On the recordJuly 22, 2010
I rise today to introduce the Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act. This legislation will re-authorize appropriations for the Housing Assistance Council, HAC, which has been committed to developing affordable housing in rural communities for over 35 years. HAC was originally given a three-year authorization through the Farm Bill in 2008. During the past three years HAC made $46.1 million in grants and loans to help build 3,878 homes throughout rural America. The program has leveraged its funding with over $360 million in other financing and has provided essential technical assistance to local non-profits throughout the country in the form of capacity building grants. These critical services help local organizations, rural communities and cities develop safe and affordable housing. Throughout the country, approximately 1/5 of the Nation's population lives in rural communities. About 7.5 million of the rural population is living in poverty and 2.5 million of them are children. Nearly 3.6 million rural households pay more than 30 percent of their income in housing costs.
