WASHINGTON, June 1, 2023 – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off National Homeownership Month. As part of this nationwide celebration, USDA is highlighting programs that help people in rural and Tribal areas buy, build and repair affordable homes and to pay their rent in America’s smallest towns and communities.
“For many Americans, the dream of homeownership is a dream deferred or unrealized,” Vilsack said. “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that all Americans have an affordable place they can call home and opportunities to build generational wealth through homeownership. Through single family, multi-family, rental assistance, home repair and other programs, USDA is ready to support the housing needs of all people living in rural and Tribal communities and help them lay the foundation for new opportunities and brighter futures.”
Expanding opportunities for homeownership and rental assistance strengthens rural communities and helps families and individuals build wealth and achieve financial stability. In fiscal year 2022, the Department invested $183.4 million to help over 1,000 Wisconsin families and individuals in rural and Tribal communities buy, repair, and build homes through USDA Rural Development’s Single-Family Housing programs.
Over the past year, USDA has added to the resources available to help people access safe, affordable housing in rural areas. The Department recently launched initiatives to increase homeownership on Native lands and help people rebuild after disasters.
In addition, USDA works to increase access to affordable multifamily rental housing opportunities in rural America. The Department is currently helping nearly 308,000 households pay their rent through rental assistance. This assistance ensures low-income and older adult tenants pay no more than 30% of their income in housing costs. For more information, visit Multifamily Housing Programs | Rural Development (usda.gov).
USDA is also highlighting ways it is working with lenders and community partners to open the door to homeownership for rural Americans who have been unserved or underserved for far too long. USDA is hosting events across the nation to showcase affordable housing programs for lenders, community partners, families and individuals to highlight successes through programs such as:
- The Single Family Housing Direct Home Loan Program provides loans directly to families and individuals so they can buy or build homes in rural America.
- The Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program enables USDA to partner with private lending institutions, backing their loans to help families and individuals buy homes in rural areas.
- The Home Repair Loan and Grant Program provides loans and grants to help families and individualsrepair their homes to make them safer, healthier places to live.
- The Mutual Self-Help Housing Grant Program provides grants to qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction projects.
Visit the Single Family Housing program webpage or contact the Rural Development Wisconsin State Office to learn more about USDA homeownership programs near you.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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