Rural Provisions in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

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The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, hailed by HAC CEO David Lipsetz as “an important step forward in addressing the nation’s housing affordability crisis,” includes a wide variety of provisions. The key provisions related to affordable housing in rural America are summarized below, followed by links to others’ analyses of the law’s other provisions.

It is important to note that many of the law’s provisions require further action by federal agencies and/or Congress before they will impact the U.S. housing supply. Some require agencies to develop regulations or conduct studies. Others – including some provisions related to preserving rural rental housing – will not be effective unless Congress adds funds in future appropriations bills.

It is still possible, though perhaps unlikely, that funds could be provided for fiscal year 2027. USDA FY27 funding has been approved by the House without any 21st Century ROAD to Housing provisions because the appropriations bill passed first. Similarly, the House Appropriations Committee approved a HUD funding bill before ROAD passed. The House has also supported a continuing resolution to take effect on October 1 for appropriations bills that are not completed, and continued FY26 spending would not include ROAD provisions. The Senate has not yet released draft text or voted on a continuing resolution, an FY27 USDA spending bill, or an FY27 HUD bill.

Rural Rental Housing Preservation

Decoupling: Usually Section 521 Rental Assistance can be provided only if a property has an active Section 515 or 514 loan. ROAD changes this by “decoupling” the Rental Assistance from the USDA loan in certain circumstances. The loan must be within four years of expiration. USDA must determine that the loan cannot be restructured, or the property owner must decline to restructure it. The property must have Rental Assistance already. If all these conditions are met, USDA can renew the existing RA contract for 20 years, subject to annual appropriations. USDA can also extend the RA to cover unassisted units at a property where existing RA is being decoupled. (ROAD Section 502(e))

Preservation and Revitalization Program: The Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization Program (MPR) is permanently authorized with a number and a revised name: the Section 545 Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program. (ROAD Section 502(e))

Preservation Technical Assistance: USDA may make grants to nonprofits, coops, and public housing agencies to provide technical assistance for preservation. (ROAD Section 502(e))

Notices to Owners and Tenants: USDA is required to send written notices every year to owners whose mortgages will mature within four years, and tenants who live in properties with mortgages that will mature within two years. (ROAD Section 502(e))

Regulations: USDA must publish a notice of proposed rulemaking within 180 days of the law’s enactment (approximately January 7, 2027) and an interim final rule by July 11, 2027. (ROAD Section 502(e))

Two-Step Transfers: When a nonprofit or limited partnership purchases a Section 515 property to preserve it, the ownership transfer may occur before rehabilitation. (ROAD Section 502(n))

Vouchers: By July 11, 2028 (within two years of ROAD’s enactment), USDA must issue regulations establishing a process for adjusting the amounts of rural housing vouchers annually and when tenants’ incomes change. (ROAD Section 502(k))

Other Rural Housing Provisions

Staffing and Technology: If Congress appropriates funds for these purposes, USDA may increase its staff and upgrade its information technology systems for the rural housing programs.

Section 502 Direct: Effective immediately, USDA has the authority to extend a Section 502 direct loan for a term up to 40 years after the date of loan refinancing or modification. (ROAD Section 502(o))

Section 502 Guaranteed: Child care providers who are licensed or regulated under state or Tribal law to run their businesses in their homes are eligible for Section 502 guaranteed loans. Properties that include Accessory Dwelling Units are eligible for Section 502 guaranteed loans. (ROAD Sections 502(q) and (r))

Section 504: Home repair loans and grants under Section 504 have been available for very low-income homeowners only. ROAD extends the eligibility for loans (but not grants) to include homeowners with low incomes. Also, for years, the law has required USDA to place a mortgage on any property receiving a Section 504 loan over $7,500. ROAD raises that minimum to $15,000. (ROAD Section 502(g))

Rural Community Development Initiative: The law authorizes the RCDI capacity building program with a $500,000 cap on grants. (ROAD Section 502(h))

Environmental Review

Exemption from Review: USDA-financed construction or modification on an infill site is exempt from environmental review. An “infill site” is defined as a site served by existing infrastructure including water lines, sewer lines, and roads. By July 11, 2031, USDA must submit a report to Congress on the impact of this exemption. (ROAD Section 103)

Coordination with HUD: ROAD requires HUD and USDA to develop a memorandum of understanding by early January 2027 (180 days after the law’s enactment) to coordinate their environmental review processes for projects that receive funds from both departments. By July 11, 2027 they must report to Congress on ways to improve the review process for jointly funded projects. (ROAD Section 802)

Finance and Banking

Public welfare investment: The amount banks are permitted to use for public welfare investment, known generally as the PWI cap, is increased in Section 203 of the law. The provision applies to national banks (regulated by the Comptroller of the Currency) and to state banks that are regulated by the Federal Reserve. Previously they were permitted to invest up to 15% of their capital and surplus in public welfare activities, which can include Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, support for small businesses, and the like. ROAD to Housing raises the cap to 20%.

Rural lenders studies: The law requires two studies examining rural lenders. The federal bank regulators (the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Federal Reserve) must produce a joint study regarding the institutions they oversee, and the National Credit Union Administration must conduct a similar one for credit unions. Both studies will identify ways to “improve the growth, capital adequacy, and profitability” of institutions that primarily serve rural areas, then identify federal statutes or regulations that limit those lenders’ work or the establishment of new rural institutions. Both studies are due to Congress July 11, 2027. (ROAD Section 909)

Native American Housing

Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities are specifically eligible for new and revised programs under the law, but it does not otherwise address Native housing programs.

Research and Reports

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act requires federal agencies to provide many reports to Congress about their progress in implementing the law’s provisions. Related to rural housing, these reports include:

Section 502 direct loans subsidy recapture: Within six months after the law’s enactment (mid-January 2027), USDA must submit a publicly available report to Congress on subsidy recapture. Homebuyers using the Section 502 direct mortgage program are required to repay a portion of their subsidy amounts when they sell their homes or pass away. The report to Congress must include information about the total subsidy amount provided, how much is being recaptured, and the amount of time and costs associated with recapturing those subsidies. (ROAD Section 502(b) (which refers to Section 521 but is not about Section 521 Rental Assistance)).

Annual report to Congress: USDA must prepare an annual report on the rural housing programs and publish it online. (ROAD Section 502(i))

GAO report: By July 11, 2027, the Government Accountability Office must provide a report to Congress analyzing the impact of outdated RHS technology on borrower services and costs and estimating the funding and staffing needed to modernize it. (ROAD Section 502(j))

Processing backlog report: By October 9, 2026, and every year after that, USDA  must report to Congress on the status of its processing backlog for Section 502 and 504 loan applications. (ROAD Section 502(s))

Resources for More Information

Comparison of Selected Versions of H.R. 6644, Congressional Research Service, July 2026.

Implementation Matrix for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders and the Center for Affordable Housing Lending, July 2026.

ROADmap: An Implementation Guide for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders and the Center for Affordable Housing Lending, July 2026.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is Now Law: What it Means for Tribal Housing, National American Indian Housing Council, July 11, 2026.

21st Century Road to Housing Act: Impacts on Low-Income Households, National Low Income Housing Coalition, July 2026.

HAC News: July 30, 2026

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TOP STORIES

USDA court filings say reorganization plan is out of date

USDA’s Agency Reduction in Force and Reorganization Plan, which was written in 2025, filed in a court case on July 1 this year, and described in the July 16 HAC News, “does not reflect USDA’s current plans,” according to a July 24 filing in the same case. The July 24 document says that “the most accurate and up to date reorganization plans” are in a series of letters, each addressing a specific part of the department, sent by USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Alexander Vaden to Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. The court filings and the letters do not indicate whether any parts of the ARRP are still relevant.

Consistent with USDA’s June 17 webpage on RD reorganization, Vaden’s June 17 letter about Rural Development (pp. 54-58) does not provide any staffing numbers. The letter says:

This transition will not result in any State employees losing their positions or require relocation; instead, some RHS employees located in the States will be reporting to RHS national office. This restructuring will relocate some RHS national office employees. …

The State Operations Office (SOO) … will retain dedicated State-level personnel across all 47 State offices and area offices. …

RD is closing select field office locations. … Many of these locations have been vacant for years, face health or safety concerns, or were previously slated for closure. … No employee movement is required.

Vaden’s letter says, as USDA announced in June, that RHS’s “core national office functions” will be located in St. Louis, while the business and utilities programs will be centered in Dallas-Fort Worth. Reportedly, RD has begun sending relocation notices to employees, but one of Vaden’s letters to the Senate (p. 7) indicates that RD intends to initiate negotiations with the labor unions representing some RD staff “on or after July 20.”

Congress considers a continuing resolution

The House has passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government at current levels from October 1 (the beginning of fiscal year 2027) through December 4, avoiding a government shutdown if appropriations bills are not completed on time. The Senate is expected to consider its own CR before the planned end of its current session on August 7. While the House bill has few “anomalies” – changes that are not simply carryovers from FY26 – the administration has requested that several anomalies be included in the final product. Both houses of Congress will be out for most of August, with the House returning to Washington on August 31 and the Senate not scheduled to return until mid-September.

