Poverty in Rural America
HAC has conducted extensive research on poverty in rural America, including:
HAC has conducted extensive research on poverty in rural America, including:
Download a PDF of the “Poverty in the United States” map (HAC recommends using Adobe Reader X or higher for optimal printing)
Taking Stock: Rural People, Poverty and Housing in the 21st Century
The increasing prevalence of poverty in the United States is an inexcusable shame on this great nation. More Americans are living in poverty today than at any other time since the Census Bureau began measuring its occurrence. The issue of poverty has many complexities, but it is much more than an abstract condition for the over 40 million Americans who face daily struggles with food security, access to health care, and lack of basic shelter.
Forty years ago the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) was created to address poverty and housing inadequacies in rural America. In 1984, HAC published Taking Stock, one of the first comprehensive assessments of rural poverty and housing conditions in the United States. A key component of that seminal report was HAC’s national poverty map detailing poverty rates for every U.S. county in 1980. As a companion to 2012 edition of Taking Stock: Rual People, Poverty, and Housing in the 21st Century, HAC presents our newly updated poverty map, entitled “Poverty in the United States.” The map shows county-level poverty data from 2010 Census counts.
>![]() |
Download HAC’s Rural Research Note: Poverty in Rural America. |
While some gains have been made in reducing poverty over the past several decades, poverty rates are still shockingly high for certain populations in rural America, namely minorities and children. HAC’s research also illustrates the continued persistence of high poverty within several predominantly rural regions and populations such as Central Appalachia, the Lower Mississippi Delta, the southern Black Belt, the Colonias region along the U.S.-Mexico border, Native American lands, and migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Often forgotten or hidden from mainstream America, these areas and
populations had poverty rates of 20 percent or higher in 1990, 2000, and 2010.
HAC’s poverty map presents the stark reality that too many Americans have been left behind or shut out of our nation’s economic promise and prosperity.
In the coming months, HAC will present additional research products highlighting social, economic, and housing characteristics of rural Americans.
Mapping Poverty in
|
![]() |
Download Powerpoint | |
Download a PDF of the “Poverty in the United States” map
HAC News Formats. pdf
June 13, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 12
• House subcommittees act on FY13 USDA and HUD funding • The House’s USDA appropriations bill • The House’s HUD appropriations bill • HUD, USDA RD, and the CDFI Fund announce new Border Community Capital Initiative • FHFA requests comments on housing goals and preservation impact • USDA examines immigration policy’s impacts on agriculture • USDA announces June is National Homeownership Month • HAC sets webinar on “Mapping Poverty in Rural America”
June 13, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 12
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEES ACT ON FY13 USDA AND HUD FUNDING. House appropriations subcommittees have approved both bills and the full House Appropriations Committee is expected to act on them in the next few weeks. The Senate bills (see HAC News, 5/2/12) still await consideration by the full Senate. Congress continues to move appropriations on a faster track this year than in the recent past, but final passage of most appropriations bills may not occur until a post-election lame duck session.
