Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Housing and homelessness
USDA Rural Housing Programs: An Overview
Outlines housing programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Rural Housing Service (RHS) and targeted specifically to residents of rural communities. Describes trends related to Section 502 Direct and Guaranteed Loans. Highlights policy proposals regarding multifamily housing preservation and the administration of rural housing programs. Includes information on the appropriations of rural housing programs between fiscal years 2017-2021.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Outlines housing programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Rural Housing Service (RHS) and targeted specifically to residents of rural communities. Describes trends related to Section 502 Direct and Guaranteed Loans. Highlights policy proposals regarding multifamily housing preservation and the administration of rural housing programs. Includes information on the appropriations of rural housing programs between fiscal years 2017-2021.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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My Daughter Knows over 21 People That Have Died from Drug Overdose or Suicide: Cross-Sector Rural Provider Perspectives on Adverse Childhood Experiences
Presents a study on how providers from healthcare, social services, and other sectors in rural Missouri view the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) play in substance use, overdose, and suicide in their communities. Discusses the methods for mitigating exposure and negative health consequences for children with ACEs.
Author(s): Ashley E. Douglas, Julie M. Kapp
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14, 1891916
Date: 10/2026
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Presents a study on how providers from healthcare, social services, and other sectors in rural Missouri view the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) play in substance use, overdose, and suicide in their communities. Discusses the methods for mitigating exposure and negative health consequences for children with ACEs.
Author(s): Ashley E. Douglas, Julie M. Kapp
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14, 1891916
Date: 10/2026
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Preserving Rural Rental Housing Webinar Series
A webinar series that features panelists discussing strategies to keep rental housing in rural areas sustainable. Focuses on the 515 Rural Rental Housing Program, stand-alone rental assistance, and more. Transcript available below description.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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A webinar series that features panelists discussing strategies to keep rental housing in rural areas sustainable. Focuses on the 515 Rural Rental Housing Program, stand-alone rental assistance, and more. Transcript available below description.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Annual Report to the Congress of the United States on Sanitation Deficiency Levels for Indian Homes and Communities: Fiscal Year 2025
Reports on sanitation deficiencies in tribal communities and describes efforts and priorities of the Indian Health Service to improve tribal water, sewer, and solid waste infrastructure. Includes data on estimated costs to address sanitation deficiencies, estimated health impacts, and healthcare costs avoided by infrastructure investment.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Reports on sanitation deficiencies in tribal communities and describes efforts and priorities of the Indian Health Service to improve tribal water, sewer, and solid waste infrastructure. Includes data on estimated costs to address sanitation deficiencies, estimated health impacts, and healthcare costs avoided by infrastructure investment.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Rural Households Use Several Kinds of Fuels for Heating Their Homes
Chart providing data on the primary heating fuel (natural gas, electric, fuel oil, propane, or wood) used by rural and urban households in 2020, using U.S. Department of Energy Residential Energy Consumption Survey data.
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Chart providing data on the primary heating fuel (natural gas, electric, fuel oil, propane, or wood) used by rural and urban households in 2020, using U.S. Department of Energy Residential Energy Consumption Survey data.
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Contributing Factors to Rural Energy Use, Costs, and Affordability in the Early 2020s
Examines disparities in energy efficiency and costs in rural and urban households. Utilizes data from the U.S. Department of Energy's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey to analyze rural versus urban differences in energy use and burden, energy efficiency, extreme weather, housing quality, and energy insecurity according to household types, such as low-income, homes with children, mobile homes, and rentals. Discusses financial and health impacts of poor energy performance in rural areas.
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff, Hannah Kamen, Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines disparities in energy efficiency and costs in rural and urban households. Utilizes data from the U.S. Department of Energy's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey to analyze rural versus urban differences in energy use and burden, energy efficiency, extreme weather, housing quality, and energy insecurity according to household types, such as low-income, homes with children, mobile homes, and rentals. Discusses financial and health impacts of poor energy performance in rural areas.
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff, Hannah Kamen, Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101)
Provides an overview of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101), which became law on July 11, 2026, and aims to address housing supply and affordability. Summarizes each provision of the law, as well as deadlines applicable to federal agencies. Includes references to rural programs throughout.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (P.L. 119-101), which became law on July 11, 2026, and aims to address housing supply and affordability. Summarizes each provision of the law, as well as deadlines applicable to federal agencies. Includes references to rural programs throughout.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Migration and Aging Across the Rural-Urban Continuum
Examines migration and aging patterns from 1980 to 2020 across the rural-urban continuum. Covers age-specific net migration by decade, retirement-age and working adult migration, aging in place, and the relationship between housing, income, employment, and health on migration. Provides charts, graphs, and county-level U.S. maps depicting migration patterns.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff, Richelle L. Winkler, John Cromartie, Katherine J. Curtis
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines migration and aging patterns from 1980 to 2020 across the rural-urban continuum. Covers age-specific net migration by decade, retirement-age and working adult migration, aging in place, and the relationship between housing, income, employment, and health on migration. Provides charts, graphs, and county-level U.S. maps depicting migration patterns.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff, Richelle L. Winkler, John Cromartie, Katherine J. Curtis
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Housing and Food Security in the North Central Region: Evidence from the 2026 NCR-Stat Survey
A recorded webinar that highlights findings from the 2026 NCR-Stat: Housing and Food Security Survey, focusing on housing conditions and cost, food access and security, and household demographics. Discusses rural throughout. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Samuel Mindes
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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A recorded webinar that highlights findings from the 2026 NCR-Stat: Housing and Food Security Survey, focusing on housing conditions and cost, food access and security, and household demographics. Discusses rural throughout. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Samuel Mindes
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey Chartbook
Provides state- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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Provides state- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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