Keeping up with necessary repairs to your home can be challenging and costly. Our friends at USDA Rural Development recognize this and provide a few financing opportunities that can help homeowners address your home repair needs, affordably.

USDA’s Single-Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants (Section 504 Home Repair) provide loans to homeowners with very-low-incomes to aid in financing essential repairs, improvements or modernizations for their homes. Maximum loan amount is $20,000. Loans can be repaid over 20 years and interest rates are fixed at one percent.

Adjusted income limits for Section 504 Home Repair Loans that qualify as “very-low” for Rice County are $42,950 for 1-4 person(s) household. Additional household sizes can also be assisted.

Grants are available to elderly very-low-income homeowners of 62 years or older to help remove health and safety hazards or make improvements for disabilities. Adjusted income limits for Section 504 Home Repair Grants that qualify as “very low” for Rice County are:

  • 1-person household | $18,050
  • 2-person household | $20,650
  • 3-person household | $23,200
  • Additional household sizes can also be assisted.

While eligibility requirements are outlined, eligibility can be dependent on a number of variables best discussed directly with a Rural Development Area Specialist.  In Faribault please call (507) 332-7418 x 4 to learn more about the program and how USDA might be able to assist with your home repair needs.

In addition to financing for home repairs, USDA offers financing to purchase a new home as well through the Single-Family Housing Direct Home Loan program. Contact your local area office or visit www.rd.usda.gov/mn.

 

Honoring Your Choices

Advance Care Planning is a process that includes thinking about, talking about, and writing down your preferences for future health care decisions. It’s important for every adult to have a health care directive – a written plan for loved ones and health care providers to follow – so that your wishes are known if a medical emergency occurs and you are not able to speak for yourself.

Join us in the process of advance care planning, learn how to choose a health care decision-maker, navigate the Honoring Choices health care directive, and have the opportunity to complete your directive at the end of class, if you choose.

Honoring Choices Staff will lead the discussion which will be offered on Wednesday, March 4 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. This free program is open to public; please pre-register by calling 507-977-2330 or email honoringchoices@allina.com.

 

Elder Collegium Classes

Registration is now open for the Spring Term of the Cannon Valley Elder Collegium (CVEC). This term runs from March 23rd through May 15th. A complete listing with course descriptions and registration materials are available online at CVEC.org. In addition, there are registration forms available for pick up at our front desk. March 2nd is the end of formal registration and a late registration is possible if a class has not filled.

 

Newsletter

Our next newsletter is nearly complete and should arrive in your mailbox around March 1st.  We do have a number of people who haven’t renewed for 2020 so if you do not get a newsletter, we ask that you check and see if you have done your renewal yet. You still have a few days to get your membership paid before the newsletter gets mailed.

Please remember that there are several Buckham West programs that are for members only including the Book Club, Life Writing Group, Mahjong, Bunco, all card games and Bridge Marathon members, Meditation, Out to Lunch Bunch, plus others. So if you want to continue your participation in these popular groups, please remember to renew your membership.  Membership forms are available at the front desk or on our website.  The price is $40/single and $70/couple.

 

Reminders:

  • Book Club meets on Monday, Feb. 24. New members welcome.
  • Computer Tutoring at Buckham West on select Fridays. No membership required, preregistration required by calling 332-7357.
  • Carla Pearson, a Senior and Caregiver Advocate will be here each Tuesday between 10am and 1pm. Consultations are free and open to the public. Appointments are encouraged, but you may also walk in to see her.
  • Have you checked in at Fashions on Central lately? Stop in for some great deals on high quality, gently used adult clothing. Fashions on Central is located at 325 Central Ave.

 

Upcoming Trips

Please pay attention to reservation deadline dates. Full payment at time of sign up is required in order to reserve your seat. If trip does not fill, there will be a full refund.

  • Jackpot Junction on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 10 and 11, 2020, $75 includes hotel and transportation, add $20 for single rate. Casino pays $50 on player’s card and more.
  • New Trip! “Wait Until Dark” at the Lakeshore Players Theatre in White Bear Lake on Sunday, March 15. Depart at 12:15pm, home by 6:30pm.  Story is about a blind woman who is being pursued by men who smuggled drugs in a toy her husband purchased. Following the performance will be a stop for dinner at the Crackerbarrel. Cost of $57 for motorcoach transportation and play. Dinner on your own. Sign up before Feb. 27th.
  • New Trip! MN Twins on Wednesday, May 20th. Depart at 10am for a noon game. Upgraded seating under cover. Cost of $65 for transportation and game. Sign up by May 1st.
  • New Trip! “Follow the Arrow” trip to northern MN on June 8-10. Brochures with details available by March 1st.
  • New Trip! “Music Man” starring Ann Michels at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre on Wednesday, July 1st. Cost is $100 and includes seated luncheon, performance and motorcoach transportation. Reservations required by June 5th.