THE HOUSE’S USDA APPROPRIATIONS BILL would provide lower amounts than the Senate’s bill for almost all rural housing programs. It allocates slightly more to the Section 515 rural rental housing program than the Senate bill, although the House’s $31.3 million is less than half of the $64.5 million Section 515 received in FY12. The House bill also contains new language in every provision relating to housing programs and in some, but not all, provisions relating to other Rural Development programs, requiring USDA to provide detailed spending plans within 15 days of enactment. [tdborder][/tdborder]
USDA Rural Devel. Prog. |
FY11 |
FY 12 |
FY13 |
FY13 |
FY13 House Subcomm. Bill |
502 Single Fam. Direct |
$1,121 |
$900 |
$652.8 |
$900 |
$652.8 |
502 Single Family Guar. |
24,000 |
24,000 |
24,000 |
24,000 |
24,000 |
504 VLI Repair Loans |
23.4 |
10 |
28 |
28 |
10 |
504 VLI Repair Grants |
34 |
29.5 |
28.2 |
b |
c |
515 Rental Hsg. Direct |
69.5 |
64.5 |
0 |
28.4 |
31.3 |
514 Farm Labor Hsg. |
25.7 |
20.8 |
26 |
26 |
d |
516 Farm Labor Hsg. |
9.8 |
7.1 |
8.9 |
8.9 |
d |
521 Rental Assistance |
955.6 |
904.7 |
907.1 |
907.1 |
886.6f |
523 Self-Help TA |
37 |
30 |
10 |
30 |
15 |
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants |
10 |
3.6 |
0 |
b |
c |
538 Rental Hsg. Guar. |
30.9 |
130 |
150 |
150 |
150 |
Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR) |
15 |
2 |
34.4 |
16.8 |
2 |
Rental Prsrv. Revlg. Lns. |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers |
14 |
11 |
12.6 |
11 |
10.8 |
Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init. |
5 |
3.6 |
8 |
6.1 |
3.5e |
a. Figures shown do not include 0.2% across the board reduction. b. Total for 504 grants and 533 grants is $33.1 million. c. Total for 504 grants and 533 grants is $17 million. d. Total budget authority for Section 514 loans and Section 516 grants is $13.8 million, compared to the Senate bill’s total of $17.5 million. e. Of the $3.549 million total for RCDI, $3.302 million is directed to community facilities grants to tribal colleges. f. HAC originally reported the House subcommittee’s level for Rental Assistance was $866.6 million, but the correct figure is $886.6 million. HAC apologizes for any confusion. |
THE HOUSE’S HUD APPROPRIATIONS BILL boosts funding for HOME, Section 202, CDBG, and SHOP above the levels in FY12 and in the Senate’s bill. The Rural Innovation Fund is not funded and seems dead after being left out of HUD’s budget proposal again. The Rural Housing Stability Program is funded as part of homeless assistance grants. Veterans housing vouchers are funded at $75 million and Native American Block Grants are at $650 million, maintaining 2012 levels for both programs. The House bill does not fund Choice Neighborhoods or Sustainable Communities.
HUD Program |
FY11 |
FY12 |
FY13 |
FY13 |
FY13 House Subcomm. |
Cmty. Devel. Fund (incl. CDBG) |
3,508 |
3,308.1 |
3,143 |
3,210 b |
3,404 b |
HOME |
1,610 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,200 |
Tenant-Based Rental Asstnce. |
18,408 |
18,914.4 |
19,074.3 |
19,396.3 |
19,134.3 |
Project-Based Rental Asstnce. |
9,257.4 |
9,339.7 |
8,700.4 |
9,875.8 |
8,700.4 |
Public Hsg. Capital Fund |
2,044 |
1,875 |
2,070 |
1,985 |
1,985 |
Public Hsg. Operating Fund |
4,626 |
3,961.9 |
4,524 |
4,591 |
4,524 |
Choice Neighbrhd. Initiative |
0 |
120 |
150 |
120 |
|
Housing Trust Fund |
0 |
0 |
1,000 |
0 |
0 |
Native Amer. Hsg. Block Grant |
650 |
650 |
650 |
650 |
650 |
Homeless Assistance Grants |
1,905 |
1,901.2 |
2,231 |
2,146 |
2,000 |
Rural Hsg. Stability Prog. |
— |
— |
5 |
c |
c |
Hsg. Opps. for Persons w/ AIDS |
335 |
332 |
330 |
330 |
330 |
202 Hsg. for Elderly |
400 |
374.6 |
475 |
375 |
425 |
811 Hsg. for Disabled |
150 |
165 |
150 |
150 |
165 |
Fair Housing |
72 |
70.8 |
68 |
68 |
68 |
Healthy Homes & Ld. Haz. Cntl. |
120 |
120 |
120 |
120 |
120 |
Self-Help Homeownshp. (SHOP) |
27 |
13.5 |
0 |
13.5 |
20 |
Housing Counseling |
0 |
45 |
55 |
55 |
45 |
a. Figures shown do not include 0.2% across the board reduction. b. Includes $3.1 billion in Senate and $3.34 billion in House for CDBG. c. Funded under Homeless Assistance Grants. |
HUD, USDA RD, AND THE CDFI FUND ANNOUNCE NEW BORDER COMMUNITY CAPITAL INITIATIVE. Community development lenders and investors, which can include local rural nonprofits and federally recognized tribes, will be eligible for funds and technical assistance to support their lending or investing related to affordable housing, small businesses, and community facilities in the colonias along the U.S.-Mexico border. The collaboration may later be extended to other persistent poverty regions of the country. The announcement does not indicate when a NOFA may be issued. Contact Russell Quiniola or Thann Young, HUD, 1-877-787-2526.
