Recently, SERCAP’s Essential & Critical Needs Grant Program partnered with the agency’s certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) Loan Fund to assist a low-income family of six (two adults and four children) in Warren County, VA, to replace their individual household well. The family had been living in their home for just over seven (7) years, and recently they began experiencing difficulties with their well. For example, they began noticing that the water supply was decreasing to the point where they could not even fill-up their bathtub with water. This of course, meant that they did not have enough water each day for their family of six (6). However, due to their low-income status, the family was unable to afford the cost of replacing the well on their own.
Fortunately, SERCAP was able to step-in and provide financial assistance, through a grant and low-interest, affordable loan combination, which covered the full cost of the new well. SERCAP’s Essential & Critical Needs Grant Program provided a grant of $1,000.00, and SERCAP’s Loan Fund provided a loan of $11,000.00, to cover the full $12,000.00 cost of drilling the new well. Now the family once again has reliable access to clean, safe potable water in their home.
Without SERCAP’s Essential & Critical Needs Grant and Loan Fund Programs, and other similar services, many low-income individuals and communities would be forced to go without such necessities as reliable access to clean drinking water, indoor plumbing, safe and affordable housing, community development and infrastructure needs, water/wastewater infrastructure solutions, and more. It is important to remember that even in the US in the 21st Century; there are those who do not have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water, environmentally sound septic facilities, and affordable housing.
*Funding for SERCAP’s Essential & Critical Needs Program is made possible through a Budget Appropriation from the Virginia General Assembly, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD). Funding for SERCAP’s Loan Fund is primarily made possible by USDA Rural Development, and SERCAP’s Agency Revolving Loan Fund. Additionally, all of SERCAP’s programs in Virginia, are leveraged by the Budget Appropriation from the Virginia General Assembly, administered by DHCD.