Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), Ranking Member on the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, sent a letter to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee requesting critical funding to support Americans living in rural communities. In the letter, the lawmakers underscore the urgent need for robust investments in rural housing programs, especially as rural families face aging housing, limited supply, rising rents and house prices, and increasing rates of homelessness.

“Rural America is home to nearly 70 million people, or 20% of the U.S. population, who like the rest of the country are struggling with an aging housing stock, undersupply challenges, rising rents and house prices, and worsening homelessness,” wrote the lawmakers. “Federally funded housing programs through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are often some of the only sources of affordable housing solutions in rural areas. Unfortunately, it has been reported that USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and the Trump Administration have plans to significantly terminate staff by at least 30%. Moreover, in a recent interview, Secretary Rollins referenced plans to downsize USDA’s Rural Development office, which includes the Rural Housing Service. This would devastate the core operations that are critical to serving thousands of families living in rural America who cannot stay afloat without these programs. However, as Democrats and Republicans alike have pointed out over the years, USDA’s role in addressing the unique housing needs of rural America cannot be overstated.”

Specific funding and policy requests supported by the lawmakers include:

1. Providing Robust Funding and Targeted Reforms to the Rural Development Voucher Program (RDVP), lawmakers call for full funding of RDVP renewals in Fiscal Year 2026 and propose expanding eligibility to include Section 514 and 515 properties once their mortgages mature.
   
   
2. Providing Robust Funding for Housing Rehabilitation and Preservation, lawmakers urge Congress to maintain USDA authority to separate Section 521 Rental Assistance from Section 515 loans—helping preserve affordable multifamily housing in rural areas. They also recommend allocating $200 million for Section 515, $75 million for Section 514, $35 million for Section 516 Farm Labor Housing Grants, and $1 billion for the Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization Demonstration Program to support the rehabilitation of aging rural housing.
   
   
3. Fully Fund the Section 521 Rental Assistance Program, including the full renewal funding to ensure low-income families who rely on Section 521 assistance can continue to afford stable housing.
   

To read the full letter here.

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