In a small town in rural Nebraska on a quiet street lined with trees and pickup trucks sits a little yellow house on a corner. In the window there is a red, white, and blue sign that says: Home of the Free Because of the Brave. Inside, one of the brave – an army veteran – makes rural Nebraska home with help from USDA Rural Development.
As Nebraska State Director for USDA Rural Development, this scene makes me proud. It is a snapshot of what USDA Rural Development is all about: taking pride in rural Nebraska and investing in the people who invest in America through their service, through producing food and fuel, and by building up rural communities.
June is National Homeownership Month. During this month, we celebrate the people who choose to make rural Nebraska home and the ways that USDA Rural development helps people purchase and repair homes. We know that expanding opportunities for homeownership strengthens our rural communities and helps people build wealth and achieve financial stability.
Through the years, USDA Rural Development has helped millions of families and individuals across the country achieve the dream of homeownership. We stand ready to support the housing needs of everyone—whether they are new in town, changing jobs, growing their family, or simply entering a new phase of life. We are an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Last year alone, the USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Direct Program in Nebraska helped infuse approximately $7.5 million dollars into rural homeownership.
We do this in many ways.
• The USDA Rural Development home repair program helps low-income individuals in rural areas access loans (and grants for seniors) to repair their homes. This program can also assist individuals who experienced home damage due to presidentially declared disasters in 2022.
• The USDA Single Family Housing home loan program offers financing assistance to low-income individuals to purchase a home in rural Nebraska.
• The USDA Rural Development housing preservation grant program assists organizations to repair and rehabilitate homes for low-income owners and renters in rural Nebraska.
Homeownership is about more than just having a roof over one’s head. It represents stability, security, and a sense of belonging. As rural Nebraska communities work to grow jobs, population, and opportunity, they also offer a place to feel rooted and connected. Homeownership offers a sense of pride and collective responsibility in close knit communities.
By investing in our people, their dreams, and the communities they call home, we cultivate a brighter future for rural Nebraska.
You can learn more about our housing resources by visiting https://www.rd.usda.gov/ne or calling (402) 437-5551 Option 1 for Single Family Housing.