Why Housing In Rural America Matters

Rural America has changed dramatically since 1900, when more than two-thirds of the U.S. population lived in agricultural areas. Today, fewer than one-fourth do. Large corporate agricultural enterprises and strip malls have replaced traditional family farms. Just as the rural landscape has changed, so have rural homes. Most of these changes have been positive, according to the Housing Assistance Council (HAC), a national nonprofit organization. More rural Americans now live in decent, safe, and comfortable homes. Despite this positive trend, HAC finds that far too many rural Americans still lack decent, affordable housing.