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Minnesota U.S. Senator introduces Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act

One of the impediments for growing the ag labor force is access to affordable rural housing.

U.S. Senator Tina Smith says that’s being addressed in the Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2022 she recently introduced.

“Over the last couple of weeks I’ve talked to a lot of farm commodity groups, and many of them are talking to me about the connected problems of lack of workforce and then lack of housing for people who they need to do their jobs.”

The Minnesota Democrat tells Brownfield the bill provides rental assistance tools for residents in prepaid or maturing properties who are at risk of losing their homes.

“It’s complicated. There are a lot of issues at play with the shortage of affordable housing in rural communities.”

Smith chairs the Senate subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development and says a companion bill has already passed in the House and she’s hopeful her legislation will pass in the Senate in the next year.