Explores the purpose, use, and history of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, focusing on how rural nonprofits can best utilize this program to develop rental housing.
1997, 112 pages, ISBN 1-58604-007-9
Effects of Housing Development on a Rural Community’s Economy, The
Brief resource guides. 1997
The Summer 1997 issue or Rural Voices celebrates National Homeownership Month across the U.S., and examines other rural housing topics.
Homeownership has been an important focus of national rural housing policy for some time, and has received particular attention in the last two years under President Clinton’s National Homeownership Strategy. This issue of Rural Voices takes its inspiration from National Homeownership Week, June 7-14. Our contributors provide an overview of the week from a national perspective, and a closer look at some of the events that took place in rural areas. A third article describes a homeownership program in Utah called CROWN that provides low-income renters with an option to purchase homes built with Low Income Housing Tax Credit financing.
Other important rural housing topics are also covered in this issue. A feature article explains the special housing needs of persons with AIDS in rural areas, and some ways to address those needs. Provisions of state welfare programs are summarized in a chart compiled by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The “View from Washington” column explains the current debate about sampling in the 2000 Census, and how it could affect rural housing HAC’s fall regional training sessions are announced in “HAC Facts,” along with a few of HAC’s recent loans and new publications on farm worker housing and joint ventures.
HOME, CDBG, and Farmworker Housing Development
Print copy: $3.50
Presents four case studies of projects that have successfully and creatively developed or rehabilitated farmworker housing using the Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs.
1997, 70 pages, ISBN 1-58064-001-X
The Spring 1997 issue of Rural Voices provides an overview of the 1996 federal Welfare Reform Act and a summary of ways in which it may affect rural housing conditions.
This issue of Rural Voices focuses on welfare reform, one of the most important public policy issues of the 1990s. We hope to begin a conversation here about how welfare reform is affecting housing for low-income people in rural areas nationwide. This issue provides an overview of the 1996 federal Welfare Reform Act and a summary of ways in which it may affect rural housing conditions; an examination of welfare reform s impact on women-headed households, who as a group are the poorest category of households and the most likely to be affected; a description of some results of changes in Georgias state welfare program; and a look at how immigration reform affects Rural Housing Service programs.
In future issues we expect to include articles about welfare reform in other specific areas of the countty. We welcome contributions from readers about the impact welfare reform is having on rural housing conditions in your areas. The current issue of Rural Voices also recognizes the loss of an eloquent voice for rural housing and community development. George W. Rucker died in May after a long camer in rural research.
The Winter 1996-97 issue of Rural Voices highlights two important topics: how the Federal Home Loan Bank System can help in the development of affordable rural housing, and local and national efforts to address housing needs in Indian Country.
Our cover stoty explains the basics of the FHLBanks’ Affordable Housing Program and Community Investment Program, with examples of how both have been used in rural areas. Both can provide long-tmm financing for housing development at below-market rates. An interview with Bruce Morrison examines the AHP and CIP from a slightly different angle. Morrison, the Chairman of the Federal Housing Finance Board, which oversees the FHLBank System, discusses his perspective on the future of the System and of the banking industry overall.
Native American housing issues are addressed in two pieces as well. First, the director of the Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority in Alaska describes how her agency modified an existing housing program to better meet the needs of Native Alaskans. Changes expected nationwide as a result of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Detetmination Act of I996 are summarized in our “View from Washington” department.
This issue also explores a successful housing development effort in a small town in Iowa. In addition, we have included a summmy of HAC’s National Rural Housing Conforence, held in December 1996, and providing, among many other things, an opportunity to celebrate HAC’s 25th anniversary.
Housing Counseling in Rural America
Print copy: $7.00
Examines differences between rural and urban housing counseling needs, describes some of the counseling programs presently used in rural areas, and discusses possible ways of measuring counseling’s effectiveness.
1997, 114 pages, ISBN 1-58064-003-6
Housing for Families and Unaccompanied Migrant Farmworkers
Print copy: $4.00
Through case studies, examines the need for and availability of housing suitable for migrant farmworkers traveling with families or unaccompanied.
1997, 56 pages, ISBN 1-58064-005-2
Rural Housing and Welfare Reform: HAC’s 1997 Report on the State of the Nation’s Rural Housing
Cost for print copy: $6.00
Analyzes data on income, demographics, and housing conditions for all rural residents and for those receiving welfare before welfare reform took effect.
1997, 72 pages, ISBN 1-58064-060-5
Self-Help Housing Development Process in Rural Areas
Print copy: $3.00
Describes the mutual self-help process from start to finish. Best practices illustrate land acquisition issues, management of self-help building groups and ways to secure affordable permanent financing.
1997, 54 pages, ISBN 1-58064-026-5