The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development has made its way to the Teche Area.

During a meeting at the Martin Luther King Center at West End park Friday evening, USDA Rural Development representatives discussed ways to assist Hurricane Rita victims who sustained damage to their home last year.

"We are offering several programs today to the citizens of New Iberia to help them with their housing situations after Hurricane Rita caused so much damage in the area," said Chalmers Wheat, single family housing specialist. "The USDA Rural Development provides a number of homeownership opportunities to rural Americans, as well as programs for home renovation and repair.

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"The single family housing repair loan and grant is to provide financing to eligible very low-income homeowners in the rural areas to repair their homes. The loan purposes are for homeowners to make general repairs and improvements to homes and the grant purpose is pay costs for repairs and improvements to remove health and safety hazards," said Wheat.

Many residents also learned about the direct loan program, guaranteed loan program, home repair program, and hurricane recovery through a discussion with USDA officials.

"Today's program is based on income. Based on the qualifications, first you have to be a homeowner and your home has to be in need of repairs. The loan is for 20 years at an interest rate of 1 percent. For loans under $7,500 no mortgage will be taken on the property," said Stephen Dowden, area director for the USDA.

Dowden said the group is in New Iberia because of the damage sustained by Hurricane Rita.

"We are a rural agency and, since the hurricane, we have expanded into New Iberia for three years" he said.

One person who is very excited that the USDA is now in New Iberia is Shelton Boutte, president of the Neighborhood Association Inc.

"The USDA told us there is approximately $8 million available to help out the needy strengthen their homes, make it more energy efficient, and to make the homes more livable for the citizens of Iberia Parish, Boutte said., "The USDA has loans and grants for those individuals who qualify with loans up to $20,000 and grants up to $15,000."

Several citizens said this news about the grants and loans available is just too good to be true.

"I am just here today to try to get help for my home. Hopefully, I now can get some assistance," said Dorothy Jones, a resident of New Iberia.

Jones said little over a year ago the USDA came to New Iberia and she did not get any federal assistance, but hopefully this time she can be a recipient of some of the money that is scheduled to be issued out.

"I just hope today someone in the parish is eligible to receive some assistance for their homes because we have been waiting for a while to receive some assistance," said Precious Guidry.

If residents in Iberia Parish want to see if they are eligible for the loan or grant they must first submit an application with the USDA. Applications forms can be obtained from the USDA office at 905 Jefferson St., Suite 320, in Lafayette.