In this issue:

RCAC helps Guam subdivisions fight for basic infrastructure, housing after typhoon

By Elliott Bochstein, Rural Community Assistance Corporation staff writer

When Typhoon Mawar devastated Guam in May 2023, it laid bare a long-simmering crisis for residents in the northern village of Yigo. Subdivisions like Gill Baza, Gill-Breeze, and Zero Down, established in the 1990s to accommodate the island’s expanding Micronesian workforce, suffered from decades of neglected infrastructure and broken promises made by exploitative developers.

RCAC trains leaders to expand affordable mortgage access in Indigenous communities

By Elliott Bochstein, Rural Community Assistance Corporation staff writer

Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico – Owning a home represents more than just a marker of stability for many Americans; it’s a crucial step toward financial security and the opportunity to create a lasting legacy for their descendants. However, low-income households and communities often find this dream out of reach due to systemic barriers and a lack of affordable financing options.

Case study: M&J Mobile Home Park

M&J Mobile Home Park, located in Fielding, Box Elder County, Utah, is a very low-income community of about 22 people that has struggled with high arsenic levels and contamination risks in its drinking water in recent years. RCAC began working with M&J in fall 2017, after the Utah Division of Drinking Water issued a “Do Not Use” order due to the system’s dire state.

Training highlights

Drought Contingency & Water Conservation (Nevada)

July 9, 2024 | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Pacific Time
Online

Nevada is the driest state in the nation. The supply of water in Nevada requires wise management in an area where water resources are limited, and cycles of drought are common. Water conservation has proven to be an effective mechanism for reducing the demand on limited sources of water with the goal of ensuring that the… .

Water Quality Sampling (California)

July 16, 2024 | 8:30 AM-3:30 PM Pacific Time
Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Aptos, California

Public health is the primary concern of water providers, and the best way to ensure your water is safe is to test for possible contamination. Water system sampling can vary widely, from monthly bacteriological testing to radionuclide testing every nine years. In this workshop we will focus on water sample collection while also reviewing monitoring schedules, site sample plans, reporting, and public notification requirements.

Internal Controls (California)

July 17, 2024 | 8:30 AM-3:30 PM Pacific Time
Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Aptos, California

The purpose of this training event is to provide California small water systems with tools necessary to safeguard assets and minimize risks to financial objectives. Many systems lack basic understanding of how to establish processes and procedures designed to improve the reliability of financial reporting and accountability to stakeholders, prevent loss of resources and public assets and achieve budget targets.

For questions about event registration, please email registration@rcac.org or call (916) 447-9832 ext. 1429.

Affordable Housing Loan Program

RCAC financing helps developers build single and multifamily affordable housing units for low-income families. RCAC’s housing loans allow for short-term acquisition, pre-development, site development and construction of single and multifamily affordable housing. RCAC is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

Looking for a new and exciting career path?

Join our passionate team and make a difference in rural communities throughout the West! We work in diverse and low-income communities to increase access to affordable housing and safe drinking water, promote economic opportunity and job creation, and provide financing for community and economic development projects.