Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley today kicked off National Homeownership Month by highlighting USDA’s ongoing role to help residents of America’s small towns and cities purchase homes in rural areas.
“Homeownership provides a strong foundation for hard-working people to build household wealth and climb the ladder of prosperity,” Baxley said. “By helping rural Americans achieve the dream of homeownership, USDA is supporting benefits that extend far beyond the home, resulting in stronger, more prosperous rural communities.”
In announcing this year’s celebration USDA Rural Development State Director Arthur A. Garcia said, “Since the National Homeownership Month celebration began in 1997 we’ve had great success in helping families buy a home throughout rural New Mexico. The first week in June we’ll honor some of the newest homeowners in southern New Mexico and at Zuni Pueblo and in Los Lunas. Later in the month we’ll also travel to Pecos, New Mexico to honor another family that just moved into their new home.”
Garcia added, “Joining us for our celebration will be six of the top housing officials from Rural Development in Washington, D.C. During their visit they’ll tour four self-help housing projects in southern New Mexico and at Zuni Pueblo. Their trip will finish when they help present a U.S. flag to a new homeowner and his family in Los Lunas.” (See event listing below.)
USDA Single Family Housing programs have served more than 4.4 million families in rural America since President Truman signed the Housing Act in 1949. Throughout June, USDA employees will celebrate National Homeownership Month with events across the Nation that demonstrate USDA’s commitment to provide access to affordable housing for rural Americans.
Rural Development has several programs that support rural homeownership, including:
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USDA partnerships with private-sector lenders to help rural families buy homes. Providing loan guarantees for lenders working with low- to moderate-income families is the key to opening up private-sector homeownership opportunities.
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Direct home loans for very-low- and low-income applicants. Some borrowers qualify for program benefits that effectively reduce the interest rate on their monthly mortgage payments to one percent.
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Repair loans and grants that help people improve access to their homes and remove health and safety hazards such as poor wiring or plumbing.
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Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance grants are available to nonprofit organizations to help very-low- and low-income families build their own rural homes.
To learn more about USDA’s observance of National Homeownership Month, contact a Rural Development State Office near you.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs 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 areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
Event Listing for 2019 Homeownership Month Celebration in New Mexico
June 4, 2019, 2:00 pm, Anthony, NM
A tour of homes under construction will be held on the 1000 block of Lee Avenue in Anthony, New Mexico. The homes being built with the Self-Help housing program administered by Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation.
June 5, 2019, 9:00 am, Columbus, NM
A tour of homes under construction will be held on the 200 block of West Buena Vista, in Columbus, New Mexico. The construction of homes is being made possible through the Self-Help housing program administered by Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation.
June 5, 2019, 11:00 am, Deming, NM
A tour of homes under construction will be held on the 1600 South Slate, Deming, New Mexico. The new homes are being built thorough USDA Rural Development’s Self-Help housing program administered by the Southwestern Regional Housing and Community Development. An appreciation presentation will follow the tour.
June 6, 2019, 11:00 am, Zuni Pueblo, NM
The Zuni Housing Authority in Zuni Pueblo will host a ceremony and a tour of new homes being constructed through USDA Rural Development’s Self-Help Housing program. An appreciation ceremony to follow the tour.
June 7, 2019, 9:00 am Los Lunas, NM
A new home owner will be honored with a flag presentation ceremony at1311 Vista Escondida Court SW in Los Lunas, New Mexico. The homeowner qualified for a USDA Rural Development 502 Direct Home Loan and a HUD Section 8 financing to purchase a home for he and his two daughters.
June 13, 2019, 9:00 am Pecos, NM
A Pecos, New Mexico family will be honored during a flag presentation for becoming new homeowners. The family qualified for a mortgage through USDA Rural Development’s housing program. The event will be held on the 12 MM H Drive in Pecos, NM.