This is a moment in time when avoiding disaster with Congress or the Administration is viewed as a success, and seeking even the most modest improvements in policy or resources seems out of the question and hopelessly optimistic. In light of these conditions, for those interested in improving housing and communities in rural America, the…
Category: Budget
2016 Omnibus Bill Includes Record Funding For Rural Housing Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bob Rapoza National Rural Housing Coalition Phone: (202) 393-5225 2016 Omnibus Bill Includes Record Funding for Rural Housing Programs WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2015 – Yesterday, Congress released the omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2016. This bill funds several programs, including the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program, Section 521 Rural Rental Assistance, and…
“Spending Turnaround at USDA is Good News for Rural Families”
Bob Rapoza wrote an article on USDA Section 502 spending in FY 2015 that was published by Government Executive today. In the article, Bob discusses the importance of the home loan program for rural communities, the role that Under Secretary Lisa Mensah played in ensuring the success of the program, and the bipartisan support for…
Why HOME Program Funding Matters
There is a substantial need for housing resources across our nation’s small town and farming communities. Although homeownership is the predominate type of housing available in rural America, rural housing is much more likely to be substandard than in urban areas. In fact, six percent of rural homes are either moderately or severely substandard, often…
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee FY16 THUD Bill Drastically Cuts HOME Program
On Tuesday, June 23, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) proposed to fund the HOME Investment Partnerships program (HOME) for FY16 at just $66 million, only 7 percent of the FY15 amount ($900 million). Such a drastic cut will result in long-term consequences. While NRHC is aware that the country…