West Sacramento, Calif. — Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) is pleased to announce that it received a $396,246.39 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant. This award is part of HUD’s initiative to distribute $2.75 million in grants to enhance HUD-certified housing counselors’ skills across the country and increase access to professional and effective housing counseling services.

This award will support RCAC’s efforts implement a comprehensive training program, including both webinars and in-person events. The curriculum builds skills essential for housing counselors working within HUD’s Housing Counseling Program. Topics include emergency preparedness and recovery counseling, combating unethical property valuations and appraisal bias, mental wellness in housing counseling, and strategies to resolve and prevent mortgage delinquency or default. The program makes housing counseling services more accessible and relevant to a diverse clientele, including those in Indigenous and Spanish-speaking rural communities.

“We are immensely grateful for HUD’s continued support, which empowers us to foster inclusive development through improved access to housing,” said Suzanne Anarde, RCAC Chief Executive Officer. “This grant enables us to broaden our training programs, ensuring that housing counselors across our service area are fully prepared to meet the diverse and evolving needs of the communities they serve.”

RCAC earned HUD approval as a national intermediary in 2005 and has provided housing counseling training since 2006.

RCAC partners with rural and Indigenous communities to achieve their vision and well-being through technical assistance, training, financial resources, and advocacy. RCAC serves rural communities in 13 western states and western Pacific islands. Services are available to communities with populations of fewer than 50,000, other nonprofit groups, tribal organizations, farmworkers, colonias and other specific populations. RCAC staff provides direct services in program areas including affordable housing, environmental services, economic development, and lending. Learn more about RCAC here.

Media contact:
Julia Helmreich, Director
Communications and Development
(916) 529-7563