Research and Information Archives

Heirs’ Property in Latino Communities (Disponible en español)

June 1, 2026/in Information Products, Research and Information, Rural Research Reports Homeowner Housing, Rural Data, Rural Demographics, Rural Policy

Heirs’ Property is An Emerging and Understudied Issue Affecting Latino Families and Communities Across the United States. Property ownership has long served as a pathway to economic security, community stability, and intergenerational wealth-building. Yet for many Latino households, barriers to legal and financial systems, limited estate planning, and reliance on informal inheritance practices have contributed to the growth of heirs’ property – land or homes passed down without clear title or probate resolution. These ownership complications can restrict access to loans, repairs, disaster recovery assistance, and other tools necessary to preserve homes and family assets. This report, developed through a partnership between the Housing Assistance Council and UnidosUS, aims to develop a better understanding of how heirs’ property manifests in Latino communities and identifying strategies to protect long-term housing stability and wealth creation.

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La propiedad de herederos es un tema emergente y poco estudiado que afecta a las familias y comunidades latinas en todo Estados Unidos. Ser dueño de una propiedad ha sido durante mucho tiempo un camino hacia la seguridad económica, la estabilidad comunitaria y la construcción de riqueza entre generaciones. Sin embargo, para muchos hogares latinos, las barreras al acceso a los sistemas legales y financieros, la planificación patrimonial limitada y la dependencia de prácticas informales de herencia han contribuido al aumento de la propiedad de herederos: terrenos o casas que se transmiten sin un título claro o resolución de sucesión. Estas complicaciones en la propiedad pueden limitar el acceso a préstamos, reparaciones, asistencia en desastres y otras herramientas necesarias para conservar los hogares y los bienes familiares. Este informe, desarrollado a través de una colaboración entre el Housing Assistance Council y UnidosUS, tiene como objetivo entender mejor cómo se manifiesta la propiedad de herederos en las comunidades latinas e identificar estrategias para proteger la estabilidad a largo plazo de la vivienda y la creación de riqueza.

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Understanding Ownership, Unlocking Investment

March 31, 2026/in Information Products, Research and Information, Rural Research Reports Rural Data, Rural Policy

Heirs’ property is a form of communal landownership that can be created when a property is inherited without a formal transfer of title. If a property owner dies without a will or estate plan or leaves their property to multiple owners, or if their will is not properly probated, their descendants will inherit the property together, and the title will be considered tangled or unclear. Heirs’ property owners have undivided, shared interests in their property, and every heir has the right to use the property or prevent other heirs from making significant changes to the property. Historically, heirs’ properties have been created because of a lack of access to the legal system, misunderstandings about the risks of heirs’ property ownership, and families’ desires to hold land communally.

Recognizing the unique and complex nature of heirs’ property, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, HAC conducted a qualitative analysis of the legal process of clearing property title and identified opportunities for financial intervention and collaboration.

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HAC.RWJF_.-Clarifying-the-Legal-Process-for-Title-Resolution

HAC launches Heirs’ Property Central Site

February 12, 2026/in Research and Information Rural Data, Rural Policy

HAC has developed a new website to act as a central clearinghouse for many professionals to access common resources related to heirs’ property. The site, Heirs’ Property Central, is a multidisciplinary hub for cross-sector collaboration, designed to facilitate new connections and discussions around past, present, and future heirs’ property work. Heirs’ Property Central highlights new research, events like trainings, webinars, and conferences, and organizations currently working in the heirs’ property space.

Visit Heirs’ Property Central.

Preventing and Eliminating Rural Homelessness in Illinois

April 14, 2025/in Information Products, Policy, Research and Information, Rural Research Reports Rural Data, Rural Policy, Supportive Services

Homelessness and housing related issues manifest differently in rural environments. Highly effective urban solutions aimed at homelessness too often falter in rural America, where service provision is different and those who are homeless are often less conspicuous, but no less in need of assistance.

Recognizing the importance and unique nature of rural homelessness, the State of Illinois is committing resources to help end homelessness in rural Illinois. As part of that effort, the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) partnered with the Supportive Housing Providers Association (SHPA) and the Illinois Department of Human Services to undertake a data and information collection effort that will help inform strategies, solutions, and policies with the goal of preventing and eliminating homelessness in rural Illinois.

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HAC Research

February 6, 2014/in Research and Information

HAC Research

The Housing Assistance Council has developed a library of full length research reports, research briefs, and information products covering a wide range of rural housing issues.

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HAC’s full length research reports provide details information and analysis on a wide array of social, economic, and housing issues that impact affordable housing needs and provision in rural America.

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Rural Research Briefs are a series of data and findings from the recently released decennial Census and American Community Survey (ACS), highlighting various social, economic, and housing characteristics of rural Americans.

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Rural Research Notes present summary findings from HAC and other research and analyses on social, economic, and housing characteristics of rural Americans.

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Rural Policy Notes present basic summaries and highlights of policy developments important to rural American’s and their housing.

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Reports and summaries on public and private programs, and initiatives that help develop, rehabilitate or maintain affordable housing in rural communities including HUD and USDA housing resources.

Heirs’ Property in Latino Communities (Disponible en español)

Understanding Ownership, Unlocking Investment

HAC launches Heirs’ Property Central Site

Preventing and Eliminating Rural Homelessness in Illinois

HAC Research

HAC Research

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