Rural Housing
Encyclopedia
Rural housing in the United Kingdom
The lack of affordable housing is one of the most critical issues facing rural communities in the UK.Some of the consequences of this are:
- People have to move away to find affordable housing which means that families are separated by distance and are less able support each other by providing childcare or to do shopping for elderly relatives
- Local services such as schools and shops will become increasingly difficult to maintain without enough people using them
- Rural enterprise is stifled as employers are unable to find workers who can afford to live locally
An integrated approach is key to sustain rural communities.
Rural housing in the United States
The lack of affordable housingAffordable housing
Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
in rural areas of the United States continues to be a critical issue and concern. Factors that can affect affordable rents and home ownership opportunities in Rural America include: lower income levels, urban sprawl pushing housing costs up, loss of high paying jobs and lack of access to credit.
Though the American Housing Survey
American Housing Survey
The American Housing Survey is a statistical survey funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It is the largest regular national housing sample survey in the United States and contains information on the number and...
(AHS) “Homeownership rates increased for virtually all racial and ethnic groups, income groups, regions, and rural and urban areas during the 1990s.” However, according to the US Housing Market Conditions, 2nd quarter, 2007 report by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
, “Housing affordability worsened as sales prices of existing homes increased and mortgage interest rates increased. Housing market performance was weak in the second quarter of 2007, with generally falling production levels and weak existing home sales. The exceptions are the increase in new home sales and the slight increase in housing starts. Inventories of new and existing homes available for sale continue at very high levels, with enough houses available to last nearly 8 months. The home ownership rate declined to 68.2 percent in the second quarter of 2007.”
Programs that are addressing the needs of rural housing can be seen through the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
’s, Rural Housing Service
Rural Housing Service
The Rural Housing Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . Located within the Department's Rural Development mission area, RHS operates a broad range of programs to provide:*homeownership options to individuals;...
. Other assistance is available through the Housing Assistance Council which is a non-profit organization. In the United States, “the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) has been helping local organizations build affordable homes in rural America since 1971. HAC emphasizes local solutions, empowerment of the poor, reduced dependence, and self-help strategies. HAC assists in the development of both single- and multi-family homes and promotes home-ownership for working low-income rural families through a self-help, "sweat equity" construction method. The Housing Assistance Council offers services to public, non-profit, and private organizations throughout the rural United States. HAC also maintains a special focus on high-need groups and regions: Indian country, the Mississippi Delta, farmworkers, the Southwest border colonias, and Appalachia.”
The United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
researches and compiles data sources for rural areas of the United States, through the Economic Research Service
Economic Research Service
The Economic Research Service is the main source of economic information and research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Located in Washington D.C., the mission of ERS is to inform and enhance public and private decision-making on economic and policy issues related to agriculture, food,...
, as seen in their article, “One in Four Nonmetro Households are Housing Stressed,” where it indicates that, “Of the Nation’s 2,000-plus nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) counties, 302 are defined as housing stressed.” It also states, “The principal component of housing stress is high housing expenses relative to income...” The United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
, National Agricultural Library’s, Rural Information Center’s Housing page also provides additional resources for rural housing within the United States and works with rural communities and citizens to assist them in housing information needs.
Rural housing in India
In India, rural housing is provided through Indira Awaas YojanaIndira Awaas Yojana
Indira Awaas Yojana is a Government of India social welfare programme to provide housing for the rural poor in India. The differentiation is made between rural poor and urban poor for a separate set of schemes operate for the urban poor...
, a welfare program of the Government of India. It was first implemented in 1985 and in the 2011 budget the program was funded in the amount of .
See also
- Affordable housingAffordable housingAffordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
- American Housing SurveyAmerican Housing SurveyThe American Housing Survey is a statistical survey funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It is the largest regular national housing sample survey in the United States and contains information on the number and...
- Rural community developmentRural community developmentRural community development encompasses a range of approaches and activities that aim to improve the welfare and livelihoods of people living in rural areas. As a branch of community development, these approaches pay attention to social issues particularly community organizing. This is in contrast...
- Rural Housing ServiceRural Housing ServiceThe Rural Housing Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . Located within the Department's Rural Development mission area, RHS operates a broad range of programs to provide:*homeownership options to individuals;...
- Indira Awaas YojanaIndira Awaas YojanaIndira Awaas Yojana is a Government of India social welfare programme to provide housing for the rural poor in India. The differentiation is made between rural poor and urban poor for a separate set of schemes operate for the urban poor...