DAVIS, Calif., Oct. 17, 2024 - Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development California State Director Maria Gallegos Herrera announced a $1.3 million investment to repair and rehabilitate affordable housing for farmworkers in Monterey County.
“From affordable housing to modern infrastructure, the Biden-Harris Administration is making investments to improve conditions for working families,” said Gallegos Herrera. “In California, farmworkers are the backbone of our agricultural economy, feeding the nation and the world. They deserve safe, affordable housing and the opportunity to live where they work to enjoy a higher quality of life. We are so pleased to make this award through USDA’s Off-Farm Labor Housing Program, which helps us prioritize healthy communities.”
CHISPA is receiving $1,188,000 in grant and $132,000 in loan to rehabilitate Soledad Townhouses, a multifamily housing complex in Soledad, California. The project will go through significant rehabilitation and improve the living conditions for all the current and future tenants. CHISPA is a nonprofit housing developer in Monterey County.
This investment is included in a release in which USDA stated it is awarding more than $18 million in grants and loans under the Off-Farm Labor Housing program to support improvements to approximately 500 homes. Through this and other multifamily housing programs, USDA ensures farmworkers and their families have safe, affordable places to live in the communities where they work.
USDA recently announced additional funding opportunities that will expand safe, affordable housing throughout rural America.
The Multifamily Housing Preservation Revitalization Demonstration Program is accepting applications until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time Dec. 26, 2024, to provide financing to property owners to improve rural multifamily and farmworker housing properties financed by USDA.
USDA is also accepting applications for two programs through Nov. 18, 2024, to provide technical assistance that will increase or preserve affordable multifamily housing opportunities and help connect residents to supportive services:
- $4.9 million in grants is available for eligible nonprofit organizations and public housing authorities through the Nonprofit Transfer Technical Assistance Grant Program.
- $2 million in grants is available for eligible nonprofits through the Farm Labor Housing Technical Assistance Grant Program.
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/ca. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.