ROAD to Housing rural summary posted

HAC has posted online a summary of the provisions in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act that directly address affordable housing in rural America.

RuralSTAT

In 2024, banks provided more than $25.6 billion for CRA-qualifying permanent financing to support multifamily housing benefiting low- and moderate-income communities and individuals, including nearly $200 million in lending in places outside metropolitan areas. Source: Center for Affordable Housing Lending, Incentive to Impact: How CRA Leverages Private Investments into Affordable Housing, Homeownership, Small Businesses, and Local Economies.

OPPORTUNITIES

Lead hazard and healthy homes grants available

HUD’s Lead Hazard Reduction grant program assists states, Tribes, cities, counties/parishes, or other units of local government in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in privately owned rental or owner-occupied housing. State, local, and Tribal governments with EPA-authorized lead abatement certifications are also eligible for Healthy Homes Supplemental funds. The deadline is August 31.

The Healthy Homes Production grants program supports nonprofits, states, local governments, and Tribes to focus on multiple housing-related hazards in privately owned, low-income rental and/or owner-occupied housing, especially in buildings where families with children, older adults 62 years and older, or families with persons with disabilities reside. Applications are due August 31.

HUD offers funds for modifying seniors’ homes

The Older Adult Home Modification Program assists experienced nonprofits, state and local governments, and public housing authorities in undertaking comprehensive programs that make safety and functional home modification repairs and renovations to enable low-income elderly persons to remain in their homes. Apply by August 31.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

Public charge final rule issued

Under U.S. immigration law, when a non-citizen applies for permanent resident status, officials can consider the likelihood that the person may become a “public charge,” someone who uses certain kinds of federal assistance including housing aid. The Department of Homeland Security is rescinding its 2022 public charge regulations, effective on September 18. The 2022 rule listed seven factors that could be considered in determining the likelihood that a non-citizen might become a public charge. DHS will now allow officers to “consider any other factors or information relevant to determining an alien’s likelihood at any time of becoming a public charge in the totality of the alien’s circumstances.”

USDA revises Section 502 income limits, adds other handbook changes

USDA has revised its single-family program handbooks, updating its 2026 income limits for the Section 502 direct and guaranteed single-family loan programs and making other changes.

Transitional guidance on Opportunity Zones released

The IRS has published transitional guidance for those making investments in current Opportunity Zones, which retain their OZ designations through December 31, 2028. New OZ designations take effect on January 1, 2027. The IRS’s notice indicates that its forthcoming proposed regulations for the OZ program will include provisions similar to those in the transitional guidance.  

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

Housing costs remain out of reach

Housing affordability challenges nationwide are documented in Out of Reach, published every year by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The report compares minimum wages to HUD’s Fair Market Rents and calculates “Housing Wages,” estimates of the hourly wages full-time workers must earn to afford rental homes at FMR without spending more than 30% of their incomes. In 2026, the average hourly wage earned by renters is $24.84, far less than the national two-bedroom Housing Wage of $34.73 and even the one-bedroom Housing Wage of $29.19. In 49 states (all except North Dakota), D.C., and Puerto Rico, renters earning the average renter wage must work more than 40 hours per week to afford a modest two-bedroom rental home. Data is available by state and county. For places in metro areas, zip code data is also provided. To view county data, navigate to the “more info” page about your state, click on “download state report,” and select the spreadsheet (the document with a name ending in .xlxs).

Report shows wide difference in rural and non-rural Opportunity Zone investments

A Treasury Department analysis of Opportunity Zone investments through 2024 updates a previous study that included data through 2020. The researchers used the rural OZ definition established in the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will apply to the zones being selected through the process now underway. Through 2024, 77% of both rural OZs and non-rural OZs received OZ investments, but the average rural OZ received only $7.3 million, compared to $23.3 million for the average non-rural OZ. The amounts and proportions invested in rural places varied widely from state to state. The research also found that rural tracts eligible to be designated as OZs this year have higher homeownership rates, higher housing vacancy rates, and lower home values than eligible non-rural tracts. Also, the population in rural tracts is older, has lower educational attainment, and is less attached to the labor market than that in non-rural places.

Article looks at U.S. farms and guestworker programs

A recent Civil Eats article, Why US Farms Increasingly Rely on Guestworker Programs, explores the rapid growth of the H-2A agricultural guestworker program, which has become an increasingly important source of labor for U.S. farms. The article highlights how an aging farm labor force, fewer domestic workers willing to take agricultural jobs, and immigration enforcement pressures have contributed to greater reliance on temporary foreign workers, even as concerns about worker protections and labor abuses persist. The piece also examines ongoing debates over farm labor reform and what the future of agricultural labor may mean for stakeholders.

Loan guarantees expand rural access to capital in Arizona

Local First Arizona has launched the Rural Prosperity Fund, a loan guarantee pool that helps expand access to affordable financing in rural communities by reducing lender risk and increasing rural lending capacity. Backed by philanthropic investments, the fund supports projects such as affordable housing, infrastructure, community facilities, and essential nonprofit services while pairing borrowers with technical assistance to strengthen project success.

HAC

HAC is hiring

HAC job listings and application links are available on our website.

·       Loan Officer

·       Communications Specialist

Need capital for your affordable housing project?

HAC’s loan fund provides low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, new development, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development, construction/rehabilitation and permanent financing. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including Tribes).

Want to reprint a HAC News item?

Please credit the HAC News and provide a link to HAC’s website. Thank you!



HAC News: July 16, 2026

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TOP STORIES

21st Century ROAD to Housing becomes law

The bipartisan bill passed by both houses of Congress in June became law on July 11 without the president’s signature. HAC will post a summary of the measure’s rural housing provisions. Information is also available from many other housing organizations, including ROADmap: An Implementation Guide to the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act from the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders and the Center for Affordable Housing Lending, and 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Impacts on Low-Income Households from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

More USDA RD reorganization details available

On July 1, a group of unions, local governments, and others asked to add USDA-related claims to an existing lawsuit challenging the administration’s reorganizations and staff reductions at numerous federal agencies. Two 2025 documents comprising USDA’s Agency Reduction in Force and Reorganization Plan (ARRP) were made part of the public record in the case, providing more details than were previously released regarding the department or its Rural Development mission area. The ARRP is Exhibit A, pages 7-34, of this court filing. Pointing out that some of USDA’s proposals require congressional approval, it indicates that the department’s total staff will be reduced by 23% and RD’s staff by 47%. It says:

Rural Development will:

·         Consolidate the Rural Development subagencies into a single agency

·         Eliminate the State Office structure. As needed, State Office staff will be relocated to one of the five USDA Service Centers.

·         Rural Development plans to transform its Single-Family Housing program from a direct origination loan program to a guaranteed loan program. This can result in a decrease of 852 employees. In addition, Rural Development seeks to have delegated underwriting for all guaranteed loan programs, which will further reduce the number of employees required to deliver RD’s mission. However, Congressional authorization is required for this change.

·         USDA is also exploring transferring Rural Development loan programs to the Small Business Administration and/or the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

At some unspecified point in the future, the ARRP indicates, USDA hopes to consolidate the Farm Production and Conservation mission area with RD to create a single Farming and Rural Development Agency. It is not clear how that plan would fit with possibly transferring RD’s loan programs out of USDA entirely. The ARRP also does not mention that the 2018 Farm Bill requires USDA to have a Senate-confirmed Under Secretary for Rural Development. It does not provide estimates on the costs or consequences of any of the proposed actions. It does provide a timeline showing staff relocations complete in 2025 and congressional actions allowing completion of other changes in 2026, but to date neither the relocations nor the legislative changes have followed that schedule.

USDA rescinds notice on capacity building funds

USDA has rescinded the July 8, 2025 notice of funding opportunity for the FY25 Rural Community Development Initiative. The department will revise the NOFO “to ensure it reflects existing guidance as well as new policy and program priorities that have emerged since the original publication.” Applicants will be required to submit a new application when a new NOFO is issued.

RuralSTAT

Each Federal Home Loan Bank administers an annual competition for the majority of its Affordable Housing Program funds. In 2024, most of the $608 million awarded through these competitions provided gap financing to support the construction and rehabilitation of 26,863 housing units, 86.7% of them in urban or suburban places. Rental units accounted for 90.5% of the total and 94.8% in rural areas. Source: Urban Institute, The Value of the FHLBank System’s Housing and Community Mission-Oriented Programs.

OPPORTUNITIES

Native CDFI relending funds available

USDA’s Section 502 Native relending demonstration program makes loans to certified Native CDFIs which then lend the funds to homebuyers on eligible Native lands. Apply by August 14.

Native American home loan guarantee program expanded

In response to requests from Tribes, HUD has expanded the Section 184 guarantee program. A total of 356 counties and cities across six states are now eligible lending areas, including the entire states of Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, New York, and Virginia. Eligible places and loan limits are listed in Dear Lender Letter 2026-04.

Free technical assistance available to advance energy efficiency and electrification

Small and mid-sized communities (municipalities with populations under 250,000) are eligible for no-cost technical assistance from the Residential Retrofits for Energy Equity initiative to advance equitable residential energy efficiency and electrification initiatives. R2E2, led by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, is intended for local governments and community-based organizations that are actively planning or implementing efficiency programs that incorporate electrification, resilience, housing affordability, workforce development, or community engagement. Apply by July 24.

