(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representative Annie Kuster (NH-02) that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the Peabody Home in Franklin $26 million in direct loans to construct a senior housing facility. The federal dollars were awarded through the USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen fights to secure and boost funding for this program at the USDA each year in government funding legislation.

“This federal assistance will help meet the demand for senior living needs in the Lakes Region. Ensuring safe and reliable housing for seniors has never been as critical as it is today amid this pandemic, so I’m very pleased to see these federal resources being put to good use in support of Granite State seniors,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’ve fought to safeguard and boost funding for this grant and loan program at the USDA because it is so important that our rural communities have access to this kind of federal assistance that they can use to improve the livelihoods and well-being of residents. As negotiations on government funding legislation for next year are underway, I’ll continue to fight to protect and bolster housing resources that will keep our seniors safe and give their families peace of mind.”

"This significant investment will help ensure that more Granite State seniors can retire with dignity and receive the high quality health care and supports that they need," said Senator Hassan. "I am pleased that Peabody Home will be able to create a new state-of-the-art facility, and I will continue to work with our New Hampshire Congressional Delegation to support seniors' health and well-being." 

“As a strong advocate for rural development funding in the city of Franklin and throughout New Hampshire communities, I’m thrilled that Peabody Home has received this significant funding from the Department of Agriculture (USDA),” said Congresswoman Kuster. “Peabody Home is a wonderful place to live and provides important resources to local senior citizens, who are especially vulnerable during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This direct loan from the USDA’s rural development program represents an important investment in the city of Franklin, its residents, and surrounding communities. The new senior-living facility that will be constructed with these funds will help to improve the quality of life of countless Granite State residents in the years to come.” 

The New Hampshire congressional delegation has worked to protect Granite State homeowners and renters left vulnerable by the COVID-19 crisis. In July, Shaheen sent a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), calling on the agency to expedite the release of $4 billion of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for emergency housing. Shaheen also recently sent a bipartisan letter with Senator Hassan to Senate leadership urging a fix for a “maximum allotment” provision that limits the amount of CARES Act relief funds that can be awarded to smaller states through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program. These funds are used by Community Action Programs (CAPs) to help combat homelessness and address housing needs. Shaheen has also called on HUD to address concerns she heard from New Hampshire housing officials and advocates regarding CDBG-CV funding and guidance. In addition, Shaheen and Hassan are cosponsors of the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020, legislation that would establish an Emergency Rental Assistance program to provide $100 billion in emergency rental assistance to help families and individuals pay their rent and remain housed during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

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