Rural Voices
Shawn Poynter / There Is More Work To Be Done
Shawn Poynter / There Is More Work To Be Done
Rural Voices: Building Capacity for Rural America
Affordable rural housing and stronger rural communities are a longterm endeavor. There are no quick fixes. But there is one constant magic elixir, and it is worthy of ongoing investment: capacity building. That is how local organizations learn skills, tap information, and gain the wherewithal to do what they know needs to be done.
This issue of Rural Voices magazine describes in more detail what it means to build the capacity of rural housing organizations, why it is important, who does it, how it is done, and how it is financed. These stories show that capacity building succeeds. They also show that capacity building is an ongoing process – when an organization masters one set of tasks, it can move on to tackle something different or more complex. Affordable housing development, like life, requires continual learning.
VIEW FROM WASHINGTON
Rural America Will Thrive
Representative Bennie G. Thompson
The Delta’s future depends on a sustained investment in local economies and residents’ well-being.
FEATURES
The U.S. Must Invest in Capacity Building for Affordable Rural Housing
by David Lipsetz
HAC works to empower local entities in rural regions and tribes so they may flourish.
Thinking Nationally, Building Locally
with Suzanne Anarde, Marietta Rodriguez, Terri Ludwig, and Sue Henderson
Rural Voices interviewed four national intermediaries to learn more about how they assist with capacity building needs unique to rural organizations.
Intermediary Support Continues to be Invaluable
by Fannie Brown
Central Mississippi Housing and Development Corporation benefits from intermediary partnerships.
Pillars of Capacity Building Help Improve Texas Colonias Housing
by Jose Alvarez
Building AYUDA’s capacity has empowered them to build the capacity of other local organizations.
A Communitywide Capacity Building Approach is Key
A West Virginia organization works with their community to find solutions to their housing issues.
Learn from Our Experience
by Randall Hrabe
Northwest Kansas Housing offers advice about building capacity.
Rural Voices would like to hear what you have to say about one, or all, of these issues. Please comment on these stories by sending a tweet to #RuralVoices, discuss on the Rural Affordable Housing Group on LinkedIn, or on our Facebook page.
Photo by Adam Robison, the Daily Journal.