rural Americans through our housing programs.” Mr. Lewis went on to say, “Expanding and preserving homeownership is a major part of the foundation for a stronger, more prosperous rural America.”
Rural Development serves as the lead Federal entity for rural development needs and administers program assistance through its housing, business, community and infrastructure programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Further information on USDA Rural Development may be obtained by visiting USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov. In West Virginia, call 1-800-295-8228 to be put in touch with the appropriate personnel serving your county. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202.720.2600 (voice and TDD).
Contact:
Gail Bennett, Public Affairs Specialist – (304) 366-2921, ext. 214
