housing

On Thursday, the CDC extended the moratorium on evictions of Americans who live in multifamily housing communities supported by the Department of Agriculture. The extension grants the moratorium through July 31, 2021. USDA Rural Development undersecretary Justin Maxson said the action gives tenants at USDA-supported properties “essential relief while the Department extends the emergency rental ass

Earlier this week, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley rolled out legislation he said will provide millions of dollars in investments for the farm community across the state and beyond. Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture, says the spending bill will cover a wide variety of Ag, housing food assistance and rural business priorities that will benefit Oregon fa

Late last month, Oregon Governor Kate Brown extended an Executive Order she says will protect farm workers from coronavirus. Executive Order 20-58, issued back in April, focuses not only on physical distance, but sanitation and isolation requirements ...

On Tuesday, Governor Jay Inslee offered clarification on his farm worker protection requirements via Proclamation 20-57. Those points including clarification on an isolation plan for farm worker housing, which the Governor said may refer in whole or in part to the regional isolation center nearest the housing site ...

Representative Dan Newhouse says an amendment added to the recently approved 2018 House Agriculture Appropriations Bill will help address the growing problem of farm worker housing shortages.  The amendment will allow Section 514 housing to be utilized by legal H2-A workers, as well as domestic workers, for whom the housing was originally intended.  ...

As fresh produce from around the Northwest trickles into area grocery stores, one Oregon –based organization it’s more focused on the living conditions for field workers.  Since 1994, the Farmworker Housing Development Corporation, or FHDC, has been developing housing for farmworkers and their families.  FHDC Executive...

Starting June 2nd, it will be easier, and less expensive to refinance homes in rural areas.   The USDA announced that homeowners who are current on their mortgage and have been for a year will no longer need to secure an appraisal, provide a credit report or undergo a debt-to-income calculation when they refinance for a 30-year term.  ...

Homeowners who use USDA for their home mortgages will soon be able to refinance more easily to reduce their payments.   Loan Specialist for USDA’s Rural Development’s Single Family Housing Program Trudy Teter said the biggest change is no longer needing a new appraisal done on the home.   “They h...