FHFA REQUESTS COMMENTS ON HOUSING GOALS AND PRESERVATION IMPACT. The Federal Housing Finance Agency proposes continuing the existing structure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac housing goals (with no rural goals or subgoals) for 2012-2014, with new benchmark levels. FHFA also seeks comments on whether the regulation should address the possibility that Fannie or Freddie would receive credit under the housing goals for purchasing a multifamily mortgage that facilitates conversion of the property from affordable rents to market rate. Comments are due July 26, 2012. Contact Paul Manchester, FHFA, 202-649-3115.
USDA EXAMINES IMMIGRATION POLICY’S IMPACTS ON AGRICULTURE. As Congress considers possible changes in immigration laws, an Economic Research Service study finds that an increase in H2-A temporary workers would increase U.S. agricultural production and reduce wages. A decrease in the undocumented workforce would decrease production and raise wages. The study does not address impacts on housing.
USDA ANNOUNCES JUNE IS NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH.
HAC SETS WEBINAR ON “MAPPING POVERTY IN RURAL AMERICA.” As a prelude to the 2012 edition of Taking Stock – HAC’s decennial report on social, economic, and housing conditions in rural America – HAC is releasing an updated poster map showing county-level poverty data from 2010 Census figures, as well as information on historic, regional, and persistent poverty in the United States. Register now for a webinar presentation of the poverty map and a discussion of poverty in rural America on Thursday, June 28, 2:00-2:45 pm (EDT). |
To have an event posted on our calendar*, please e-mail Dan Stern. Or send event description or brochure to: Housing Assistance Council Or fax to (202) 347-3441 [addthis2][/addthis2] *Calendar Posting Guidelines: HAC’s calendar posts announcements about periodic conferences, training sessions, audioconferences, and the like. Topics must be relevant to professionals in the rural housing and community development arena. HAC reserves the right to accept or decline any request to post an item. We do not include sessions provided by entities (for-profit or nonprofit) that offer numerous regularly scheduled training events; links to such entities are provided below. |
![]() |
MAPPING POVERTY IN RURAL AMERICA
Date: Thursday, June 28, 2012 Presenters: Moises Loza – Executive Director, Housing Assistance Council Lance George – Director of Research & Information, Housing Assistance Council More Americans are living in poverty today than at any other time since the Census Bureau began measuring its occurrence. Poverty is particularly acute in urban cities and rural communities, as well as in several distinct regions across the nation. As a prelude to the 2012 edition of Taking Stock — HAC’s decennial report on social, economic, and housing conditions in rural America — we are releasing our newly updated poverty map. HAC’s map details county-level poverty data from 2010 Census figures, as well as information on historic, regional, and persistent poverty in the United States. Please join us for a webinar presentation of the HAC poverty map, and a discussion of poverty in rural America on THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012 – 2:00pm -2:45pm (EDT). Register Now! Space is limited so please register early. For information, contact: Dan Stern, 202-842-8600 or dan@ruralhome.org. |
The Spring 2000 issue of Rural Voices focuses on the Delta – not so much on its problems, which are well documented, but on what is being done and what can be done to improve its future.
The Mississippi Delta region has made significant contributions to our nation, yet it remains one of the poorest parts of the country. The Spring 2000 issue of Rural Voices focuses on the Delta – not so much on its problems, which are well documented, but on what is being done and what can be done to improve its future.
The issue begins with Representative Bennie Thompson urging us to make a national commitment to improving housing and opportunity, not only in the Delta but in all of rural America, and President Bill Clinton promising federal assistance for the Delta. Most of the magazine contains descriptions of initiatives working to improve housing and to enhance community and economic development in the Delta, written by the people who are actually undertaking the efforts described.
The new Administrator of the Rural Housing Service speaks up in this issue of Rural Voices as well. In a “Q&A” session, James C. Kearney addresses important topics facing his agency in the year 2000. The Administration’s new housing budget for 2001 is mentioned in that interview, and is covered in more detail in our View from Washington department.
