RCAC’s programs and services deliver solutions to complex community needs. Our local presence allows us to develop partnerships with communities to identify needs, set goals, and select the best options to meet those goals. RCAC and our partners provide the tools to create change and growth, but the communities chart their own course. Collaboration, plus community effort will equal community change. How can we help you?

RCAC’s Loan Fund is a financial resource for rural communities. The Loan Fund fills financing gaps and serves in unconventional markets. We offer loans for affordable housing development, environmental infrastructure, community facilities and small businesses in rural locations.

Decent housing, safe drinking water, education, financing, jobs, community facilities, leadership, families are the many facets to RCAC's work.

RCAC expands the knowledge base of the rural public through education and training. Our training expertise is in technical, financial, and administrative issues that affect rural communities. We take great pride in our professional trainer team's capacity and effectiveness. Our trainers maximize audience participation to keep trainings relevant and memorable.

RCAC's news and publications are a compilation of timely news, announcements and accomplishments produced for the rural development world.

Sub-standard housing and poverty are commonplace in low-income rural communities. Many of these communities also face daunting challenges to access safe, clean drinking water and to develop other vital infrastructure. These issues are often overlooked in policy because rural communities lack the resources, training or social networks that are found in urban areas. Learn how you can advocate for the under-served population in the West.

Founded in 1978, RCAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with rural and Indigenous communities to achieve their vision and well being through technical assistance, training, financial resources and advocacy. For more than 45 years, our dedicated staff and active board, coupled with our key values: leadership, collaboration, commitment, quality and integrity, have helped effect positive change in rural communities across the West. Learn more about who we are and how we operate.

Connecting people to the future

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Monday, Dec 16, 2019

Posted in: Policy Update

CEO update

I am excited to be at RCAC and a part of the self-help network. Mutual Self-Help Housing has always been one of my favorite programs. I love everything about it and the impact it has on families, neighborhoods and communities. Stan and I just returned from the National Rural Housing Coalition’s winter meeting. The situation for this fiscal year’s funding is unclear.
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Posted in: Self-Help Housing

USDA Proposed Rule comments being accepted – single family housing direct programs

On Nov. 25, 2019, a Proposed Rule was published in the Federal Register to seek comments on proposed changes that would increase program flexibility, allow more borrowers to access affordable loans, better align single family housing direct programs with best practices, and enable the programs to be more responsive to economic conditions and trends. Comments are due on or before Jan. 24, 2020.
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Posted in: Dear Sher

Dear Sher

I am working with an applicant who is very low-income, purchasing a very (documented) energy efficient home and needs both the energy ratio increase and 38-year term to ratio qualify for enough loan funds. They’ve had the same job for three years, have great credit, no payment shock or any other areas of concern/risk. It has been suggested that it’s never okay to use the 38-year term in combination with the energy ratio increase.
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Connecting people to the future

News & Publications

Recent News

CEO update

USDA Proposed Rule comments being accepted – single family housing direct programs

Dear Sher

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