USDA announces farm worker housing funds available
August 14, 2013 | 01:06 PM
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the availability of nearly $40 million to provide housing for farmworkers and their families, and again called on Congress to pass a comprehensive farm bill that would continue such programs.
Today’s announcement makes available approximately $30 million in loans, $8.5 million in grants, and $951,000 in rental assistance, USDA said in a news release. Applications for Farm Labor Housing assistance are due September 13.
“USDA’s Farm Labor Housing Program is the only national source of construction funds to buy, build or improve housing for farm workers, who are critical to the tremendous productivity of American agriculture,” said Vilsack.
“This program is an important way that USDA helps to ensure the well-being of itinerant farm labor families,” he said. “Looking ahead to the future, we will also continue to urge passage of common sense immigration reform that will create rules that work for farm workers and producers alike.”
Applications are available through the USDA state rural development offices and on the USDA website.
Today’s announcement makes available approximately $30 million in loans, $8.5 million in grants, and $951,000 in rental assistance, USDA said in a news release. Applications for Farm Labor Housing assistance are due September 13.
“USDA’s Farm Labor Housing Program is the only national source of construction funds to buy, build or improve housing for farm workers, who are critical to the tremendous productivity of American agriculture,” said Vilsack.
“This program is an important way that USDA helps to ensure the well-being of itinerant farm labor families,” he said. “Looking ahead to the future, we will also continue to urge passage of common sense immigration reform that will create rules that work for farm workers and producers alike.”
Applications are available through the USDA state rural development offices and on the USDA website.
