The National Rural Housing Coalition (NRHC) celebrates the passage and enactment of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, a major victory for rural communities and families struggling with housing affordability. The bipartisan legislation includes several key priorities championed by NRHC to preserve affordable rural rental housing, expand homeownership opportunities, and strengthen USDA Rural Housing programs. Among its most significant provisions, the law authorizes the decoupling of rental assistance from maturing USDA mortgages, helping protect thousands of rural tenants from losing critical housing assistance; establishes a permanent Multi-Family Preservation and Revitalization program; and expands opportunities for nonprofit organizations to preserve affordable rental properties. The legislation also strengthens single-family housing programs by authorizing 40-year Section 502 direct loans for eligible low-income households and increasing Section 504 home repair assistance limits. These reforms represent an important step toward addressing the rural housing crisis and ensuring that rural families, seniors, and communities have access to safe, decent, and affordable housing. NRHC applauds Congress for advancing these long-overdue reforms and looks forward to working with USDA and its partners to ensure their successful implementation.