HUD offers fair housing funds

Four funding notices for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program have been posted, with significant changes from past eligible activities and other criteria:

·         Fair Housing Organizations Initiative, deadline August 6;

·         Administrative Enforcement Initiative, deadline August 6;

·         Private Enforcement Initiative, deadline November 2; and

·         Education and Outreach Initiative, deadline November 2.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

Proposed change would allow subsequent loans for acquiring USDA rental properties

USDA proposes to amend its Section 515 regulations to allow subsequent loans to be used for acquisition of properties. This would allow owners of multifamily housing initially financed by USDA to help finance acquisition in preservation transactions. Comments are due August 31.

Treasury begins accepting Opportunity Zones nominations

Between July 1 and September 30 the Treasury Department is accepting governors’ nominations for OZ designations. For links to state websites with more details, visit the Economic Innovation Group’s State OZ 2.0 Resources map. Recommendations for making the OZ designations in a way that will drive investments into rural communities facing persistent poverty are provided in a guide and webinar produced by HAC in conjunction with Partners for Rural Transformation and HOPE Enterprise Corporation.

USDA guaranteed mortgage demonstration to expire

The two-year Payment Supplement Account demonstration program, which began on July 24, 2024, was intended to assist borrowers with Section 502 guaranteed mortgages who experienced hardship and could not make monthly payments. USDA is allowing the program to expire on July 24 this year.

Plaintiffs succeed in one Continuum of Care suit and begin another

On June 29, a federal judge cancelled HUD’s “arbitrary and capricious” funding opportunity notices for the FY25 Continuum of Care program. She did not rule on HUD’s authority to issue similar notices in future years. She also declined to rule on an effort to add the FY26 funding notice to this litigation, but noted that it could be challenged separately. On July 2 a similar group of nonprofits and local governments filed a complaint against HUD regarding the FY 2026 notice, launching a new suit.

HUD proposes to roll back floodplain regulations

Comments are due September 8 on a proposed rule that would rescind and replace most of a 2024 final rule on floodplain management. HUD explains that the change generally would return to the regulations in place before the 2024 rule, although it would maintain some newer flexibilities.

Fair housing guidance withdrawn

HUD has withdrawn several guidance documents related to fair housing enforcement. The documents were issued by its Office of General Counsel between 1990 and 2024.

CRA list of distressed or underserved nonmetro areas posted

The federal bank regulators have released their 2026 list of “distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies” where banks’ revitalization or stabilization activities are eligible for Community Reinvestment Act credit.

Regulators discourage lending to people without work authorization

Interagency Guidance on Lending to Individuals Not Legally Authorized to Work in the United States, issued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, cautions lenders regarding the potentially elevated credit risk posed by borrowers who do not have work authorization. The statement refers to a similar warning published in June by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

EVENTS

Free virtual training offered for heirs’ property programs

Results for America and Local Initiatives Support Corporation invite local and state governments and community-based organizations to apply for Saving Homes Before They’re Lost: Preventing Heirs’ Property Loss and Resolving Tangled Titles – a free seven-session virtual learning opportunity (called a “Solutions Sprint”) to launch or expand the implementation of heirs’ property prevention and resolution in their jurisdictions. Apply by August 3. Sessions will begin September 16. Find out more about the program and applications on Heirs’ Property Central.

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

Nonprofits invited to answer survey on possible new insurance program

The Housing Partnership Network is working to develop a new insurance program aimed at helping nonprofit affordable housing owners respond to rising insurance costs, strengthen property operations, and preserve affordable housing in rural and underserved communities. This sector-level effort builds on the success of HPIEx, HPN’s member-based insurance model. HPN is seeks input from leaders across the field to assess whether a broader insurance solution supporting nonprofit organizations beyond HPN’s membership could deliver meaningful value to the sector. Learn more and participate in the survey here.

Guide provides resources for supporting homeowners who may be detained or deported

Housing Advocates Handbook: Working with Homeowners Facing Possible Detention or Deportation, developed by UnidosUS and the National Housing Law Project, is intended to equip housing counselors, attorneys, and advocates with legal and practical guidance, key resources, and action steps to help homeowners and their families prepare for and respond to detention or deportation while protecting housing stability.

Better USDA/EPA coordination recommended to help improve rural water infrastructure

A new Government Accountability Office report, Rural Water Infrastructure: Better Agency Coordination Could Help Unserved Communities Address Their Needs, notes that rural places without drinking water or wastewater utilities face difficulties accessing USDA and Environmental Protection Agency programs that offer financial and technical assistance. GAO recommends ways that USDA, EPA, and states could help rural communities access financial resources for water infrastructure.

HAC

HAC is hiring

HAC job listings and application links are available on our website.

·         Loan Officer

·         Communications Specialist

Need capital for your affordable housing project?

HAC’s loan fund provides low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, new development, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development, construction/rehabilitation and permanent financing. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including Tribes).

Want to reprint a HAC News item?

Please credit the HAC News and provide a link to HAC’s website. Thank you!

HAC News: June 25, 2026

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TOP STORIES

Bipartisan housing bill passes Congress, HAC says further action needed to address rural housing affordability crisis

A revised version of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act passed the Senate and House by wide margins on June 22 and 23. On June 24 President Trump announced he will not sign it until Congress also passes the unrelated SAVE America Act. After months of bipartisan negotiations over its provisions, the measure includes most provisions of the Rural Housing Service Reform Act as well as revisions to the HOME and CDBG programs, authorization of the PRICE manufactured home program, changes to the definition of manufactured housing, and more. HAC President and CEO David Lipsetz welcomed the bill’s passage while noting that a number of proposals to improve the availability of decent, affordable rural housing remain to be enacted.

Some information released on USDA Rural Development reorganization

USDA has provided the first details on its reorganization plans for Rural Development, after previously announcing plans for some of its other agencies. A June 17 press release and web page state that “select” Rural Housing Service positions will be relocated from the Washington, DC area to St. Louis, while others from the Rural Business-Cooperative Service and Rural Utilities Service will move to Dallas-Fort Worth. At the state and regional office levels, “program delivery employees” will not be relocated. Stakeholders are invited to attend online sessions with agency leaders on June 25 and June 29, and can submit questions here.

Serious housing challenges examined in new report

The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies has released the 2026 State of the Nation’s Housing Report, which describes the interactions between factors including the housing affordability crisis, reductions in both housing demand and construction, increased weather disasters, and ongoing discrimination, coupled with lower federal support and changes in policy emphases. The report notes that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit will be somewhat helpful, but not sufficient to counteract cuts to other programs and the inability of state and local governments to provide aid at the necessary scale.

Status report on Section 515 preservation provided in HAC research brief

The supply of rental homes assisted by USDA’s Section 515 multifamily housing direct loan program continues to shrink, according to a new HAC analysis. Rural Research Brief: USDA’s Section 515 Multifamily Housing Portfolio Continues to Shrink reports on the loss of affordable homes in the Agency’s rental housing program. The departed properties were concentrated in the Midwest and Upper Great Plains. Those owned by nonprofits were far less likely to leave the program before loan maturity than those with other types of owners, the brief notes. Preservation efforts are ongoing, but HAC concludes that more production is needed, as well as more data on why properties leave and whether they remain affordable after they do.

RuralSTAT

Between June 2021 and March 2026, 621 properties containing 14,928 affordable rental apartments left USDA’s Section 515 rural rental housing portfolio. Source: HAC tabulations of USDA data.  

 

OPPORTUNITIES

HUD opens Continuum of Care Builds competition

CoC Builds funds the construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation of new units of permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness where one member of the household has a disability. Eligible applicants are nonprofits; state, local and Tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and Tribal organizations. Applications are due July 23.

Funds offered for development in Mississippi Delta and Black Belt

The Delta Regional Authority’s States’ Economic Development Assistance Program supports basic public infrastructure and transportation infrastructure, in addition to workforce and business development needs, for communities in DRA’s 255 counties and parishes across eight states. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, local governments, regional and economic development organizations, workforce boards, labor unions, colleges, trade schools, minority-serving institutions, and Tribes. Apply by July 31.

Tribal broadband grants available

The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration will make grants under its Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program to Tribal governments, Tribal colleges and universities, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Tribal organizations, and Alaska Native Corporations. Funds can be used for either the deployment and adoption of broadband service on Tribal land or for promoting the use of broadband to access remote learning, telework, or telehealth resources. The deadline is September 17.

CAPITOL HILL

Senate farm bill released

Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released a discussion draft of “Farm Bill 2.0.” The draft does not contain provisions related to the rural housing programs. The House passed its version of the bill in April.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

Significant changes proposed for Duty to Serve regulations

The Federal Housing Finance Agency proposes to rewrite its regulations on Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s Duty to Serve Underserved Markets. The duty to serve applies to financing affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families in three markets: rural housing, manufactured housing, and affordable housing preservation. The changes would include eliminating specific prescribed activities, focusing on rural regions rather than populations (farmworkers and Native Americans), removing evaluation guidance, and expanding DTS credit for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit investments to cover all three underserved markets, not only rural places. The proposal would not change the definition of colonias that FHFA adopted in 2023. Comments are due July 24.

