HAC Awards Nearly $360,000 For Rural Senior Housing

Contacts: Dan Stern, Housing Assistance Council, (202) 842-8600 x137
Janice Clark, Housing Assistance Council, (202) 842-8600 x131

Washington, D.C., March 13, 2012 – A new initiative to improve housing for rural seniors is awarding grants to 21 organizations (see list below) in 17 states. The funds from the Housing Assistance Council’s (HAC) Rural Senior Housing Initiative (RSH) will help build or repair more than 500 homes for seniors in rural America.

With generous support from The Atlantic Philanthropies, HAC launched the RSH in 2011 with the goal of improving the quality, safety and availability of affordable rural housing for low- and very-low income seniors. “As the population continues to age, the demand for affordable housing for rural seniors is increasing,” said Moises Loza, HAC’s executive director. “HAC, through the Rural Senior Housing Initiative, is working to build the capacity of local organizations and ensure they have the ability to meet this demand.”

HAC will grant almost $360,000 to these organizations for a variety of affordable housing programs for seniors in rural communities. HAC selected the awardees from 189 rural applicants throughout the United States. Eight of the 21 selected projects (or 38%) will serve high needs populations in Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta, the border Colonias and American Indian Lands. Grantees will utilize RSH fund to construct housing projects, to build internal capacity, preserve affordable rental and homeownership properties, and strengthen advocacy efforts for affordable rural senior housing.

About the Housing Assistance Council
A national nonprofit corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C., and founded in 1971, the Housing Assistance Council helps local organizations build affordable homes in rural America by providing below-market financing, technical assistance, research, training, and information services. HAC’s programs focus on local solutions, empowerment, reduced dependency, and self-help strategies. HAC is an equal opportunity lender.

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Rural Senior Housing Initiative Grant Recipients, March 2012

ORGANIZATION	CITY	STATE
Universal Housing Development Corporation	Russellville	AR
Arcadia Housing Development Corporation	Arcadia	FL
Rural Development Inc.	Turner Falls	MA
Northern Homes Community Development Corporation	Boyne City	MI
Housing Preservation Project	St. Paul	MN
California Senior Housing Association, Inc.	California	MO
Cassville Senior citizens Rental Housing Corporation	Cassville	MO
The Affordable Housing Group of North Carolina	Charlotte	NC
Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc.	Berlin	NH
Pueblo de Cochiti Housing Authority	Cochiti	NM
SW Regional Housing and Community Development Corporation	Deming	NM
Caritas Community Housing Corporation	Portland	OR
Neighborworks Umpqua	Roseburg	OR
Community Action Network	Paris	TN
Walker Montgomery CDC	New Waverly	TX
Neighborhood Nonprofit Housing Corporation	Logan	UT
People Incorporated of Virginia	Abingdon	VA
Lummi Nation Housing Authority	Bellingham	WA
Northwest Cooperative Development Center	Olympia	WA
Housing Authority of Cumberland, Island City Apartments	Cumberland	WI
Woodlands Development Group	Elkins	WV