From The Daily Union, July 22, 2003:

By JAMIE ODLE

Crouching in doorways and huddling in cramped bathroom spaces during a tornado may not need to be an issue for low-income families any longer.

Kansas families who cannot afford storm shelters can apply for a low-interest loan from the state USDA Rural Development office to construct a shelter of their own.

USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks said the program will benefit families in rural Kansas, but the term "rural" doesn't mean the homeowner must live outside city limits.

As long as a person lives in a community with 20,000 or fewer people, they are eligible, Banks said. That means Junction City residents who meet the requirements are eligible for the funding.

But the USDA will take close note of a family's income, Banks said, because the funding is specifically for those who cannot finance a shelter on their own.

"To finance a shelter is expensive," Banks said. "We carved out this program to give money to low-income families."

Applicants must have a family income of less than 50 percent of the median income for their county. As of the 2000 census, Geary county had a median household income of $31,917.

But, Bryan Rohn, community development manager for the USDA service center in Manhattan, said the USDA may consider applicants with a family income of less than 80 percent of the median income for the county.

Rohn said the size of the family also plays a role in the amount of the loan.

A family of four would have to have a family income of $35,900 or less to qualify for the program, Rohn said.

The USDA will do a credit check on all applicants. As long as a family is qualified they will receive the funding, Rohn said.

After applications are reviewed, Rohn said, loans at a fixed rate of 1 percent for 20 years will be given to families.

The family is then responsible for finding a contractor to build the shelter.

Applications for the first round of funding will close on Aug. 15.

The USDA rural development office has a budget of about $60 million to provide financing for rural housing in Kansas.

If a lot of people apply for the storm shelter loans, Banks said, he will approach the USDA for more funding in the future.

"We hope to finance thousands of homes across Kansas," he said. "If we get a good response, hopefully it will spur more funding from Washington."

Banks said the storm shelter program is important for Kansas because residents without shelters risk their lives during the storm season.

"We lose so many lives because of tornadoes," he said. "This is something I am passionate about."

Jamie Odle can be reached at (785) 762-5000, Ext. 123, or at jodle@dailyu.com.



For a storm shelter funding application:

Stop by: USDA Rural Development Regional Office, 2615 Farm Bureau Road, Manhattan

Call: (785) 776-7582 or the state office at (785) 271-2720

Visit: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks

All applications due by Aug. 15

Eligibility

Must own home, no renters;

Family income of less than 50 percent of the median income for their respective county;

Must reside in a rural community not larger than 20,000 people.