HUD seeks information on building components made in America

To help implement the Build America, Buy America Act, HUD requests information on the availability of domestically manufactured items necessary for the HUD-funded construction, alteration, maintenance, and repair of housing and infrastructure. It asks for data on individual components, especially from product manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors. Comments are due July 20.

Policy revised for minority depository institutions

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency updated its policy statement on minority depository institutions to remove presumptions that minorities and women are socially or economically disadvantaged. Banks with MDI designations as of June 15, 2026 may maintain their status, although a bank’s OCC examiners may reassess the MDI designation if facts change.

New Continuum of Care provisions challenged in court

A group of local governments and nonprofits have filed a new request in an already pending lawsuit challenging the administration’s attempts to change the program’s emphasis and criteria for grants. They hope to add to the existing suit their objections to the recently issued FY26 Continuum of Care funding notice and their concerns about the pace at which HUD is finalizing renewal funding from FY25.

HUD sets income limits for Native block grant programs

Guidance on FY26 income limits under the Indian Housing Block Grant and Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant programs is posted online.

USDA and FEMA remove disparate impact from civil rights regulations

Both USDA and FEMA have removed regulatory language that allowed disparate impact liability under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs based on race, color, or national origin. Both agencies issued final regulations, effective immediately, saying they fall under exceptions to the usual requirements for prior notice, public comment, and delayed implementation for final regulations.

USDA Rural Development staff changes announced

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on June 23 that Neal Robbins will become Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Rural Engagement. Joe Gilson will serve as Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development. The Regional Operations Manager for Rural Development will be Monica Mason. Robert Hosford has been named Director of State Operations for Rural Development.

EVENTS

HAC offers Section 502 direct loan packaging course in Albany

HAC will hold a USDA Section 502 Direct Certified Loan Packaging Training in Albany, NY on July 21-23. This three-day advanced course prepares participants to become certified Section 502 loan packagers. It is designed for those experienced in using Section 502. A laptop is required for the class for each participant. Following the course, participants are encouraged to take the online certification exam. The registration fee is $825. For more information, contact HAC, registration@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

Study shows federal agency workforce changes

A Government Accountability Office publication, Federal Agency Workforce Changes: Update for July 2025 to January 2026, reports that almost 378,000 employees separated during that period and about 127,000 were hired. Most agencies had workforce declines greater than 10%, and multiple agencies had declines exceeding 30%. GAO notes that the Federal Workforce Data website launched by the Office of Personnel Management in 2026 now provides monthly updates of agency workforce data and offers users a tool to create customized reports.

Housing tax credit production varies widely among states

An Urban Institute article titled LIHTC at 40: How Much Affordable Housing Has Been Built in Your State? investigates production through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit for 1986-2022 and 2018-2022 in states and metropolitan areas. The number of LIHTC units per 10,000 people varies with policy choices, financing structures, and local market conditions. The writers find that the “states with the most LIHTC units tend to fall into two groups: those with strong policy and financing ecosystems that support large-scale development (like New York and Washington), and those where lower construction costs allow each tax credit dollar to produce more units (like Mississippi).”

New report highlights persistent public investment gaps in rural communities

The Center on Rural Innovation’s new report, Uneven Ground: Local Public Funding Gaps Between Rural and Nonrural America, highlights structural disparities in public investment that limit rural communities’ ability to drive long-term economic growth. The study finds that rural areas generate and control less local public revenue, constraining investments in infrastructure, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. The report also emphasizes that while federal safety-net programs help stabilize households, they do not build the local capacity needed for durable economic opportunity. The authors call for more place-based, flexible funding approaches to close these gaps and support stronger, more resilient rural communities.

HAC

Assisted by HAC, The Home Depot Foundation improves veterans’ housing

Veterans and their families in 17 rural communities will have better lives, thanks to The Home Depot Foundation and HAC. The Foundation is awarding grants totaling $453,850 to 17 local nonprofit housing agencies around the country to preserve housing for veterans across rural America. The grants are part of the Foundation’s mission to provide affordable and accessible housing solutions to U.S. veterans and invest $750 million in veteran causes by 2030. As part of its Affordable Housing for Rural Veterans Initiative, HAC works with the Foundation to administer grants that bolster and support the work of rural nonprofit housing agencies to deliver critical housing support to veterans. The grantee organizations provide a range of programs.

Next HAC News issue to be out on July 16

There will be three weeks between this issue of the HAC News and the next one, rather than the usual two weeks. The next will be published on July 16, and then the schedule will continue every two weeks after that.

HAC is hiring

HAC job listings and application links are available on our website.

·       Communications Specialist

Need capital for your affordable housing project?

HAC’s loan fund provides low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, new development, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development, construction/rehabilitation and permanent financing. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including Tribes).

Want to reprint a HAC News item?

Please credit the HAC News and provide a link to HAC’s website. Thank you!

HAC CEO Applauds Bipartisan Housing Bill, Calls For Further Action to Address Rural Housing Affordability Crisis

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UPDATE: President Trump had been scheduled to sign the bill at noon Eastern time on June 24, but at 10:30 am he posted on Truth Social, “Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency.” If he vetoes the bill within ten days, Congress will have the opportunity to override the veto. If he takes no further action, the measure will become law without his signature after ten days.  

*******

The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) welcomes Congress’s passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. As housing challenges continue to affect communities across the country, this legislation reflects meaningful bipartisan progress. It has now passed both the House and the Senate and President Trump is expected to sign it into law.

“This legislation marks an important step forward in addressing the nation’s housing affordability crisis,” stated David Lipsetz, HAC’s President and CEO. “HAC thanks Banking Committee Chair Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Warren (D-MA) and Financial Services Committee Chair Hill (R-AR) and Ranking Member Waters (D-CA) for their remarkable collaboration and persistence.”

HAC is particularly pleased that the final bill includes specific provisions of the Rural Housing Service (RHS) Reform Act.  Championed by Senators Rounds (R-SD) and Smith (D-MN), and Representatives Nunn (R-IA) and Cleaver (D-MO), this bicameral, bipartisan bill makes commonsense improvements to the country’s housing programs for rural Americans with lower incomes.  Its broad support among rural stakeholders was demonstrated when over 200 national and local organizations signed on to a letter circulated by HAC supporting the inclusion of the RHS Reform Act in the final package. 

“USDA’s housing programs work. By investing in both rental housing and homeownership, millions of rural families, seniors, and workers have helped thousands of small towns across the country to thrive. This legislation modernizes and permanently authorizes a range of single-family, multifamily, and rural capacity building programs that have proved effective for decades,” noted Lipsetz.  “Most important, today’s bill provides USDA’s Rural Housing Service (RHS) with new and improved tools to preserve the Department’s ‘Section 515’ multifamily portfolio.  Two-thirds of this precious stock of apartments are rented by families with elderly or disabled members, and the average household income is barely $18,000. All too often a 515 apartment is the only affordable rental option in town, which makes it even more tragic that we’ve lost tens of thousands of the units originally financed by the program. The RHS Reform Act provisions of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act provide real options for local housing stakeholders to access new sources of financing to preserve the remaining 380,000 units.”

“The 21st Century Road to Housing Act is an important step forward, but it won’t end our housing crisis,” cautioned Lipsetz.  “Significant work remains to ensure that all Americans have access to a safe and affordable home.  In particular, Congress must move quickly to level the playing field for rural housing markets, which are often less well-served by the housing finance system’s policy and programs than their urban and suburban counterparts.”

“First, Congress must revisit key elements of the RHS Reform Act did not make it into today’s bill,” Lipsetz added. “This includes expanding a successful USDA RHS Section 502 Direct Loan pilot program that helps Native Community Development Financial Institutions offer more homeownership opportunities to Native Americans. The current pilot enjoys broad bipartisan support and is designed to address some of the worst housing situations in the U.S.” 

“Second, bipartisan tax legislation is needed to fully include rural America in the housing benefits of last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA),” Lipsetz continued.  “Like the rest of the affordable housing industry, HAC was pleased that the OBBA substantially expanded the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).  But we were disappointed that the final package dropped a broadly-supported provision of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act that designated rural places and Tribal lands ‘Difficult Development Areas,’ thus able to attract LIHTC equity investments at a level enjoyed by other parts of the country. Rural America needs Congress and the Administration to handle this unfinished business.”  

“Notably, developers seeking to rehab or develop new affordable homeownership units lack a LIHTC-type tax credit to spur supply,” observed Lipsetz.  “While far from alone in this, rural communities suffer disproportionately from the ‘value gap’ – the term coined to describe situations where it costs more to fix or build a home than it will appraise for.  The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (NHIA) is a bipartisan, broadly supported federal tax credit that would help make such transactions ‘pencil out’ to the benefit of low- and moderate-income homeowners and prospective homebuyers in communities that are not well served by current law.”

