Rural communities face unique challenges when dealing with the affordable housing crisis. Because development does not generally occur at a large scales in rural areas, construction costs are often higher in rural communities compared to urban areas, which reduces the incentives for private investment. Additionally, a lack of access to credit in many rural areas limits funding for maintenance of existing units.
NLIHC works with our state and national partners to advocate for increased funding for USDA and HUD programs, particularly those that provide funding to non-profits that support the creation of affordable housing.
Memo to Members and Partners Articles
Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) reintroduced the “Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2023” (S.2790) in the U.S. Senate. The bill, which was reintroduced with revisions and six new bipartisan cosponsors, would aim to improve the housing programs administered by the U.S. Department…
NLIHC joined the National Housing Law Project (NHLP) in submitting a letter in support of “decoupling” Section 521 rental assistance from maturing Section 214 and Section 515 mortgages connected to U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) housing to allow households in rural areas…
NLIHC joined a letter authored by the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) urging the U.S. Senate Committees on Banking and on Agriculture to work together to ensure that bipartisan, commonsense improvements to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS) programs are…
Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the “Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act” (S.1490) in the U.S. Senate. The bill would preserve affordable housing in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Housing Service portfolio…