(Washington, D.C., June 17, 2026) – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development hosted the 2026 National Lender of the Year Awards Ceremony to recognize the work of its top national lending partners supporting rural homeownership. These lenders helped rural families and individuals buy homes across the nation last year through USDA Rural Development’s Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program.

Trump Administration Highlights Affordable Pathways to
Homeownership in Rural America

IDAHO, June 2, 2026 – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Idaho State Director Rick D. Youngblood kicked off National Homeownership Month by highlighting Rural Development’s commitment to expanding access to affordable housing and helping more Americans, especially first-time homebuyers, achieve the dream of homeownership.

 
Rural Development Realignment Reinforces Commitment to Rural Communities 

A family of three in Montague, New Jersey, had been facing growing challenges as a worsening roof leak threatened the safety and comfort of their home. Each rainfall brought renewed anxiety, water seeping through the ceiling, new damage appearing in their living space, and the mounting fear that the cost of repairs would be far beyond their reach.

For many families in rural South Dakota, finding safe, affordable housing can be a significant challenge. Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Single Family Housing Program and the South Dakota Governor’s House program at the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield, homeownership is becoming a reality for more rural residents. Together, these programs help provide quality, two- and three -bedroom homes, and creating new opportunities for families to own a home.

It’s a way for us to teach the inmates skills they can use later.

The City of Batavia reached a transformative milestone with the recent grand opening of their new state-of-the-art police station. This was a project made possible through $12.5 million in critical support from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Community Facilities program. For years, the city’s police department operated out of an aging facility that no longer met modern standards for safety, accessibility, or operational efficiency.

(Athens, Ga., June 15, 2026). – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Georgia State Director Joyce White celebrates National Homeownership Month by highlighting Rural Development’s commitment to expanding access to affordable housing and helping more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership.

Aurora, a 58‑year‑old first-time homebuyer in Oxford, New Jersey, spent five years working tirelessly toward her dream of owning a home. Balancing two jobs as a baker at different supermarkets, she pushed forward despite facing setback after setback. Over time, the challenges grew heavy, and Aurora began to fear that homeownership might never be within reach. This year, everything changed in a way Aurora describes as nothing short of a miracle.

In April 2025, Kamryn Clark took an important step toward her future when she applied for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans, also known as the Section 502 Direct Loan Program, to purchase her first home in Carneys Point, New Jersey. As an independent woman who had recently transitioned from substitute teaching to securing her dream role as a full‑time elementary school teacher, Clark was determined to “live where you work” and put down roots in the community she serves.