“Finally,” Lipsetz emphasized, “today’s legislation won’t have an impact if the Administration does not allow rural families and small towns to access the funds in a timely manner that Congress has already provided for rural housing programs. Millions of dollars rural America desperately needs for housing and community development are sitting at Treasury, HUD and USDA.  HAC urges the Administration to quickly allocate those funds and accelerate the nation’s response to the housing crisis. If the Administration delays further and Congress wants to keep its commitment to rural communities, it will be necessary to strengthen the language in agencies’ annual appropriations to compel allocation of the funding.”

“The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act significantly improves our nation’s federal housing programs,” Lipsetz concluded. “We will continue to work with Congress and the Administration until every American – including those in small towns and rural places – is in a good quality home they can afford.”

HAC News: June 11, 2026

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TOP STORIES

House advances USDA and HUD appropriations

The full House passed its FY27 USDA appropriations bill (H.R. 8646) on June 4, making no changes in the rural housing provisions passed on April 29 by the House Appropriations Committee. On June 3 the House committee passed its FY27 appropriations bill for HUD (H.R. 9170) with some amendments to the text of the version passed by the Transportation-HUD subcommittee on May 21. Adopted amendments would block HUD funding to jurisdictions that do not cooperate with immigration enforcement, maintain the full range of housing counseling programs, and direct HUD to continue assisting families with mixed citizenship statuses.

The Senate Appropriations Committee had been scheduled to mark up its FY27 USDA measure, along with other bills, on June 4, but has postponed that session indefinitely. The committee has not released text for its USDA or HUD bills.

OMB proposes significant changes for federal awards

The Office of Management and Budget has proposed major changes in government agencies’ reviews of funding applications and their authority to oversee grantees’ work. Applications would be required to apply the administration’s policy priorities regarding DEI, disparate impact liability, sex, and immigration, and senior agency appointees would review awards to enforce these requirements. Agencies would be expected to consider applicants’ past histories and connections with other organizations. Awards could be terminated for any reason; this provision would not apply to entitlement funds or awards based on statutory formulas. Agencies could change the terms of awards during performance periods. Comments are due July 13.

Rural places have more unsheltered homeless families

HUD has released the first part of its 2025 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, which shows a 3.3% reduction from January 2024 to January 2025 in the number of people experiencing homelessness. Continuums of Care categorized as “rural” had a higher proportion of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness than other geographic CoC types, and rural CoCs were the only ones with an increase in unsheltered homelessness among individuals with chronic patterns of homelessness. In rural CoCs, 5% of homeless persons were unsheltered families, compared to 2% or less in other places. About one in every five homeless veterans was in a rural place.

Interpretations of the data vary. HUD focuses on the 27% increase in homelessness since 2013 as an indication that Housing First policies do not work. The National Alliance to End Homelessness points to “concerning trends” including increases in chronic homelessness and homelessness among older adults, as well as the fact that homelessness programs have permanent housing units for just 9.5% of people in need. The Joint Center for Housing Studies highlights the pandemic’s role in increasing homelessness and driving up rent costs.   

June is National Homeownership Month

USDA Rural Development recognized the occasion and will livestream a June 17 celebration honoring Section 502 guaranteed lenders. HUD Secretary Scott Turner issued a video announcing the observance.

HAC Homeownership Month event features heirs’ property

On June 9, HAC hosted a hybrid event titled “Recognizing Heirs’ Property Owners During Homeownership Month.” The event featured a presentation of HAC’s research report, Understanding Investment, Unlocking Ownership, highlighting the legal process of clearing property title. The research presentation was followed by a discussion among national experts from the Neal Firm, HAC, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Fannie Mae, recognizing heirs as homeowners and focusing on strategies, solutions, and policies that support heirs’ property owners. Video of the event is available on HAC’s YouTube channel.

RuralSTAT

In 1990, about 4% of all homeowner households nationally were Hispanic or Latino. By 2024 that rate had increased threefold, with Hispanics now comprising over 12% of owner-occupants nationally. The homeownership rate of Hispanic households is now above 50%. Source: HAC tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 1990-2000 Decennial Census of Population and Housing and American 2006-2024 Community Survey Data.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP IN YOUR COMMUNITY, VISIT RURAL DATA CENTRAL.

OPPORTUNITIES

FY26 Continuum of Care, FY24-25 Youth Homelessness funding notices published

A June 1 notice from HUD offers FY26 funds for the Continuum of Care and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Programs. The notice revives HUD’s efforts to make major changes in the federal approach to homelessness, which are the subject of at least two ongoing lawsuits. HUD is emphasizing transitional housing and supportive services rather than permanent housing and “housing first” approaches. There are other new and revised requirements, including some that apply to projects originally awarded under the 2022 rural setaside. Applications are due August 26.   

A separate notice announces the competition for funds appropriated in FY24 and FY25 for two youth homelessness programs – Youth Homelessness System Improvement Grants and the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program. HUD will prioritize selecting places with substantial rural populations for up to 16 YHDP grants. The application deadline is August 10.

Grants will support transitional housing for victims of domestic violence

The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women offers Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program. Eligible applicants are Tribal, state, and local governments and nonprofits with a documented history of effective work concerning Violence Against Women Act crimes. The program funds transitional housing and support services for victims who are homeless or in need of transitional housing or other housing assistance. Applications are due July 14.

HUD opens PRO Housing competition

State and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and multijurisdictional entities are eligible for HUD’s Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program. HUD’s goals for this competition include decreasing the cost and increasing the supply of affordable housing, especially in Opportunity Zones and rural communities; removing barriers to constructing or rehabilitating more affordable housing units; and rewarding jurisdictions that encourage affordable housing production and preservation. The deadline is August 3.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

HUD proposes change to manufactured housing chassis requirements

To reduce the cost of multistory manufactured homes, HUD proposes to eliminate the permanent chassis requirement for transportable sections that serve as parts of upper floors of manufactured homes. Comments are due August 11.

USDA RD Under Secretary nomination advances

On June 8, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved the nomination of Glen R. Smith to serve as USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development. Next, the full Senate must vote on the nomination. Smith is an agricultural businessman and farmer from Iowa. He serves on the boards of directors of the Farm Credit Administration and the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation. He was first nominated for this position in June 2025.

Brian Johnson nominated to be director of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Johnson, currently at Capital One, was CFPB’s Deputy Director during President Trump’s first term.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau tells lenders to consider immigration status when evaluating loan risk

Noting that creditors such as mortgage lenders and credit card issuers are legally required to assess ability to repay before offering mortgages and other credit products, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued a statement suggesting lenders may need to consider consumers’ immigration status. CFPB points out that when a customer is subject to removal from the United States, their income may be disrupted, impacting their repayment ability.

HUD announces requirements waivers for Native American grantees in disaster areas

A notice lists suspensions, waivers, and flexibilities from HUD requirements available for grantees under the Indian Housing Block Grant, Indian Community Development Block Grant, and Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant programs in areas covered by presidentially declared disasters during calendar year 2026.

EVENTS

HAC offers Section 502 direct loan packaging course in Albany

HAC will hold a USDA Section 502 Direct Certified Loan Packaging Training in Albany, NY on July 21-23. This three-day advanced course prepares participants to become certified Section 502 loan packagers. It is designed for those experienced in using Section 502. A laptop is required for the class for each participant. Following the course, participants are encouraged to take the online certification exam. The registration fee is $825. For more information, contact HAC, registration@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

New HAC publication highlights how heirs’ property manifests in Latino communities

Developed in partnership with UnidosUS, HAC’s new report, Heirs’ Property in Latino Communities, examines the  prevalence and contributing factors related to heirs’ property and title issues among Latino households. Drawing on insights from four communities and the work of local organizations, the report also highlights challenges and emerging solutions. It ultimately calls for greater awareness and targeted strategies to help Latino families secure and sustain ownership across generations.

More uses of AI in affordable rental housing discussed

A second column in Novogradac’s Journal of Tax Credits follows AI Moves Into Affordable Housing – Cautiously, Quickly and (Increasingly) Everywhere, Part One, covered in the May 14 HAC News. The first column highlighted property managers’ use of artificial intelligence. AI Moves Toward Center Stage in Affordable Housing (Part Two) looks at applications by developers, investors and syndicators.

Annual data book shows fewer children in high poverty areas but more with housing cost burden

The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book shows that overall child well-being in the U.S. declined from 2019 to 2024. The share of children living in households burdened by high housing costs rose from 30% in 2019 to 31% in 2024 – the first increase since 2010 – while the share of children living in high-poverty areas fell 22%. Data is presented at the national and state levels. This year, for the first time, Casey assigned comprehensive scores (from 0 to 1,000) as well as rankings, making it possible to see changes within each state over time. Among the areas studied, state education scores were the lowest, with only two states improving over five years.

Better HUD monitoring of rural service providers recommended

Rural Housing: Weaknesses in Data Quality and Use Limit HUD’s Ability to Assess Effectiveness of Service Coordinators, a new Government Accountability Office report, notes that residents of assisted housing in rural places may have a heightened need for service coordination, but HUD does not compile reliable data on rural use of its service coordinator program or evaluate its effectiveness.

Land-grant schools promote rural broadband

An Oklahoma State University article titled Southern Land-Grant Universities Strengthen Rural Connectivity describes ongoing efforts by OSU and others that focus on rural internet access.  For example, OSU is partnering with 30 libraries in small towns (under 7,000 residents) to provide internet access to library customers at their homes through internet hotspot connections.

