The NRHC works daily to promote and defend the principle that rural people have the right, regardless of income, to a decent place to live or an affordable home, clean drinking water, and basic community services.
You can help us make a difference in the lives of America’s rural families. Become a NRHC Member.
Legislative Priorities
Investing in Rural Housing Programs
Before enacting the budget, lawmakers and advocates need to know the critical facts about how these programs impact rural communities. Without Rural Housing programs, many low-income, rural Americans would not have access to safe, decent, and affordable housing. Each year, NRHC advocates for federal appropriations for rural housing programs at USDA.
Past Campaign: Road to Housing
In the summer of 2026, Congress passed and the President signed the 21st Century Road to Housing Act. NRHC fought for several rural housing and rural development provisions. Below is a summary of the legislation.
Ensuring Full Utilization USDA's Section 502 Program
The Section 502 direct loan program, administered by USDA’s Rural Housing Service (RHS),
provides long-term, subsidized direct loans at interest rates as low as 1 percent to rural
households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median. It is the only federal program
of its kind and the most targeted homeownership mortgage product in America.