Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager today announced that USDA has awarded loans and grants to 12 organizations to construct, purchase and rehabilitate rural, multi-family, farm labor housing properties.
“The Obama Administration is committed to helping all residents in rural America,” said Tonsager. "This program provides clean, safe, affordable housing to rural farm labor residents.”
USDA Rural Development’s Farm Labor Housing program provides loans and grants to increase the number of housing units for domestic farm laborers. Below is a list of applicants selected for funding.
One of the projects that were made in today’s announcement is the El Camino Real Apartment complex. The $2.2 million dollar project will see the construction of a 40 unit apartment complex in Hatch, New Mexico that will house the families of farm workers.
Upon hearing that one of the projects will be built in New Mexico, USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner said, “The Obama administration is committed to ensuring that America’s farming families are given affordable rural housing.” Brunner added, “Let’s not forget that a healthy economy depends on a prosperous rural America, and providing safe, decent housing to this segment of our workforce helps create a sustainable economy.”