HAC

HAC is hiring

HAC job listings and application links are available on our website.

·       Portfolio Manager, Closing and Disbursement

Need capital for your affordable housing project?

HAC’s loan fund provides low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, new development, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development, construction/rehabilitation and permanent financing. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including Tribes).

Want to reprint a HAC News item?

Please credit the HAC News and provide a link to HAC’s website. Thank you!

House Committee Advances FY27 HUD Funding Bill With Policy Changes

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Update, June 11, 2026 – On June 3 the House committee passed its FY27 appropriations bill for HUD (H.R. 9170) with some amendments to the text of the version passed by the Transportation-HUD subcommittee on May 21. Adopted amendments would block HUD funding to jurisdictions that do not cooperate with immigration enforcement, maintain the full range of housing counseling programs, and direct HUD to continue assisting families with mixed citizenship statuses.

— Information about FY27 funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural housing programs is available here. —

On May 21 the House Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee approved a fiscal year 27 funding bill that rejects many cuts proposed in the administration’s budget but would provide some programs with lower dollar amounts than they received in FY26. Details are shown in the table below.

The HOME program would be reduced from $1.25 billion in FY26 to $500 million in FY27, while Community Development Block Grants would remain at $3.3 billion. Native American housing would receive a moderate increase overall. The Continuum of Care program would not be eliminated, as the administration’s budget proposed, but its funding would be reduced. Fair housing would also be cut back, but the bill would not eliminate the Fair Housing Initiative Program, which was targeted in the budget proposal. Similarly, it would shrink but not zero out funding for housing counseling.

The bill would eliminate Build America, Buy America requirements for the HOME, CDBG, Public Housing Operating and Capital Funds, the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program, and Native American programs in FY27 and prior years.

The full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up the bill on June 3. The Senate committee has not yet released a bill or announced a schedule for considering one.

Table: HUD Funding Levels

Program ($ in millions)

FY26 Final

FY27 Budget

FY27 House (H.R. 9170)

FY27 Senate*

FY27 Final*
CDBG

$3,300

0

 $3,300
HOME

1,250

0

 500
PRICE Manuf. Hsg. Prsrv.

0

0

 0
Self-Help Hmownrshp (SHOP)

12

16**

 12
Veterans Home Rehab

0

0

 0
Rural Cap’y Bldg (RCB)

7

0

 6
Tenant-Based Rental Asst.

38,439

38,846

 38,083
     VASH

15

0

 0
Project-Based Rental Asst.

18,143

17,640

 18,975
Public Hsg. Capital Fund

3,200

3,200

 2,286
Public Hsg. Operating Fund

5,024

5,377

 4,737
202 Hsg. for Elderly

1,031

959

 1,062
811 Hsg. for Disabled

287

266

 296
Native Amer. Hsg.

1,354

887

 1,400
     Native Hawaiian

22.3

0

 15
     Tribal HUD-VASH

10

10

 10
Homeless Asst. Grants total

4,417

4,024

 4,161
     Emergency Solutions Grants

290

4,024

 290
     Continuum of Care

4,010

0

 3,779
      Permanent Supportive Housing

52

0

 52
Hsg. Oppties for Persons w/ AIDS (HOPWA)

529

0

 529
Fair Hsg.

86.4

26

 48.5
Healthy Homes & Lead Control

296

110

 296
Hsg. Counseling

57.5

0

 26

* These columns will be filled in as the appropriations process moves forward.

**The budget proposes $16 million to be earmarked for Habitat for Humanity’s SHOP and Section 4 technical assistance activities. Other SHOP grantees such as HAC would receive no funding.

HUD Budget Would Eliminate Several Programs, Cut Others

April 3, 2026 – As it did last year, the administration proposes to eliminate the HOME and Community Development Block Grant programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Its budget request for fiscal year 2027, released on April 3, would also cut funding for Native American and Native Hawaiian housing, defund capacity building programs including the Rural Capacity Building program, earmark all Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity funds to Habitat for Humanity, and completely revamp the federal approach to aiding people experiencing homelessness.

A recording of a HAC webinar held on April 8 is available here. Panelists covered what the budget includes for rural housing programs at USDA, HUD, and the CDFI Fund, and what the rest of the funding process will look like.

Consistent with changes the administration has proposed for the FY24-26 Continuum of Care program, which have been challenged in court, the budget would direct its entire $4.02 billion in homeless funding to the Emergency Solutions Grants program and none to Continuums of Care. ESG funds, $290 million in FY26, are distributed to state and local governments. The budget proposes language to prioritize this ESG spending on transitional housing, to allow preferences for elderly people or those with disabilities, and to give HUD special flexibility in administering the program.

Native American housing funds would be reduced by one-third. Fair housing would also see a large cut: the Fair Housing Assistance Program, which funds state fair housing activities, would receive $26 million, slightly below its $26.4 million level in FY26. No funding would be provided for the Fair Housing Initiative Program, fair housing training, or assistance for people with limited English proficiency.

Public housing agencies would be required to impose work requirements for most people receiving rental assistance, and households would be limited to five years of aid.

A new $30 million program would combat fraud, waste, and abuse in federally assisted housing.

Next Steps

This budget represents the first step in a lengthier process to set appropriations for FY27. Both the House and the Senate will develop their own appropriations bills, which may or may not resemble the President’s proposal. The House and Senate should resolve any differences between their bills and send final versions to the President for signature by September 30. If they do not meet that deadline, a continuing resolution would be needed to keep the government running.

For ongoing news on appropriations and other topics related to rural housing, subscribe to HAC emails, which include the free biweekly HAC News.

 

House Approves FY27 Funding Bill for USDA

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Update June 11, 2026 – The full House passed its FY27 USDA appropriations bill (H.R. 8646) on June 4, making no changes in the rural housing provisions passed on April 29 by the House Appropriations Committee.

— Information about FY27 funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development is available here. —

April 30, 2026 – The House Appropriations Committee approved its FY27 funding bill for USDA on April 29. There is no indication yet when the bill might be considered on the House floor or when the Senate may begin work on its version of the measure.

The dollar amounts passed by the committee are shown in the table below. The bill also takes steps to undo the administration’s recent changes to the Section 502 direct program. First, it requires the Section 502 direct loan limit to remain at 80% of HUD’s limit unless USDA lowers it through a formal rulemaking procedure.

Second, the non-binding report that accompanies the bill “encourages” USDA to eliminate the new requirement for multiple reviews by State Directors and requests extensive reporting back to the committee:

The Committee notes that revisions to the Section 502 handbook issued by RHS on February 10, 2026, made substantial changes in the Section 502 direct loan program, including lower limits and review of eligibility and loan approval by State directors of all Section 502 loans. The bill includes language prohibiting RHS from implementing the loan limit change that has negatively impacted certain areas of the country and directs RHS to revert to the previous loan limit immediately. The Committee is also concerned that recent changes requiring multiple State Director reviews of individual loan applications may introduce unnecessary delays in program delivery and encourages the Department to revert to a single review pending any future changes developed through notice-and-comment rulemaking.
The Committee directs the RHS Administrator to provide monthly briefings on this program, including analyses and impact on rural families seeking homeownership loans. Briefings shall include, by State, information on the number and dollar amount of Section 502 loans made and the number and dollar amount of loan applications on hand. The Committee is also aware that over 1,000 loan applications were on file at RHS before implementation of the handbook revisions. RHS is directed to provide a report on those loan applications, the number approved, the number rejected due to the handbook revisions, and what measures RHS is taking to assist loan applicants who were rejected due to the handbook changes. RHS is also directed to provide information to the Committee on loan processing time by State and to provide a comparison with processing time for fiscal year 2025.

Neither the bill nor the report addresses USDA’s changes to loan packaging fees.

House Proposes to Hold Most Rural Housing Programs at FY26 Funding Levels

April 22, 2026 – The House Appropriations Committee has released its proposed FY27 funding bill for USDA. As shown in the table below, the bill would keep almost all of the rural housing and community facilities programs at their FY26 dollar levels. It would increase Section 502 guaranteed lending and Section 521 Rental Assistance, as requested in the administration’s budget. It would continue to allow decoupling of Rental Assistance from Section 515 or 514 mortgages when those mortgages end, with a limit of 5,000 units.

The House agriculture appropriations subcommittee will mark up this bill on Thursday, April 23. The full committee is scheduled to review it on April 28.

The process to set appropriations for FY27 is still in its very early stages. Both the House and the Senate will develop their own appropriations bills, which may or may not resemble the President’s proposal. The House and Senate should resolve any differences between their bills and send final versions to the President for signature by September 30. If they do not meet that deadline, a continuing resolution would be needed to keep the government running.

For ongoing news on appropriations and other topics related to rural housing, subscribe to HAC emails, which include the free biweekly HAC News.

Table: USDA Rural Housing Service Funding Levels

Program

($ in millions)

FY26 Final

FY27 Budget

FY27 House (H.R. 8646)

FY27 Senate*

 FY27 Final*
502 SF Direct Loans

$1,000

$983.2

 $1,000
     Nat. Amer. SF Demo

5

0

 6
502 SF Guar. Loans

25,000

20,000

 25,000
504 VLI Repair Loans

25

25

 25
504 VLI Repair Grants

21

20

 **
515 MF Direct Loans

50

50

 50
514 Farm Labor Hsg. Loans

15

15

 15
521 Rental Asst.

