The 2015 Broadband Progress Report from the Federal Communications Commission indicates that over half of rural Americans lack access to benchmark broadband connections. For rural tribal lands, approximately 85 percent lack proper broadband.
by Lance George and Leslie Strauss
“Rural America’s Silent Housing Crisis,” an article in The Atlantic magazine’s February edition, describes the overlooked plight of rural families who struggle to obtain quality housing they can afford. The article does not look specifically at the housing problems of farmworkers – a crisis that deserves attention because it is not only silent, but often invisible.
Because of the nature of their employment and working conditions, farmworkers’ housing options are often substantially different from the overall market in terms of cost and quality. Most farmworkers find housing through the private market. But rental housing is not as plentiful in rural places as it is in most cities. Additionally, landlords typically ask for a security deposit, a credit check, and a long-term commitment, requirements that often conflict with the unique conditions of the farm labor industry…
Read the full post on Harvesting Justice
Affordable housing programs were not to blame for the financial crisis, according to a study highlighted in Wonkblog. The study indicates that the the majority of mortgage dollars and defaults from 2003 – 2006 occurred in higher cost mortgages.
What does FHA’s new interest rate drop mean for borrowers? NPR’s Marketplace Economy investigates the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA’s) new lower charges and how it may impact housing affordability across markets.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) launches a toolkit that will help consumers shop for a mortgage by finding the best rates in their area based on data the agency gathers from lenders.
A different angle on life in public housing. National Public Radio (NPR) features an art exhibit that includes numerous photos of public housing residents who have had successes, both large and small
by Joe Belden
For those of us in the rural housing silo, the most significant November 4 result may be a fairly ho-hum and fully expected re-election in Eastern Kentucky. In the nation’s most rural Congressional district, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) ran against the same Democratic opponent he defeated in 2012 with 78 percent of the vote. Congressman Rogers’s re-election is actually great news for rural housing.
President Obama outlines a plan to make homeownership more accessible and sustainable. A centerpiece of the Administration’s proposal would be to lower FHA premiums by 50 basis points, potentially saving borrowers as much as $900 annually.
The Rural Development Leadership Network is hosting an online auction to help promote entreprenuership in rural areas. For more information, visit the auction homepage at https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/AuctionHome.action…
Please Refer a Friend and encourage them to participate so they don’t miss the fun and excitement. Please respond to rdln@ruraldevelopment.org.