Across rural America, people are picking up hammers, screwdrivers and measuring tapes to build their own homes. USDA Rural Development (RD) and Habitat for Humanity’s strong partnership helps ensure that every family has access to well-built, energy efficient, affordable housing.
Habitat and RD both believe that having a decent home provides the strength, stability and independence that families need to thrive. This is evident in the inspiring homeownership stories resulting from this unique partnership.
The Dennis family of Carneys Point, New Jersey, is an example of what can happen when RD and Habitat work side by side.
The Dennis’ house is being built with accessibility features so Mrs. Dennis can move easily throughout her home while in her wheelchair.
“Rural Development and Habitat for Humanity have made it possible for us to not only have a house but a home,” she said.
The family worked with Habitat and secured a low-interest loan through RD’s Single-Family Housing Direct Program.
In addition to this RD home loan, Habitat leverages many other RD programs to help homeowners in every corner of the U.S. including Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants. This program finances critical home repair for low-income people. Grant recipients must be 62 years or older or be a person with a disability.
Programs like the Housing Preservation Grant Program and the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program help qualified organizations repair and rehabilitate old homes or build new ones.
Through valuable partnerships like the one with Habitat, RD can continue to ensure rural America is a place everyone can call home.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, RD makes sure rural and Tribal communities — especially those that have been overlooked in the past — have equitable access to resources to achieve the goal of homeownership.
Since 1949, RD’s Single Family Housing Programs have helped nearly five million families and individuals achieve the dream of homeownership. We know that when you own or rent a home, you’re invested in and connected to the place where you live. That’s why RD also offers assistance through Multifamily Housing Programs to increase access to affordable multifamily rental housing opportunities in rural America for those who are not quite ready or able to purchase a home.
Stay tuned for more posts from USDA Rural Development as we continue celebrating National Homeownership Month.