Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness in Rural Places with Jonathan Harwitz and Amanda Reddy

04/11/24 • 50 min

In the first episode in our fifth series, Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness in Rural Places, we begin our episode with the Housing Assistance Council’s (HAC) Director of Public Policy, Jonathan Harwitz. Prior to joining HAC, Jonathan was Director of Housing Community Development and Insurance Policy for the House Financial Services Committee. He also served as Managing Director of Federal Policy and Government Affairs at the Low-Income Investment Fund, a large national Community Development Financial Institution. Jonathan shared that in his over 20 years of public policy, he has always relied on HAC as a voice for rural housing.

During this discussion Jonathan shares HAC’s mission of helping rural communities address their needs for affordable housing, as well as an overview of the state of rural housing in America. Michelle and Jonathan also discuss HAC’s 2024 Rural Housing Priorities included the need for--and barriers to-- capacity building programs and well as funding and financing for rural housing.

In the second half of this episode, Michelle talks with Amanda Reddy, Executive Director of the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH). Over the last 15 years, Amanda has worked with communities to effectively prevent housing-related illness and injury by implementing evidence-based and equitable policies that improve housing quality. Prior to joining NCHH, Amanda was a research scientist with the New York State Department of Health, where she supported a range of programs focused on improving indoor and outdoor air quality in homes, schools, workplaces, and outdoor settings.

This Rural Impact conversation is very timely because April is National Healthy Homes Month, and during the conversation Michelle and Amanda discuss NCHH’s role in creating healthier home environments, and working to prevent environmental health hazards through awareness, education and policy. The two also talk about housing issues impacting the health and wellbeing of rural residents, and how unhealthy housing conditions contribute to a wide range of preventable illnesses and injury, and finally, the funding and legislation needed to make rural homes safe.

To learn more the Housing Assistance Council’s Policy and Advocacy Activities please visit: https://ruralhome.org/our-work/policy/

To learn more about the National Center for Healthy Housing’s Federal Funding for Rural Healthy Housing Fact Sheet please visit: https://nchh.org/resource/fact-sheet_federal-funding-for-rural-healthy-housing/

Policy Watch: As discussed in this episode, follow this proposed legislation:
Whole-Home Repair Act of 2024 - S. 3871

To learn more the Housing Assistance Council’s Policy and Advocacy Activities please visit: https://ruralhome.org/our-work/policy/

Policy Watch: As discussed in this episode, follow this proposed legislation:
Whole-Home Repair Act of 2024 - S. 3871

Previous Episode

Rural Partners Network with Farah Ahmad

In this Impact Extra Episode, Michelle introduces issues from our upcoming series focused on rural housing as well rural transportation issues with special guest Farah Ahmad, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Deputy Under Secretary Ahmad works to advance policies and programs that create economic inclusion and opportunity in rural communities.

During this conversation, Deputy Under Secretary Ahmad shares how the Rural Partners Network (RPN) takes a unique approach to help rural communities build prosperity through job creation, infrastructure development, and community improvement. RPN is an alliance of 25 federal agencies working together with 36 communities across 10 states, and Puerto Rico, to help each community find their vision, and identify community, economic development, infrastructure, and housing needs, as well as the resources necessary to reach their goals.

Deputy Under Secretary Ahmad also shares how USDA works to come up with innovative solutions to high quality affordable rural housing, including the Native Community Native Community Development Financial (Native CDFI) Relending Pilot. The USDA is now working across many different states through nine different Native CDFIs, to improve homeownership opportunities for those living on Tribal Lands. Additionally, Deputy Under Secretary Ahmad highlights how a group called ROUTES (Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success), is dedicated to meeting the unique transportation needs and challenges in rural communities.

To learn more about the RPN visit https://www.rural.gov/

Next Episode

Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness in Rural Places with Elizabeth Carpenter-Song, Ph.D

In the second episode in our fifth series "Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness,” Michelle talks with Elizabeth Carpenter-Song, Ph.D. Elizabeth is a medical and psychological anthropologist at Dartmouth College, and author of the book Families on the Edge: Experiences of Homelessness and Care in Rural New England. Her research strives to center the lived experiences of rural community members marginalized by poverty, housing insecurity, mental illness, and substance use.

During this conversation, Elizabeth and Michelle discuss how rural homelessness and housing security has historically been hidden from a research perspective, the fear and stigma associated with rural homelessness, as well as barriers to accessing resources, healthcare, and programs.

Elizabeth shares the motivation of writing her book focused on rural homelessness in rural New England, insights into life for families and parenting in rural homeless shelters, and observations for how rural families endured poverty and rural homelessness. Michelle and Elizabeth end the discussion focusing on how we can humanize how we think about housing insecurity and homelessness, how listeners can educate themselves, and impact change at a local level to create opportunities for rural families to thrive.