Policy

Policy News & Information

Decisions made in Washington, DC affect even the most remote corners of rural America. Affordable housing everywhere in the country is impacted by what federal agencies do, what Congress does, even what the Supreme Court decides. HAC follows federal policy and government actions closely and gives rural housing stakeholders the information they need. Details about the most recent government funding, laws, regulations, and more are provided on this page. HAC provides summaries and key facts in the biweekly HAC News newsletter and on its social media streams.

FY19 Budget Proposes to Eliminate Most Rural Housing Programs

Guarantees for bank loans would remain at current levels and basic rent aid for tenants would continue, but other rural housing assistance would be wiped out under the Trump Administration’s […]

Gonzalez Named RD Chief of Staff

Gil Gonzalez, who served in USDA Rural Development from 2001 to 2005, has been named Chief of Staff for RD. Anne Hazlett, who heads the agency, announced his appointment on […]

Administration Calls for Rural Broadband, Jobs, Housing, and More

President Trump addressed rural issues on January 8, 2018 at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s convention, and signed two documents related to improving rural broadband connections. A Presidential Memorandum instructs […]

HUD Suspends Fair Housing Rule, Requests Comments

Local Assessments of Fair Housing will not be required until 2020 at the earliest, HUD announced on January 5, 2018. The delay relates to part of a 2015 HUD regulation, […]

FHFA Publishes Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s Duty to Serve Underserved Market Plans

Updated: December 18, 2017 FHFA Publishes Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s Duty to Serve Underserved Market Plans The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has published Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s […]