1,715

1,795

 1,795
523 Self-Help TA

25

25

 25
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants

6

6

 **
538 MF Guar. Loans

400

500

 400
542 Vouchers

48

0

 48
Rental Prsrv. Demo (MPR)

30

30

 30
Rental Prsrv. TA

2

0

 0
Rural Cmty. Dev’t Init.

5

0

 5
Cmty. Facil. Direct Loans

1,250

1,250

 1,250
Cmty. Facil. Grants***

13

0

 19.4
    Tribal Colleges CF Grants

8

0

 8
Cmty. Facil. Guar.

650

650

 650

*These columns will be filled in as the appropriations process moves forward.

**The House bill would provide a total of $26 million for Section 504 grants and Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants.

***The amounts shown here for CF grants are for competitive grants. The final FY26 appropriation and the House FY27 bill include significant additional funds for “Community Project Funding” or “Congressionally Directed Spending” — earmarks.

Abbreviations key

  • NA: Not Available
  • MF: Multifamily (Rental)
  • SF: Single-Family (Homeownership)
  • TA: Technical Assistance
  • VLI: Very Low-Income

USDA’s Rural Housing Budget Supports Most Programs

April 3, 2026 – The administration’s budget request for fiscal year 2027 was released on April 3. The proposals for USDA’s rural housing programs are slightly better than those in the FY26 budget.

Join HAC on April 8 at 2:00 pm Eastern time to learn more about the budget. In this webinar, HAC policy staff will cover what the budget includes for rural housing programs at USDA, HUD, and the CDFI Fund, and what the rest of the funding process will look like. Register here.

Homeownership

Last year USDA proposed to defund the Section 502 direct program but this year it suggests a $983 million program level. USDA estimates this amount will finance 5,355 homes.

The budget would eliminate the $5 million relending program that enables Native Community Development Financial Institutions to provide mortgages for Native American homebuyers.

The budget would change the current mortgage requirement for homeowners obtaining Section 504 repair loans. It would allow loans of up to $15,000 – rather than the current $7,500 – to be secured by a promissory note rather than a mortgage.

The administration would continue to support local organizations administering self-help programs under Section 523, despite its recent defunding of technical assistance providers to help them.

Rental Housing

The budget includes support for some of the elements of USDA’s rental preservation work, proposing to hold the Section 515 and Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization (MPR) programs at their FY26 levels. It would not, however, provide returns on investment or asset management fees for nonprofit and public agency owners. And it would not fund technical assistance to help nonprofits and public agencies purchase properties in need of preservation; USDA explains that it expects carryover funding from prior years to be sufficient to satisfy the demand.

The budget again supports decoupling Section 521 Rental Assistance from Section 515 and Section 514 mortgages, allowing tenants in rental properties where USDA mortgages are ending to continue to receive Rental Assistance. There would be no limit on the number of these Stand-Alone Rental Assistance (SARA) units.

Relying on SARA to cover tenants, the budget would eliminate funding for Section 542 vouchers. As it did last year, it makes no provisions for renters currently relying on these vouchers, explaining without details that “between the set of current recipients whose income would not allow them to re-qualify, the value of the voucher diminishing over time, and natural attrition from the program, very few of the current recipients will be affected. For the remaining few, options would include vacancies at other USDA properties with rental assistance, applying for HUD funded housing assistance or other similar programs at the state and local level.”

Other Information

USDA’s document explaining its Rural Development budget to Congress provides some additional information:

  • the department’s request includes funding for a contract with a consultant to help implement the Build America, Buy America Act;
  • a breakdown of staffing by state shows that Rural Development had the equivalent of 4,409 full-time staff in FY24 and 4,452 in FY25, and is expected to have 3,057 in both FY26 and FY27. It does not indicate whether the figures are calculated at the beginning of the fiscal year or at the end.

The Rural Housing Service budget explanation includes information about how the housing programs’ funds were used in FY24 and FY25.

Next Steps

This budget represents the first step in a lengthier process to set appropriations for FY27. Both the House and the Senate will develop their own appropriations bills, which may or may not resemble the President’s proposal. The House and Senate should resolve any differences between their bills and send final versions to the President for signature by September 30. If they do not meet that deadline, a continuing resolution would be needed to keep the government running.

For ongoing news on appropriations and other topics related to rural housing, subscribe to HAC emails, which include the free biweekly HAC News.

 

HAC News: May 28, 2026

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TOP STORIES

Housing bill passes House

The House passed its revised version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by a wide margin on May 20, with the Rural Housing Service Reform Act included. HAC issued a statement supporting the measure and encouraging Congress to continue moving forward to bring the package to the President’s desk. The White House, which had earlier supported the Senate’s bill, has now endorsed the House version. Tables comparing the bills’ provisions have been posted by Novogradac and the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders. It is not clear yet whether the Senate will accept the House’s changes.

House proposes cuts to HUD funding

On May 21 a House appropriations subcommittee approved a fiscal year 2027 HUD funding bill that rejects many cuts proposed in the administration’s budget but would provide some programs with lower dollar amounts than they received in FY26. The HOME program would be reduced from $1.25 billion in FY26 to $500 million in FY27, while CDBG would remain at $3.3 billion. Native American housing would receive a moderate increase overall. The Continuum of Care program, fair housing, and housing counseling would be reduced. The bill would also eliminate Build America, Buy America requirements for HOME, CDBG, SHOP, public housing, and Native American housing. Details are posted on HAC’s website. The full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up the bill on June 3. The Senate committee has not yet released a bill or announced a schedule for considering one.

Barney Frank, housing champion in Congress, dies at 86

HAC honors the legacy of former Representative Barney Frank, a longtime congressional champion for safe, decent, and affordable housing for all Americans. Despite being famously from Bayonne, NJ, and representing the Boston area, he took account of the unique housing needs of rural America as he ascended to the chair of the House Financial Services Committee. There he led the response to the financial crisis of 2008, including the Housing and Economic Recovery Act which created the National Housing Trust and Capital Magnet Funds. Mr. Frank was a longstanding supporter of funding for HAC’s work and rural housing programs at both HUD and USDA, and a regular speaker at HAC’s National Rural Housing Conference.

RuralSTAT

Rural Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders all experienced double-digit population gains between 2010 and 2020. In 2024, Rural Asians made up approximately 3% of all Asians nationally and the rural Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population comprised 16% of U.S. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders. Source: HAC tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 and 2020 Decennial Census of Population and Housing and 2020-2024 American Community Survey.

CAPITOL HILL

Members of Congress support Section 502 homeownership program

Bipartisan groups of Senators and Representatives recently wrote to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins supporting the Section 502 direct mortgage program and asking the department to roll back its February changes. A May 19 letter from House members and a March 20 missive from Senators emphasize the program’s role in making homeownership possible for low-income rural Americans and explain the difficulties posed by USDA’s abrupt revisions to loan limits, staff review, and nonprofit packaging. The House letter also requests renewal of technical assistance support for local self-help programs.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

All FY25 Continuum of Care awards now announced

As required by its FY26 appropriations law because of ongoing litigation regarding changes it proposed to the Continuum of Care program, HUD has announced all the FY25 funding renewals for CoC grantees.

Guidance encourages using HOME, CDBG, and Housing Trust Fund in Opportunity Zones

HUD’s Notice CPD-26-07 focuses on using the HOME, Community Development Block Grant, Section 108 Loan Guarantee, and Housing Trust Fund programs with the new Opportunity Zone designations that take effect January 1, 2027. The process of nominating new OZs is currently underway; for links to state websites with more details, visit the Economic Innovation Group’s State OZ 2.0 Resources map. Recommendations for making the OZ designations in a way that will drive investments into rural communities facing persistent poverty are provided in a guide and webinar produced by HAC in conjunction with Partners for Rural Transformation and HOPE Enterprise Corporation.

HUD ends Fair Housing Act accommodations for emotional support animals

HUD’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity office issued an internal memo on May 22 saying it will enforce tenants’ animal-related Fair Housing Act reasonable accommodations requests only for trained assistance animals, not for emotional support animals. HUD will use the definition of individually trained service animals set out in Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, the memo says, and will undertake a rulemaking process to harmonize its regulations with the ADA’s. An analysis by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund explains the implications of the policy change.

FHA requests feedback on Minimum Property Requirements

HUD’s Federal Housing Administration is seeking public input regarding the Minimum Property Requirements used for FHA’s single-family mortgage insurance programs. FHA hopes to gather information on both specific MPRs and general approaches. Comments are due June 29.

Suit challenges fair lending rule changes

The National Fair Housing Alliance and others have filed a lawsuit seeking to undo the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s April revisions to fair lending regulations. CFPB’s final rule eliminates disparate-impact claims, recognizes discrimination only when clear statements of intent are made, and amends the standards for special purpose credit programs. HAC was among the tens of thousands of commenters who opposed the changes when they were suggested in late 2025.

