U.S. rural (and urban) young people can apply by August 31 to take a FOCUS Climate Gap Year, “a hands-on leadership program for young people interested in exploring the world, and immersing themselves in climate impacts and solutions”!
August 1, 2018
HAC’s 2018 California Wildfires Disaster Guide provides resources for emergency preparedness and disaster recovery.
by David Lipsetz, CEO of the Housing Assistance Council
It was the mid-1970s. Gerald Ford was in office. CDFIs like the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) were just getting started. And Peggy Wright was growing up in Forrest City, Arkansas.
Forrest City is part of Arkansas’ long-struggling Delta region, where rich soil rarely led to riches for the largely African American population toiling in the fields. Housing conditions were dire, and indoor plumbing was hardly commonplace. Within a few years, Peggy had grown up and joined the Arkansas Delta Housing Development Corporation (ADHDC). Despite the barriers of the times, she rose to the position of housing director at ADHDC, running a “Self-Help” housing model which allows those of modest means to put forth hundreds of hours of sweat equity toward construction of their own homes.
USDA’s Rural Housing Service offers grants under its Section 533 Housing Preservation Grant program. Nonprofit, local government agencies, and tribes are eligible. Funds can be used for repair and rehabilitation of owner-occupied or rental homes in rural places. Applications are due August 9, 2018.
USDA’s Rural Housing Service is now accepting pre-applications for Section 514 Farm Labor Housing loans and Section 516 grants. The funds can be used to construct new housing and related facilities, or to purchase and substantially rehabilitate property that will become housing for farm laborers. Pre-applications are due to USDA Rural Development State Offices on August 27, 2018.
HAC is now accepting nominations for its 2018 Cochran/Collings National Service and Skip Jason Community Service Leadership Awards. Nominations are due Friday July 13, 2018. The awards will be presented at the 2018 Rural Housing Conference (RHC) in December. Complete the online nomination form.
Questions? Contact HAC’s Lilla Sutton at (202) 842-8600 or lilla@ruralhome.org.
HAC will be hosting a three-part series of webinars focused on financing farm labor housing using Section 514/516 funding. Register now for all three!
The Housing Assistance Council would like to thank you for your dedication to building rural communities. We would also like to salute you for your continuous support of HAC and the work we do to provide quality affordable housing to the rural poor, especially the poorest of the poor in the most rural places.
As you celebrate the holiday season, we hope you will take a moment and make a donation to HAC. Your tax-deductible donation helps support HAC’s work in rural communities across the country.
Wishing you the brightest and happiest of holidays, and a joyous new year.
December 22, 2017
HAC’s 2017 Southern California Wildfires Disaster Guide provides resources for emergency preparedness and disaster recovery.
2017 Southern California Wildfires Disaster Guide Supplement
The News-Review, the daily newspaper for Douglas County, OR, highlighted the story of Daniel Winder, a disabled veteran who would receive assistance from the program. The grant funding will be used to replace his back door and heating system and make other needed repairs.
I can’t express how thankful I am that this program exists to help us
The grant program, administered by HAC and funded by The Home Depot Foundation, is designed to provide elderly or disabled veterans repair their homes. This funding allows veterans to age in place in the communities they know and love while living in safe, quality housing.
“I can’t express how thankful I am that this program exists to help us, because most of these repairs cost thousands of dollars,” he said. “These improvements have made my life a lot more comfortable and I’m proud to live here now. With all these replacements, I don’t see me leaving this place anytime soon.”