HAC has conducted extensive research on poverty in rural America, including:
Download a PDF of the “Poverty in the United States” map (HAC recommends using Adobe Reader X or higher for optimal printing)
Taking Stock: Rural People, Poverty and Housing in the 21st Century
The increasing prevalence of poverty in the United States is an inexcusable shame on this great nation. More Americans are living in poverty today than at any other time since the Census Bureau began measuring its occurrence. The issue of poverty has many complexities, but it is much more than an abstract condition for the over 40 million Americans who face daily struggles with food security, access to health care, and lack of basic shelter.
Forty years ago the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) was created to address poverty and housing inadequacies in rural America. In 1984, HAC published Taking Stock, one of the first comprehensive assessments of rural poverty and housing conditions in the United States. A key component of that seminal report was HAC’s national poverty map detailing poverty rates for every U.S. county in 1980. As a companion to 2012 edition of Taking Stock: Rual People, Poverty, and Housing in the 21st Century, HAC presents our newly updated poverty map, entitled “Poverty in the United States.” The map shows county-level poverty data from 2010 Census counts.
>![]() |
Download HAC’s Rural Research Note: Poverty in Rural America. |
While some gains have been made in reducing poverty over the past several decades, poverty rates are still shockingly high for certain populations in rural America, namely minorities and children. HAC’s research also illustrates the continued persistence of high poverty within several predominantly rural regions and populations such as Central Appalachia, the Lower Mississippi Delta, the southern Black Belt, the Colonias region along the U.S.-Mexico border, Native American lands, and migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Often forgotten or hidden from mainstream America, these areas and
populations had poverty rates of 20 percent or higher in 1990, 2000, and 2010.
HAC’s poverty map presents the stark reality that too many Americans have been left behind or shut out of our nation’s economic promise and prosperity.
In the coming months, HAC will present additional research products highlighting social, economic, and housing characteristics of rural Americans.
Mapping Poverty in
|
![]() |
Download Powerpoint | |
Download a PDF of the “Poverty in the United States” map
HAC News Formats. pdf
June 13, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 12
• House subcommittees act on FY13 USDA and HUD funding • The House’s USDA appropriations bill • The House’s HUD appropriations bill • HUD, USDA RD, and the CDFI Fund announce new Border Community Capital Initiative • FHFA requests comments on housing goals and preservation impact • USDA examines immigration policy’s impacts on agriculture • USDA announces June is National Homeownership Month • HAC sets webinar on “Mapping Poverty in Rural America”
June 13, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 12
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEES ACT ON FY13 USDA AND HUD FUNDING. House appropriations subcommittees have approved both bills and the full House Appropriations Committee is expected to act on them in the next few weeks. The Senate bills (see HAC News, 5/2/12) still await consideration by the full Senate. Congress continues to move appropriations on a faster track this year than in the recent past, but final passage of most appropriations bills may not occur until a post-election lame duck session.
THE HOUSE’S USDA APPROPRIATIONS BILL would provide lower amounts than the Senate’s bill for almost all rural housing programs. It allocates slightly more to the Section 515 rural rental housing program than the Senate bill, although the House’s $31.3 million is less than half of the $64.5 million Section 515 received in FY12. The House bill also contains new language in every provision relating to housing programs and in some, but not all, provisions relating to other Rural Development programs, requiring USDA to provide detailed spending plans within 15 days of enactment. [tdborder][/tdborder]