Environmental review step eliminated for large HUD-supported properties

HUD is accepting comments until July 21 on an interim final rule that removes one step in the environmental review process for projects with over 200 dwelling units or beds. Effective June 22, environmental assessments for these developments will not require review by Field or Program Environmental Clearance Officers.

PHA compliance date set for HOTMA changes to tenant income calculations

Beginning January 1, 2027, HUD will enforce public housing agencies’ compliance with specific provisions of the Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act. Notice PIH 2026-15 applies to the Housing Choice Voucher, Project-Based Voucher, Moderate Rehabilitation, Moderate Rehabilitation Single-Room Occupancy, and Public Housing programs.

EVENTS

HAC to hold hybrid event recognizing heirs’ property owners during Homeownership Month

HAC recently published a report on collective landownership and clearing title to heirs’ property. Join us on June 9 for Recognizing Heirs’ Property Owners During Homeownership Month, a presentation of the research and a conversation among national experts on strategies, solutions, and policies that support heirs’ property owners. This is a hybrid event offering both in-person attendance in Washington, DC and virtual participation.

Webinar scheduled on rural permanent supportive housing

On June 4 the National Alliance to End Homelessness will host Making Permanent Supportive Housing Work in Rural America, featuring research by the Housing Initiative at Penn. Rural practitioners and policy advocates will join the researchers for a panel discussion and Q&A about challenges and the emerging solutions to address them.

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

Research shows bank branch growth

After 15 years of steady decline, the U.S. bank branch network is beginning to grow again. New research from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition finds that early 2026 saw an increase in branches for the second consecutive quarter. Expansion is uneven, however, with new branches concentrated in fast-growing regions and many communities such as low-income and rural areas are still facing limited access. NCRC’s research summary includes a map showing where branches opened and closed during the quarter.

HUD lists regulatory best practices to increase construction

HUD’s State and Local Best Practices for Home Construction Report summarizes regulatory actions for state and local governments to increase efficiency and ease regulatory barriers to housing construction and affordability. The best practices fall into three categories: cut home construction costs, unlock land for new housing supply, and accelerate construction timelines.

Opportunity Zones can draw farmland investments

Grounded Investments: Applying Opportunity Zones to Farmland Through Disciplined Screening and Underwriting, a recent article published by Novogradac, describes how one farmland-focused qualified opportunity fund acquires and improves agricultural land located within OZs. The author explains that their strategy combines institutional farmland investment practices with the long-term investment horizon encouraged by the OZ incentive.

Cuts in federal contracts with Tribes impact broader rural economies

Declines in federal contracting, including through the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program for economically disadvantaged businesses, are reducing support for many Tribal businesses, Fortune reports. Nearby rural communities may see reduced revenues and employment opportunities as a result.

HAC

HAC is hiring

HAC job listings and application links are available on our website.

·       Portfolio Manager, Closing and Disbursement

Need capital for your affordable housing project?

HAC’s loan fund provides low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, new development, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development, construction/rehabilitation and permanent financing. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including Tribes).

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Partnership With The Home Depot Foundation Continues to Expand Housing Support for Rural Veterans and Nonprofits

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Contacts: AHRV Team, ahrv@ruralhome.org
(202) 842-8600

Washington, DC, May 26, 2026 – Veterans and their families in seventeen rural communities will have better lives, thanks to The Home Depot Foundation and the Housing Assistance Council (HAC). The Foundation is awarding grants totaling $453,850 to seventeen local nonprofit housing agencies around the country to preserve housing for veterans across rural America.

The grants are part of the Foundation’s mission to provide affordable and accessible housing solutions to U.S. veterans and invest $750 million in veteran causes by 2030. Many veterans and their families face major housing challenges, often exacerbated by issues related to unemployment, age, and service-related disabilities. The Foundation and HAC are dedicated to giving back to those who have answered the highest call of service to our nation.

As part of its Affordable Housing for Rural Veterans (AHRV) Initiative, HAC works with the Foundation to administer grants that bolster and support the work of rural nonprofit housing agencies to deliver critical housing support to veterans. “The value of HAC’s partnership with The Home Depot Foundation is immeasurable,” said David Lipsetz, HAC’s President and CEO. “Over time it has increasingly enabled HAC to show up for rural veterans by supporting the efforts of local nonprofits who provide safe, affordable housing and greater stability in the communities they call home.” As rural America is home to a disproportionately high number of service women and men, HAC remains deeply committed to supporting our nation’s service women and men by uplifting local nonprofits and their work to house veterans and ensure the habitability of their homes and rural communities.

The grantee organizations, described below, provide a range of programs. With the grants, veterans who own homes in California, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, South Carolina, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, will obtain critical repair assistance. Altogether, 82 veterans and their families will benefit from these grants.

About The Home Depot Foundation 

The Home Depot FoundationThe Home Depot Foundation, a nonprofit supported by The Home Depot, works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, support communities impacted by natural disasters and train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $650 million in veteran causes and improved more than 70,000 veteran homes and facilities. The Foundation has pledged to invest $750 million in veteran causes by 2030 and $50 million in training the next generation of skilled tradespeople through the Path to Pro program. To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation visit HomeDepotFoundation.org and follow us on LinkedIn @TheHomeDepotFoundation, X @HomeDepotFound and on Facebook and Instagram @HomeDepotFoundation.

About the Housing Assistance Council

The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is a national nonprofit that supports affordable housing efforts throughout rural America. Since 1971, HAC has provided below-market financing for affordable housing and community development, technical assistance and training, research and information, and policy formulation to enable solutions for rural communities. To learn more about the Housing Assistance Council, visit www.ruralhome.org and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.

About the Grantees


  • Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens, Cedar Bluff, VA, will utilize $30,000 to provide housing rehabilitation and modifications to sixteen (16) veteran homes. For additional information on Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens visit their website at https://aasc.org/
  • Austin Habitat for Humanity, Austin, TX, will utilize $30,000 to provide critical repairs to two (2) low-income veteran homes. For additional information on Austin Habitat for Humanity visit their website at https://austinhabitat.org/
  • Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation, Fairport, NY, will utilize $30,000 to provide critical repairs to nine (9) disabled veteran homes. For additional information on Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation visit their website at https://sheenhousing.org/
  • GROW South Dakota, Sisseton, SD, will utilize $30,000 to provide essential rehabilitation to three (3) veteran homes. For additional information on GROW South Dakota visit their website at https://www.growsd.org/
  • Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts, Acton, MA, will utilize $11,500 to provide critical repairs to two (2) veteran homes. For additional information on Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts visit their website at https://ncmhabitat.org/
  • Habitat for Humanity of Butte County, Chico, CA, will utilize $30,000 to support the construction of one (1) home for a low-income veteran. For additional information on Habitat for Humanity of Butte County visit their website at https://www.buttehabitat.org/
  • Habitat for Humanity of Columbus Nebraska, Columbus, NE, will utilize $30,000 to provide critical repairs to four (4) veteran homes. For additional information on Habitat for Humanity of Columbus Nebraska visit their website at https://www.hfhcolumbusne.org/
  • Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County, Fruitland, MD, will utilize $30,000 to provide critical repairs to three (3) low-income veteran homes. For additional information on Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County visit their website at https://wicomicohabitat.org/
  • Habitat for Humanity of York County, Rock Hill, SC, will utilize $12,500 to provide critical repairs to one (1) veteran home. For additional information on Habitat for Humanity of York County visit their website at https://yorkcountyhabitat.org/
  • Houston County Habitat for Humanity, Warner Robins, GA, will utilize $15,000 to provide critical repairs to two (2) veteran homes. For additional information on Houston County Habitat for Humanity visit their website at https://www.hocohabitat.org/
  • Neighborhood Housing Services Oklahoma City, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK, will utilize $30,000 to provide critical repairs to eight (8) low-income veteran homes. For additional information on Neighborhood Housing Services Oklahoma City Inc. visit their website at https://www.nhsokla.org/
  • NeighborWorks Umpqua, Roseburg, OR, will utilize $30,000 to provide critical repairs to ten (10) low-income veteran-owned homes. For additional information on NeighborWorks Umpqua visit their website at http://www.nwumpqua.org/
  • Rebuilding Together Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, will utilize $30,000 to provide critical repairs to four (4) low-income veteran homes. For additional information on Rebuilding Together Minnesota visit their website at http://www.rtmn.org/
  • Rebuilding Together Platte Valley East, Fremont, NE, will utilize $25,850 to provide critical repairs to one (1) veteran home. For additional information on Rebuilding Together Platte Valley East visit their website at https://rebuildingtogetherpve.org/
  • Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, Ballston Spa, NY, will utilize $30,000 to provide critical repairs to four (4) low-income veteran homes. For additional information on Rebuilding Together Saratoga County visit their website at https://rtsaratoga.org/
  • Tacoma Pierce County Habitat for Humanity, Tacoma, WA, will utilize $29,000 to provide critical repairs to two (2) veteran homes. For additional information on Tacoma Pierce County Habitat for Humanity visit their website at https://www.tpc-habitat.org/
  • Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity, Spooner, WI, will utilize $30,000 to provide critical repairs to two (2) veteran homes. For additional information on Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity visit their website at https://wildrivershabitat.org/

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