By Cesar Neyoy | Yuma Sun
The heads of nonprofit organizations in Somerton and San Luis, Ariz., are applauding President Obama’s signing of a farm bill that preserves funding for housing programs for low-income residents in those communities.
The $956 billion package sets a higher population level for communities defined as rural areas that qualify for credits, subsidies and low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for local housing programs.
The change raises the population limit from 25,000 to 30,000, meaning that San Luis and Somerton will continue meet the definition of rural communities at least until the next Census in 2020.
The Comite de Bienestar, based in San Luis, and Somerton’s Housing America Corp both have received low-interest financing from the Agriculture Department’s Rural Development program to help clients build their own homes in self-help housing programs the organizations offer.
Related: Cost to bring water to neighborhoods near Somerton may top $3 million
