Rural Development (USDA)
Rural Development (RD) is a mission area within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) responsible for administering programs that improve the economy and quality of life in rural America. This includes various financial programs aimed at supporting rural communities and individuals.
Key Functions
Rural Development oversees several services, including:
- Rural Housing Service: Focuses on housing programs.
- Rural Utilities Service: Supports infrastructure development.
- Rural Business-Cooperative Service: Aids rural businesses and cooperatives.
Mortgage Programs
A primary function of Rural Development is the administration of Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which include:
- The Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) (SFHGLP).
- The USDA 502 Loan Program, which targets low and very low-income individuals in rural areas.
RD is responsible for enforcing the provisions of these regulations, with potential actions for non-compliance ranging from reduced loss claim payments to debarment from federal programs. 7 CFR Part 3555 outlines the regulations for the Guaranteed Rural Housing Program.
Source material
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