Government Agencies to Push Home Building in Rural Communities

Washington, D. C., June l5.-Plans were announced by M. L. Wilson, Director of the Extension Service in the Department of Agriculture and Chairman of the Central Housing Committee on rural housing for a renewed national program of education relative to how existing facilities of governmental financing agencies may be used to promote the building of low-cost ho communities and for farm building repairs ments. Important interests in the building flndustry are cooperating with this program, Mr. Wilson

Under this program an effort will be made fo get spread understanding of the methods of opbrari6F of the existing housing agencies, so that those who are anticipating building new low-cost homes in small towns and rural areas and on farms r,vill more readily understand how to use existing agencies in this field. The federal agencies, including the Farm Credit Administration. Federal Home Loan Bank Board, Federal Housing Administration, Federal National Mortgage Association, and the R.F.C. Mortgage Company, are anxious that their service may be used in small town and rural areas. Many types of needed lowcost village homes; farnr subsistence homes, farm houses and productive farm buildings can be financed through the existing agencies in these localities or adjacent thereto.

Cooperating with this joint governmental program, the building industry has set up the National Homes Foundation, representing manufacturers, local building material dealers and trade associations in the building 4 fields. This Foundation. membersh s open to all elements of the buildinei interested in the rural building uarters in Washington, D. C., through i ical and educational committees. is recomtechniques to improve building design and conuction and at the same time make for lower costs. Through this prograrn the building industries interested in the farm and rural markets are ready with a cooperative merchandising, educational and promotional program to stimulate building and modernization and repair activity in these areas.

Service to the home building field under this program will be through existing facilities in the rural communities and centered around the local financial institutions and servicd institutions, such as the retail lumber and supply dealers and local building mechanics and contractors. It is expected, Mr. Wilson states, that wide-spread additional employment and the sound investment of private funds for needed homes and farm building improvements will result from this program.