Additional Resources
Tools and Resources for Rural Housing and Services
Expand your knowledge and understanding of rural housing and services with help from these tools, training, and other technical assistance resources.
- Addressing Homelessness in Rural Communities: A Technical Assistance Guide (HUD) – Guidebook designed to give community partners, Continuums of Care (CoCs), service providers, and other housing stakeholders a look at housing and services resources to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness in rural areas
- Disability and Independence in Rural America (National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services) – White paper detailing rural residents with disabilities and the challenges they may face when attempting to access health and human services in their communities
- Governance and Capacity Building for Homeless Providers in Rural Areas (HUD) – This workshop presentation explores the unique challenges that rural areas face in terms of organizational management, capacity building, decision-making, and planning
- Housing Preservation Grants (USDA Rural Development) – Fact sheet describing how Housing Preservation Grants provide funds to eligible organizations to repair or rehabilitate housing occupied by very-low- and low-income families in eligible rural areas
- Meeting the Needs of Older Adults Living in Rural Communities: The Roles of Area Agencies on Aging (USAging) - Data brief from the 2020 National Survey of Area Agencies on Aging
- Multifamily Housing Programs (USDA Rural Development) – Website on the various multifamily housing programs that assist rural property owners through loans, loan guarantees, and grants that enable owners to develop and rehabilitate properties for low-income, elderly, people with disabilities and families, as well as domestic farm laborers
- Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants (USDA Rural Development) – Webpage providing information on the grants available to qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction projects. Grant recipients supervise groups of very-low- and low-income individuals and families as they construct their own homes in rural areas
- National Rural Rental Preservation Academy (Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.) – Webinar series providing training and peer learning sessions designed to help rural housing providers and nonprofits acquire and preserve USDA Rural Development
- Rural Behavioral Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) – Webpage detailing the various grants, programs, and other resources available to address the behavioral health needs of people in rural communities
- Rural Communities (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center) – Webpage with tools, presentations, and guides around some of the unique barriers faced by rural residents in accessing supports and services. For older adults, this includes access to senior nutrition programs.
- Rural Development (USDA) – Webpage for Rural Development mission area, detailing how USDA provides financial resources and support for rural communities, residents, and businesses to improve the economy and quality of life in rural America
- Rural Healthy Housing (National Center for Healthy Housing) – List of federal funding resources to improve the home environment for people in rural areas
- Human Services to Support Rural Health (Rural Health Information Hub) – Guide that focuses on human services to support rural residents and families
- Rural Homelessness (HUD Exchange) – Webpage from the HUD Exchange providing resources to help rural communities address homelessness
- https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/UTF-8Rural Housing Needs Factsheet.pdf Rural Housing Service (USDA Rural Development) – List of a variety of programs to build or improve housing and essential community facilities in rural areas
- Rural Transportation Resources & Programs
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Learn about resources to improve access to transportation services in rural areas with the following links.
- Formula Grants for Rural Areas (U.S. Department of Transportation) – The Formula Grants for Rural Areas program provides capital, planning, and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations of less than 50,000, where many residents often rely on public transit to reach their destinations. The program also provides funding for state and national training and technical assistance through the Rural Transportation Assistance Program.
- National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) – NADTC promotes the availability and accessibility of transportation options that meet the needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
- National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) – Website that addresses the training and technical assistance needs of rural and tribal transit operators across the nation and supports the state RTAP programs. Provides a comprehensive set of free technical assistance programs and resources including training materials, webinars, newsletters and technical briefs, peer resources, research, and innovative technology initiatives
- Rural Grant Application Toolkit (U.S. Department of Transportation) – Guide for potential applicants for identifying and navigating discretionary opportunities for rural transportation projects
- Transportation Resources for Rural Communities (U.S. Department of Transportation) – Website highlighting a selection of available resources as a starting point to help rural communities address the unique transportation challenges and opportunities they face