Rural Communities Still Plagued by Pervasive Poverty and Substandard Housing Conditions

One-quarter of the United States' rural households pay more than 30 percent of their monthly income for housing costs, and of the 200 poorest counties 189 are rural. A recently published report, "Taking Stock: Rural People, Poverty, and Housing at the Turn of the 21st Century," provides this information and more as part of an overview of rural residents, their economic condition, and their homes.

The publication is the third in a series of decennial reports by the Housing Assistance Council (HAC), written with support from HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research. This report uses data from the 2000 Census to analyze living conditions in rural areas. Case studies of regions and groups that have experienced persistent economic hardship illustrate in detail the variety of challenges faced by these communities and ways that members have worked to address these issues.

To provide a holistic view of America’s rural housing, the publication attempts to "take stock" of the primary social and economic factors that impact rural housing conditions, namely:

• Demographic characteristics of the people living in rural areas.
  
• Economic trends affecting rural communities.
  
• Characteristics and conditions of the United States’ rural housing stock.

The national analysis provides an inventory of key national trends and issues affecting America’s rural living conditions. For example, a map of the United States illustrates persistent poverty in rural counties by highlighting ones with poverty rates of 20 percent or more according to every Census since 1960.

Central Appalachia, the Lower Mississippi Delta, colonias along the United States-Mexico border, Native American lands, and farm workers have experienced decades, if not centuries, of poor economic conditions and since the 1970s have been designated by HAC as high need areas and populations. Researchers have visited selected areas several times since the 1980s to chronicle the needs and issues of these areas of extreme economic depression. The report includes in-depth case studies that demonstrate the wide range of challenges faced by these different communities and the need to tailor solutions that fit their specific circumstances of economic and housing problems.

"Taking Stock" aims to provide a broad overview of the many issues that affect housing throughout the country. It is hoped that with increased awareness and information the American public and policymakers will recognize and work to improve the living conditions that millions of rural American’s face every day.

An electronic copy of "Taking Stock" is available on HAC's Web site at www.ruralhome.org/pubs/hsganalysis/ts2000/index.htm. Printed copies of the report, including two poster maps, may be purchased from HAC for $26. Ordering information is available from the Web site.