Rural housing, the topic at NJC, hosted by the USDA

Local leaders, housing officials, and economic development groups gathered Tuesday, May 12, at Northeastern Junior College’s Applied Technology Campus to discuss affordable housing challenges in northeast Colorado and what funding may be available to help.

The roundtable was hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development office and focused on federal and state housing programs aimed at increasing housing stock in rural communities.

USDA officials highlighted several programs for low- and moderate-income homebuyers, including direct home loans, guaranteed no-money-down loans, and repair grants for elderly or very-low-income homeowners.

The agency also discussed funding opportunities for nonprofits and local governments, including grants for self-help housing construction projects and housing preservation programs.

Officials say many of those programs are currently underused in northeast Colorado.

Representatives from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs also spoke about upcoming affordable housing funding. DOLA expects to award about 140 million dollars statewide during the next fiscal year.

Programs include pre-development funding, Proposition 123 housing assistance, and mobile home community support.

Officials reminded attendees that “affordable housing” generally means a household spends no more than thirty percent of its income on housing costs.

The discussion also focused on barriers facing rural communities, including difficulty attracting builders and subcontractors from the Front Range, floodplain limitations on available land, and state housing requirements that may not fit rural areas — like proximity to bus stops.

Officials encouraged local governments, nonprofits, and housing groups to take advantage of the available programs and partnerships.

For more information on USDA rural housing programs, residents can contact the USDA office in Wray at 970-592-9026 or visit the Rural Development website at or go to www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/agencies/rural-housing-service. Call 720-822-7406 to learn about DOLA’s programs, and for more about CHFA or go to www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/agencies/rural-housing-service.

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