Homes have become offices, schools, places of worship and our safe havens since the pandemic began. But in many rural places and tribal communities, housing is a growing challenge. Some long-time residents live in older homes needing repair. Some, working in low-paying jobs, live with others in cramped quarters. Many cannot work or learn from home because of connectivity. Others face mortgages or rents too high to afford with newly depressed wages or newly inflated real estate and rent prices caused by competition from a flood of urban refugees. The housing price tag is forcing some rural workers and families into significant debt or homelessness – with the host of health and safety risks that brings. But brick by brick and loan by loan, committed rural organizations are providing assistance – some tried and true and some new and different measures – to keep rural residents sheltered as the pandemic and its effects unfold.

In the third ROAD Session, rural and tribal organizations share their analysis and useful strategies for helping rural residents, workers and families address housing distress and homelessness. They provide details on available housing programs and modes of collaboration useful to advance safe, affordable, solutions now and over the long-term, including strategies that could help fend off further crisis if federal and state unemployment and housing assistance run dry.

Read the full article about shelter in rural places at The Aspen Institute.