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Success Stories

Smith Island, Maryland

Investing in Wastewater Infrastructure is Key to Preserving Smith Island, Maryland

For the people living on Smith Island, the water matters. But it’s about more than the beautiful views of the Chesapeake Bay from the picturesque island ten miles from the mainland. The multi‐generational residents depend on the surrounding Chesapeake Bay for their livelihoods. For many, crabbing, oystering, and ecotourism are what puts dollars in their bank accounts, and food on their tables. In rural communities…
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Use the filters below to find additional stories about how our programs have helped rural communities across the nation.

Search Results: 102 Stories
Crandell-Home

It’s Never too Late - The American Dream of Homeownership

John and Kathleen Crandell thought that owning their own home was just a dream. But this dream finally became a reality. This retired couple, ages 70 and 68, had always rented and lived on a fixed income from Social Security and a small pension. The idea of homeownership seemed… [Read More]
Housing
USDA with Norma and Neighbors helping Neighbors

Welcome Home: The Fire Didn't Beat Me.

Have you ever heard your heart in your ears? It’s that adrenaline rush that results from both good and bad events in our life. Often enough the events that trigger this feeling are good, your favorite team winning, that lucky break or unexpected promotion. There are also times… [Read More]
DisasterHousing
Rural Housing Administrator Joaquin Altoro

USDA Renews Local Partnership to Ensure People Living in the Northern Mariana Islands Have Safe and Affordable Homes

SAIPAN, MP, April 24, 2024 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service Administrator Joaquin Altoro announced that USDA is renewing its partnership with a local lender to ensure people living in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have access to… [Read More]
HomeownershipHousing
Quintana and USDA SFH Loan Specialist Victoria Martinez

Go for it, homeownership can work!!

Writing her own homeownership story, Karla Quintana and her two children have lived in Garfield County, CO since 2011.  After having to move out of a garage studio apartment, the family was able to move in with friends and rent the bottom half of their home. While owning a home… [Read More]
HomeownershipHousing
A mother and three daughters pose around a dining room table. There are lace curtains and blue wall in the background and some dishes on the table in the foreground.

“This is Home” – A Family Finds Their Forever Home in Calais, Maine

One of the first rooms Heather Gagne and her daughters began redecorating in their new home is the dining room, shown in the top photo. They have been busy repainting and making other updates.Raising a family in coastal Machias, Maine may sound lovely, but for… [Read More]
HomeownershipHousing
Roof

USDA’s Housing Preservation Grant and Rebuilding Together Houston’s Network of Partners Improve Safety and Resiliency of Crosby Homeowner

For more than 33 years, Ms. Jacqueline Smith has lived in her Crosby home that was built in 1960. As a single mother, she raised three children on her own when her husband left her many years ago. Ms. Smith describes herself as a good listener and an upbeat ‘people person’ who… [Read More]
Housing
A Move to Texas

A Move to Texas as 'House-Sitters' Results in First-Time Home Ownership

Bradley and Janna Lanphear, along with their four children, found themselves facing uncertainty when unforeseen circumstances forced them out of their long-time rental in Bend, Oregon. With rental prices skyrocketing in their area, the dream of homeownership seemed increasingly… [Read More]
Housing
Stretching Critical Repair Dollars 2

Stretching Critical Home Repair Dollars

Neighborhood Strong is a community-based organizations serving nine East Texas Counties. They provide critical home repairs and accessibility modifications to low and very low-income homeowners. Over 57% of the homes in this area are over 40 years old. The poverty rate is just… [Read More]
Housing
Patrick Johnson in front of his USDA Self-Help home

From Renter to Homeowner: Patrick's Path to Homeownership

Patrick Johnson had always envisioned a day when he could own a home, but he felt that it was beyond his reach due to his circumstances as a renter. However, during a conversation with a close friend who resided in a USDA self-help home, Patrick became aware of a program that… [Read More]
Housing
The Village

USDA Helps Mustard Seed Village Cultivate Change: A Greenhouse Model Blossoming with Community Engagement and Elder Care Innovations

Rural seniors often desire to age in their communities, surrounded by familiar faces and places. However, with fewer healthcare providers, professional caregivers, and young people compared to urban areas, rural communities face challenges in caring for their aging residents.… [Read More]
Housing

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