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
By Alayna Calabro, NLIHC Senior Policy Analyst and San Kwon, NLIHC Policy Intern Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and Zach Nunn (R-IA) reintroduced the bipartisan “Rural Housing Service Reform Act” (H.R.4957) on August 14. The bill—a companion to a bipartisan Senate bill of the same name…
Federal Housing Finance Agency Announces Doubled Investment in LIHTC Properties in Rural Communities
By Kayla Blackwell, NLIHC Housing Policy Analyst On August 5, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced it is doubling the amount that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can invest in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties, raising the LIHTC investment at Fannie and Freddie to $4…
By Kayla Blackwell, NLIHC Housing Policy Analyst, and Kayla Springer, NLIHC Policy Intern On June 12, the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing Insurance held a hearing, “Housing in the Heartland: Addressing Our Rural Housing Needs.” Witnesses testified on the…
NLIHC released a new fact sheet on rural housing, “Rural American Cannot Address Housing Needs Without Federal Investments.” The fact sheet summarizes data and barriers to rural housing development, including persistent poverty, higher infrastructure costs and a history of economic disinvestment in…