WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Angus King (I-Maine) introduced legislation to address the national housing shortage and make it easier for rural workers to live in the communities they serve. The Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act would expand the existing Housing Preservation Grants (HPG) program to allow rural homeowners to construct additional housing on their property — such as an attached apartment unit or a small home nearby — to be available for rent. Currently, HPGs are underused and receive limited funding that can only cover small costs and repairs. This legislation would optimize the program for rural housing creation, increasing its funding and expanding eligibility for homeowners who want to participate.

“There is a high demand for rural housing across Kansas, and it’s important that our housing programs offer creative solutions to address this issue,” said Sen. Moran. “Modernizing the Housing Preservation Grants program will help create new avenues for renovating and constructing homes in smaller communities across the country."

“Communities all across Maine and the nation are facing a serious housing shortage,” said Sen. King. “Unfortunately, one law we can’t repeal in Congress is the law of supply and demand. And right now our rural communities, in particular, are up against a short supply problem coupled with serious demand — leaving many people without a place to live that is affordable or close to their community. It’s a pleasure to work with Senator Moran of Kansas — who knows all too well the challenges rural communities face — on the Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act. This bipartisan, commonsense effort is another step toward combating the housing crisis and ensuring Maine people can live where they work. By making it more affordable for folks to renovate their homes, or build news one, we can help offset the rural housing shortage.”

This legislation would:

• Allow recipients to use HPG money to construct additional housing units either within or outside their home.
• Authorize funding for the nationwide program.
• Offer grants of up to $100,000 to low- or medium-income recipients.
• Require the original home to be 25 years or older.
• Established a required landlord education program to help homeowners learn how to oversee rental housing.
• Create a five-year ownership and occupancy requirement upon completion to prevent homeowners from flipping their property at increased values and prevent developers from taking advantage of the program.

Sen. Moran also recently introduced the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act of 2025 to provide greater flexibility to more financial institutions to offer affordable lines of credit to rural and agricultural borrowers to expand their family farms and purchase homes.

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