USDA Rural Devel. Prog. |
FY11 |
FY 12 |
FY13 |
FY13 |
FY13 House Subcomm. Bill |
502 Single Fam. Direct |
$1,121 |
$900 |
$652.8 |
$900 |
$652.8 |
502 Single Family Guar. |
24,000 |
24,000 |
24,000 |
24,000 |
24,000 |
504 VLI Repair Loans |
23.4 |
10 |
28 |
28 |
10 |
504 VLI Repair Grants |
34 |
29.5 |
28.2 |
b |
c |
515 Rental Hsg. Direct |
69.5 |
64.5 |
0 |
28.4 |
31.3 |
514 Farm Labor Hsg. |
25.7 |
20.8 |
26 |
26 |
d |
516 Farm Labor Hsg. |
9.8 |
7.1 |
8.9 |
8.9 |
d |
521 Rental Assistance |
955.6 |
904.7 |
907.1 |
907.1 |
886.6f |
523 Self-Help TA |
37 |
30 |
10 |
30 |
15 |
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants |
10 |
3.6 |
0 |
b |
c |
538 Rental Hsg. Guar. |
30.9 |
130 |
150 |
150 |
150 |
Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR) |
15 |
2 |
34.4 |
16.8 |
2 |
Rental Prsrv. Revlg. Lns. |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers |
14 |
11 |
12.6 |
11 |
10.8 |
Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init. |
5 |
3.6 |
8 |
6.1 |
3.5e |
a. Figures shown do not include 0.2% across the board reduction. b. Total for 504 grants and 533 grants is $33.1 million. c. Total for 504 grants and 533 grants is $17 million. d. Total budget authority for Section 514 loans and Section 516 grants is $13.8 million, compared to the Senate bill’s total of $17.5 million. e. Of the $3.549 million total for RCDI, $3.302 million is directed to community facilities grants to tribal colleges. f. HAC originally reported the House subcommittee’s level for Rental Assistance was $866.6 million, but the correct figure is $886.6 million. HAC apologizes for any confusion. |
THE HOUSE’S HUD APPROPRIATIONS BILL boosts funding for HOME, Section 202, CDBG, and SHOP above the levels in FY12 and in the Senate’s bill. The Rural Innovation Fund is not funded and seems dead after being left out of HUD’s budget proposal again. The Rural Housing Stability Program is funded as part of homeless assistance grants. Veterans housing vouchers are funded at $75 million and Native American Block Grants are at $650 million, maintaining 2012 levels for both programs. The House bill does not fund Choice Neighborhoods or Sustainable Communities.
HUD Program |
FY11 |
FY12 |
FY13 |
FY13 |
FY13 House Subcomm. |
Cmty. Devel. Fund (incl. CDBG) |
3,508 |
3,308.1 |
3,143 |
3,210 b |
3,404 b |
HOME |
1,610 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,200 |
Tenant-Based Rental Asstnce. |
18,408 |
18,914.4 |
19,074.3 |
19,396.3 |
19,134.3 |
Project-Based Rental Asstnce. |
9,257.4 |
9,339.7 |
8,700.4 |
9,875.8 |
8,700.4 |
Public Hsg. Capital Fund |
2,044 |
1,875 |
2,070 |
1,985 |
1,985 |
Public Hsg. Operating Fund |
4,626 |
3,961.9 |
4,524 |
4,591 |
4,524 |
Choice Neighbrhd. Initiative |
0 |
120 |
150 |
120 |
|
Housing Trust Fund |
0 |
0 |
1,000 |
0 |
0 |
Native Amer. Hsg. Block Grant |
650 |
650 |
650 |
650 |
650 |
Homeless Assistance Grants |
1,905 |
1,901.2 |
2,231 |
2,146 |
2,000 |
Rural Hsg. Stability Prog. |
— |
— |
5 |
c |
c |
Hsg. Opps. for Persons w/ AIDS |
335 |
332 |
330 |
330 |
330 |
202 Hsg. for Elderly |
400 |
374.6 |
475 |
375 |
425 |
811 Hsg. for Disabled |
150 |
165 |
150 |
150 |
165 |
Fair Housing |
72 |
70.8 |
68 |
68 |
68 |
Healthy Homes & Ld. Haz. Cntl. |
120 |
120 |
120 |
120 |
120 |
Self-Help Homeownshp. (SHOP) |
27 |
13.5 |
0 |
13.5 |
20 |
Housing Counseling |
0 |
45 |
55 |
55 |
45 |
a. Figures shown do not include 0.2% across the board reduction. b. Includes $3.1 billion in Senate and $3.34 billion in House for CDBG. c. Funded under Homeless Assistance Grants. |
HUD, USDA RD, AND THE CDFI FUND ANNOUNCE NEW BORDER COMMUNITY CAPITAL INITIATIVE. Community development lenders and investors, which can include local rural nonprofits and federally recognized tribes, will be eligible for funds and technical assistance to support their lending or investing related to affordable housing, small businesses, and community facilities in the colonias along the U.S.-Mexico border. The collaboration may later be extended to other persistent poverty regions of the country. The announcement does not indicate when a NOFA may be issued. Contact Russell Quiniola or Thann Young, HUD, 1-877-787-2526.
