Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project logo

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project in Roanoke, VA

No stored Google rating available.

SERCAP is a non-profit providing training, technical, and financial assistance for affordable housing, clean water, and community development across seven southeastern states since 1969.

Data compiled from public sources

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project Review

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP) was founded in 1969 and has spent over five decades serving low-to-moderate income individuals and rural communities throughout the southeastern United States. The organization focuses on addressing fundamental infrastructure and housing challenges that impact quality of life in underserved areas, particularly in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

SECAP offers comprehensive assistance across four main service areas: owner-occupied housing rehabilitation for low-income individuals, support programs for small business owners and job seekers, water and wastewater infrastructure solutions for communities, and broader community development initiatives. Their Housing Department helps rural residents maintain safe, warm, and dry homes through rehabilitation services. They provide training, technical assistance, and financial support to help communities and individuals implement sustainable solutions for affordable water and wastewater systems.

What distinguishes SERCAP is their combination of individual and community-level interventions—they don't just help individual homeowners but also work with entire communities on infrastructure challenges. In fiscal year 2023, they invested $6.4 million directly into small rural communities and low-to-moderate income individuals, positively impacting over 150,000 people across 240+ communities. Their long operational history since 1969 demonstrates sustained commitment to rural development in the Southeast.

As a legitimate non-profit organization, SERCAP provides genuinely free or subsidized assistance rather than high-cost lending products. However, the website provides limited detail about specific eligibility requirements, application processes, or service timelines. Their broad service offerings make it important for potential clients to contact them directly to understand which specific programs match their needs, as the website emphasizes various mission areas without deep program-level detail.

Services & Features

Clean drinking water infrastructure solutions for rural communities
Community development and economic development programming
Environmental justice solutions and advocacy
Environmentally sound wastewater facility development
Financial assistance for small business owners
Financial assistance programs for rural communities
Housing maintenance assistance to ensure homes are warm, safe, and dry
Job seeker training and support programs
Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation for low-income individuals
Technical assistance for affordable and sustainable water/wastewater solutions
Technical assistance for small business development
Training programs for small business owners

Feature Checklist

Mobile App
Online Portal
Score Tracking
Credit Education
Personal Advisor
Identity Theft Protection

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • 50+ years of operational history and experience serving rural southeastern communities since 1969
  • Invested $6.4 million directly into communities and low-income individuals in FY2023 alone
  • Serves 240+ communities across seven southeastern states with training, technical, and financial assistance
  • Provides no-cost or low-cost services rather than high-cost lending products
  • Addresses root infrastructure issues like clean water and safe housing rather than quick-cash solutions
  • Reached 150,000+ low-to-moderate income individuals and rural residents in 2023
  • Offers integrated support across housing, water/wastewater, small business, and community development

Cons

  • Website lacks detailed information about specific eligibility requirements for programs
  • No clear application process or timeline information available on the homepage
  • Service area limited to seven southeastern states—not available nationwide
  • Limited detail about which services are truly free versus subsidized or require matching funds
  • Website does not provide contact information or clear directions for how to apply for assistance

State Consumer Finance Context

This is state-level context for Free Help consumers in Roanoke, VA. It does not confirm that Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project or this specific location is licensed.

State regulator

Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions

Key state rules to check

  • The Fairness in Lending Act (2020) capped all consumer loans at 36% APR plus a maintenance fee.
  • Replaced the previous open-end credit and payday loan frameworks.
  • Short-term loans limited to $2,500 with a maximum 24-month term.

Source: CreditDoc state-law summary and listed public regulator resources. Verify licensing directly with the listed state regulator before relying on a provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

What services does Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project offer?

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project offers 12 services including Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation for low-income individuals, Housing maintenance assistance to ensure homes are warm, safe, and dry, Training programs for small business owners, Technical assistance for small business development, Financial assistance for small business owners, and 7 more.

What profile signals are listed for Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project?

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project has profile signals associated with Low-income homeowners in rural southeastern communities needing housing rehabilitation, Rural communities seeking sustainable solutions for clean water and wastewater infrastructure, Small business owners and job seekers in underserved southeastern areas, Residents of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida needing community development support.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project?

Key strengths: 50+ years of operational history and experience serving rural southeastern communities since 1969; Invested $6.4 million directly into communities and low-income individuals in FY2023 alone; Serves 240+ communities across seven southeastern states with training, technical, and financial assistance. Areas to consider: Website lacks detailed information about specific eligibility requirements for programs; No clear application process or timeline information available on the homepage.

How does Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project compare to similar companies?

In the Free Help category, comparable providers include Appalachian Community Action & Development Agency, Inc.(Appcaa), Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Commonwealth Catholic Charities. Each company has different strengths, so compare services, pricing, and consumer complaint records before deciding what to do next.

Quick Facts

Headquarters
Roanoke, VA
BBB Accredited
No
Certifications
HUD-Approved
Visit Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project

CreditDoc Profile Note

Research Note on Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project

SERCAP is profile signals for low-to-moderate income individuals and rural communities in the southeastern U.S. seeking legitimate non-profit assistance with housing, infrastructure, or small business development. The main caveat is that detailed program information, eligibility criteria, and application processes require direct contact with the organization rather than being fully listed on their website.

Profile Signals

  • Low-income homeowners in rural southeastern communities needing housing rehabilitation
  • Rural communities seeking sustainable solutions for clean water and wastewater infrastructure
  • Small business owners and job seekers in underserved southeastern areas
  • Residents of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida needing community development support
Updated 2026-05-08

Similar Companies

Appalachian Community Action & Development Agency, Inc.(Appcaa) logo

Appalachian Community Action & Development Agency, Inc.(Appcaa)

Non-profit community action agency providing free financial coaching, housing counseling, and emergency assistance to low-to-moderate-income families across Appalachian Virginia.

BBB: NR

Profile signals: Low-to-moderate income families in southwestern Virginia seeking comprehensive multi-service support, First-time homebuyers in their service area needing down payment assistance and credit counseling

Commonwealth Catholic Charities logo

Commonwealth Catholic Charities

Virginia-based nonprofit providing free housing counseling, financial education, and social services to vulnerable populations including immigrants, homeless individuals, and families.

BBB: NR

Profile signals: Low-to-moderate income Virginians seeking free financial education and credit improvement guidance, Immigrants and refugees needing affordable legal consultation and translation services

Commonwealth Catholic Charities logo

Commonwealth Catholic Charities

Virginia-based nonprofit offering free housing & financial counseling, immigration legal services, and support for families, refugees, and homeless individuals across five service areas.

BBB: NR

Profile signals: Virginia residents (especially Richmond/Roanoke area) facing housing instability or homelessness seeking case management and subsidized housing, Recent immigrants and refugees needing legal immigration assistance, resettlement support, and translation services

Compare Your Needs With Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project

Answer 3 quick questions to review category, service, and profile context.

1. What's your primary financial goal?

Quick Summary

  • Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project is listed as a Free Help provider in Roanoke, VA on CreditDoc.
  • Use this page to check contact details, location, listed services, review signals, FAQs, and similar providers before deciding what to do next.
  • If you need a loan, account, installment option, credit help, or debt support, start with the fit quiz and compare alternatives before contacting a provider.
  • For broader context, continue into the free Credit Fundamentals course or a relevant financial wellness guide.

Financial Wellness Guides

Affiliate Disclosure: CreditDoc may earn a commission when you click links to Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project and other services. These commissions help us maintain our free research. Compensation does not determine whether a provider can be covered; visible star ratings use stored Google review ratings when available. Learn more.