In the extra episode in our fifth series "Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness,” Michelle talks with Marion Mollegen McFadden, The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. In this role McFadden oversees the administration of federal financial assistance to assist communities in ending homelessness, creating, and preserving affordable housing, strengthening local economies, and disaster recovery and mitigation.

During this conversation, Michelle and the Deputy Assistant Secretary discuss the work of HUD in the rural context, including the programming and funds helping to ensure that housing and community development needs are met.

McFadden shares key details about programs helping rural communities and people access necessary dollars for affordable housing including the Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) program, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), 108 Loan Guarantee within the CDBG, and the Rural Gateway Program. Also covered are efforts focused HUD’s Rural Prosperity Council and its impact for rural communities, how HUD is coordinating across the federal family to meet the needs of rural communities, as well as the priority of the Biden Harris Administration to address homelessness with the urgency it requires.

To learn more about the PRICE program visit:
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/price

In the second episode in our fifth series "Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness,” Michelle talks with Elizabeth Carpenter-Song, Ph.D. Elizabeth is a medical and psychological anthropologist at Dartmouth College, and author of the book Families on the Edge: Experiences of Homelessness and Care in Rural New England. Her research strives to center the lived experiences of rural community members marginalized by poverty, housing insecurity, mental illness, and substance use.

During this conversation, Elizabeth and Michelle discuss how rural homelessness and housing security has historically been hidden from a research perspective, the fear and stigma associated with rural homelessness, as well as barriers to accessing resources, healthcare, and programs.

Elizabeth shares the motivation of writing her book focused on rural homelessness in rural New England, insights into life for families and parenting in rural homeless shelters, and observations for how rural families endured poverty and rural homelessness. Michelle and Elizabeth end the discussion focusing on how we can humanize how we think about housing insecurity and homelessness, how listeners can educate themselves, and impact change at a local level to create opportunities for rural families to thrive.

In the first episode in our fifth series, Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness in Rural Places, we begin our episode with the Housing Assistance Council’s (HAC) Director of Public Policy, Jonathan Harwitz. Prior to joining HAC, Jonathan was Director of Housing Community Development and Insurance Policy for the House Financial Services Committee. He also served as Managing Director of Federal Policy and Government Affairs at the Low-Income Investment Fund, a large national Community Development Financial Institution. Jonathan shared that in his over 20 years of public policy, he has always relied on HAC as a voice for rural housing.

During this discussion Jonathan shares HAC’s mission of helping rural communities address their needs for affordable housing, as well as an overview of the state of rural housing in America. Michelle and Jonathan also discuss HAC’s 2024 Rural Housing Priorities included the need for--and barriers to-- capacity building programs and well as funding and financing for rural housing.

In the second half of this episode, Michelle talks with Amanda Reddy, Executive Director of the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH). Over the last 15 years, Amanda has worked with communities to effectively prevent housing-related illness and injury by implementing evidence-based and equitable policies that improve housing quality. Prior to joining NCHH, Amanda was a research scientist with the New York State Department of Health, where she supported a range of programs focused on improving indoor and outdoor air quality in homes, schools, workplaces, and outdoor settings.

This Rural Impact conversation is very timely because April is National Healthy Homes Month, and during the conversation Michelle and Amanda discuss NCHH’s role in creating healthier home environments, and working to prevent environmental health hazards through awareness, education and policy. The two also talk about housing issues impacting the health and wellbeing of rural residents, and how unhealthy housing conditions contribute to a wide range of preventable illnesses and injury, and finally, the funding and legislation needed to make rural homes safe.

To learn more the Housing Assistance Council’s Policy and Advocacy Activities please visit: https://ruralhome.org/our-work/policy/

To learn more about the National Center for Healthy Housing’s Federal Funding for Rural Healthy Housing Fact Sheet please visit: https://nchh.org/resource/fact-sheet_federal-funding-for-rural-healthy-housing/

Policy Watch: As discussed in this episode, follow this proposed legislation:
Whole-Home Repair Act of 2024 - S. 3871