Rural Housing Programs

The Rural Housing Programs of USDA Rural Development work to improve the quality of life for rural Americans by ensuring that they have access to safe, well-built, affordable homes.  Homeownership builds economic stability and, over the long term, creates equity to finance education, business startups and retirement.  People with equity in their homes not only take greater pride in them, they also become more involved in their communities.  Our Housing Programs thus not only help rural people acquire homes, they help build better lives and communities.  Our Housing Programs annually finance new or improved housing for over 65,000 low to moderate-income families.  Over 2 million families now own their homes as a result of these rural homeownership programs.

The Self-Help Housing Loans help groups of six to ten low income families build their own homes by providing materials and the skilled labor they cannot furnish themselves.  The families must agree to work together until all homes are finished.   

Home improvement loans and grants help low-income, often elderly, people remove health and safety hazards from their homes. An affordable and decent place to live often means that elderly residents can continue to live independently and families can take the training and employment steps necessary to become self-sufficient.

Programs for Rural Housing

USDA Rural Development's Rural Housing Programs deliver a variety of assistance to support the housing needs of rural people. Most involve direct assistance by USDA, while others work through local partnerships.

• Single Family Housing Direct Loan
• Single Family Housing Participation Loan
• Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan
• Single Family Housing Repair Loan 
• Single Family Housing Repair Grant
• Self-Help Technical Assistance Grants
• Multi Family Housing Direct Loan 
• Multi Family Housing Guaranteed Loan
• Farm Labor Housing Direct Loan & Grant
• Housing Preservation Grant

 For more information, contact a representative from the Rural Housing Staff.