FHFA REQUESTS COMMENTS ON HOUSING GOALS AND PRESERVATION IMPACT. The Federal Housing Finance Agency proposes continuing the existing structure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac housing goals (with no rural goals or subgoals) for 2012-2014, with new benchmark levels. FHFA also seeks comments on whether the regulation should address the possibility that Fannie or Freddie would receive credit under the housing goals for purchasing a multifamily mortgage that facilitates conversion of the property from affordable rents to market rate. Comments are due July 26, 2012. Contact Paul Manchester, FHFA, 202-649-3115.
USDA EXAMINES IMMIGRATION POLICY’S IMPACTS ON AGRICULTURE. As Congress considers possible changes in immigration laws, an Economic Research Service study finds that an increase in H2-A temporary workers would increase U.S. agricultural production and reduce wages. A decrease in the undocumented workforce would decrease production and raise wages. The study does not address impacts on housing.
USDA ANNOUNCES JUNE IS NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH.
HAC SETS WEBINAR ON “MAPPING POVERTY IN RURAL AMERICA.” As a prelude to the 2012 edition of Taking Stock – HAC’s decennial report on social, economic, and housing conditions in rural America – HAC is releasing an updated poster map showing county-level poverty data from 2010 Census figures, as well as information on historic, regional, and persistent poverty in the United States. Register now for a webinar presentation of the poverty map and a discussion of poverty in rural America on Thursday, June 28, 2:00-2:45 pm (EDT). |
To have an event posted on our calendar*, please e-mail Dan Stern. Or send event description or brochure to: Housing Assistance Council Or fax to (202) 347-3441 [addthis2][/addthis2] *Calendar Posting Guidelines: HAC’s calendar posts announcements about periodic conferences, training sessions, audioconferences, and the like. Topics must be relevant to professionals in the rural housing and community development arena. HAC reserves the right to accept or decline any request to post an item. We do not include sessions provided by entities (for-profit or nonprofit) that offer numerous regularly scheduled training events; links to such entities are provided below. |
![]() |
MAPPING POVERTY IN RURAL AMERICA
Date: Thursday, June 28, 2012 Presenters: Moises Loza – Executive Director, Housing Assistance Council Lance George – Director of Research & Information, Housing Assistance Council More Americans are living in poverty today than at any other time since the Census Bureau began measuring its occurrence. Poverty is particularly acute in urban cities and rural communities, as well as in several distinct regions across the nation. As a prelude to the 2012 edition of Taking Stock — HAC’s decennial report on social, economic, and housing conditions in rural America — we are releasing our newly updated poverty map. HAC’s map details county-level poverty data from 2010 Census figures, as well as information on historic, regional, and persistent poverty in the United States. Please join us for a webinar presentation of the HAC poverty map, and a discussion of poverty in rural America on THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012 – 2:00pm -2:45pm (EDT). Register Now! Space is limited so please register early. For information, contact: Dan Stern, 202-842-8600 or dan@ruralhome.org. |
The Spring 2000 issue of Rural Voices focuses on the Delta – not so much on its problems, which are well documented, but on what is being done and what can be done to improve its future.
The Mississippi Delta region has made significant contributions to our nation, yet it remains one of the poorest parts of the country. The Spring 2000 issue of Rural Voices focuses on the Delta – not so much on its problems, which are well documented, but on what is being done and what can be done to improve its future.
The issue begins with Representative Bennie Thompson urging us to make a national commitment to improving housing and opportunity, not only in the Delta but in all of rural America, and President Bill Clinton promising federal assistance for the Delta. Most of the magazine contains descriptions of initiatives working to improve housing and to enhance community and economic development in the Delta, written by the people who are actually undertaking the efforts described.
The new Administrator of the Rural Housing Service speaks up in this issue of Rural Voices as well. In a “Q&A” session, James C. Kearney addresses important topics facing his agency in the year 2000. The Administration’s new housing budget for 2001 is mentioned in that interview, and is covered in more detail in our View from Washington department.