Many housing and human services providers say their programs are underfunded as the housing crisis in rural parts of America grows.

A chronic economic decline over the last century and a strained housing supply are contributing to a growing housing crisis in rural America, where “one in four rural renters spends more than 50 percent of their income on housing.” Urban Institute researchers interviewed housing and human services providers in 12 rural counties to understand how well these programs are working in rural areas.
Anna Morgan and Corianne Payton Scally describe the results in Urban Wire. “Human services providers told us the rural families they served lacked affordable housing options and faced additional challenges because of low-paying jobs, poor quality of available housing, and high-cost burdens for renters.” Additionally, providers “shared concerns that federal income requirements for the programs they administer result in benefit cliffs for families, which limits their ability to maintain stable housing and meet basic needs.”
Proposed solutions include expanding federal housing programs in rural areas; partnering with local nonprofits to fill gaps in services, understand specific local needs, and share resources; and delivering services to people’s homes in areas where transportation is often a barrier to accessing resources.
Boosting support for housing programs is key to the overall social and economic wellbeing of rural communities, the researchers note.
FULL STORY: Housing and Human Services Programs Aren’t Meeting Rural Renters’ Needs

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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