U.S. Rep. Ed Case visits Kunia Village—preservation to secure affordable housing

RCAC staff welcomed Case this week at a site visit to Kunia Village, in O‘ahu, Hawaii. The Village is an example of how funding for water and wastewater infrastructure and affordable housing development can create positive outcomes for rural communities.

California’s Project Homekey coverts hotels into homeless shelter

Built on the success of Project Roomkey, a state program that provided those experiencing homelessness safe space to quarantine after exposure to COVID-19, California’s Project Homekey buys motels and turns them into housing for its homeless population.

USDA invested $542.6 million in Oregon low-income rural housing

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development invested $542.6 million in 2020 to help mitigate the rising cost of homeownership in Oregon. The funds were distributed through three programs.

Pandemic impacting Americans’ buying habits

A new article from NBC News explores how consumer spending has changed since March with the COVID-19 onset. Of note is new data from realtor.com showing prospective homeowners are more inclined to leave cities and urban areas for rural ones.

Low construction rates impact Oregon’s affordable housing supply

Oregon state economist Josh Lehner published a report on the last day of 2019 titled “Economic Trends of the 2010s.” In the report, he concluded that housing construction during the last decade reached a record low despite the state’s prevalent housing shortage.