| Welcome
to Rural Housing on the Web! We hope you enjoy the opportunity to get to know more about our
programs. We are confident that, as you browse our Web page, you will come to an
appreciation of all the Rural Housing Service does in rural America.
Eileen Fitzgerald, Acting Administrator
We're proud of what the agency has accomplished.
Since the end of 1997 we've assisted more than 100,000 people to become homeowners for the
first time. Since that time RHS has also helped over 20,000 families and individuals
make needed repairs to their homes, like fixing leaking roofs and adding insulation or
central heating.
RHS makes rents affordable for people living in rural
areas. It provides direct loans, makes loan guarantees, and provides grants and technical
support to help housing developers create clean, safe, affordable housing in rural
areas. RHS helps ensure that the elderly, people with disabilities, and people in
extremely remote areas have the resources they need to live rich, full lives.
Rural people interested in the American dream of owning
their homes can apply for RHS programs to help them make a downpayment and find financing.
Through RHS' groundbreaking Self-Help Housing Program, rural individuals and
families can build "sweat equity" by helping construct their homes themselves.
Recently, a special effort has been made to bring more
child care centers to rural America than ever before. Rural Housing Service programs
bring needed additions to thousands of rural communities each year, like health clinics,
public libraries, social services buildings, school computer centers, and firefighting
equipment.
In 1999, Rural Housing's single-family housing programs
will celebrate their 50th birthday. This occasion gives cause for reflection on the
improvements that have been made in rural American life since a 1945 USDA survey indicated
a majority of rural Americans lacked indoor plumbing and structurally sound, safe homes.
We are pleased to report that the Rural Housing Service is
working with more partners in the private, nonprofit, and public sectors than ever before,
which enables loan and grant dollars to reach many more people.
Please take a look around! We hope you like what you
see.
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