Research and Information

Shawn Poynter/ There Is More Work To Be Done

Research Information Data Rural America at a Glance Research Team

Rural Data for a Data Driven World

Government, philanthropy and private sector partners seek to make investments in sustainable solutions to improve America’s rural communities. More and more, these partners require solid data from rural organizations to initially ground their investments as well as increase transparency, control, and performance measurement on systems change progress over time. Further, civic leaders, community organizations, and families in rural communities require similar data to help them navigate available resources such as access to jobs, housing, transportation, schools, and other amenities.

5 DECADES OF TAKING STOCK IN RURAL AMERICA

RURAL PEOPLE, RURAL PLACES, RURAL HOUSING

First published in 1984, Taking Stock is a decennial research publication of the Housing Assistance Council. The 2023 edition of Taking Stock continues this legacy of presenting social, economic, and housing trends for rural places and rural people.

Visit TakingStockRural.org

In the early 1980s, the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) published its initial Taking Stock report. This seminal work was one of the first comprehensive assessments of rural housing and rural poverty conditions in the United States. The first Taking Stock also exposed the plight and housing need of the nation’s high poverty rural areas. HAC’s decennial Taking Stock analysis continued in 1990, 2000, and 2010 and has increasingly expanded to cover a broader scope of social, economic, and housing trends in rural areas. The 2023 edition of Taking Stock continues its legacy of presenting a composite picture of trends and issues important to rural people, places, and housing.

Data for Your Community

HAC’s Rural Data Portal, is a simple yet effective online resource detailing social, economic, and housing characteristics of U.S. communities to assist rural organizations to access rural specific data and information for their communities and projects. The Portal has 337 indicators and over 3.5 million data points including the most recent data from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. The Portal’s reliability index particularly helps rural organizations easily determine, without complex calculations, the statistical accuracy of data estimates presented.

The Rural Data Portal
Visit the Rural Data Portal

USDA Information and Data

Since the 1950s, the United States Department of Agriculture has financed the construction, repair, and affordability of millions of homes for low- and moderate-income rural Americans. This activity is accomplished primarily through its Rural Development (RD) agency (formerly the Farmer’s Home Administration). The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) presents regular information and data on USDA’s rural housing loan and grant obligation activity.

USDA Information and Data

Veterans Data Central

Veterans comprise a diverse group representing all social, economic, and spectrums of society. Veterans Data Central is a simple, easy to use, on-line resource that provides essential information on the social, economic, and housing characteristics of veterans in the United States. These data and information can help support sound strategies and policies to help veterans.

Veterans Data Central
Visit Veterans Data Central

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50 Years for Rural America

Over 50 years HAC has worked in every U.S. state and the territories. Learn more about what our work means for rural communities.

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Housing Assistance Council   |  1828 L Street. N.W., Suite 505, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 842-8600  |  (202) 347-3441  |  hac@ruralhome.org

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