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Here's the latest news affecting rural America...

MAYDAY, MAYDAY: DEBT DEFAULT APPROACHES

The United States could <a href="[link removed]">default on its debt</a> as soon as <a href="[link removed]">June 1</a> – a mere 9 days away.

A breach of the debt limit would be catastrophic for the U.S. economy and interrupt billions in Social Security payments; about <a href="[link removed]">$49 million in Medicare payments to providers; $22 million in Medicaid payments to states</a>; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; Veterans Affairs (VA) facility funding; and opioid crisis services. In short, it would endanger the health and security of America's most vulnerable populations.

Disruptions to Medicare and Medicaid payments would <a href="[link removed]">disproportionately impact</a> smaller and rural hospitals and doctors' offices that have tight margins, making providers more hesitant to see Medicare and Medicaid patients and putting low-income households' and retirees' health at risk.

Yesterday, President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy met to attempt to find a way forward. While they agreed that preventing a default is absolutely necessary, they have <a href="[link removed]">yet to cut a deal</a> that lifts the ceiling.


A RURAL HOUSING CRISIS

A lack of quality, affordable homes is preventing many families from moving – particularly to rural areas.

<a href="[link removed]">Housing prices and interest rates</a> have skyrocketed not only in cities, but rural areas across the country have seen prices climb <a href="[link removed]">16 percent</a> on average. Lower- and middle-income buyers scrambling in the search for a place to call home.

Inflation has <a href="[link removed]">tightened budgets</a> for everything from utilities to groceries, putting houses for would-be first-time homeowners out of reach. <a href="[link removed]">70 percent</a> of young adults have a harder time buying a home than their parents' generation.

Limited housing has consequences for other sectors: <a href="[link removed]">rural towns</a> are having trouble recruiting workers because none can afford to live nearby – and construction workers are not available to build new houses to expand the supply.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development programs provide opportunities to <a href="[link removed]">buy, build, or repair affordable homes</a> in rural America and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded <a href="[link removed]">Rural Capacity Building (RCB) grants</a> to increase access to and the availability of affordable homes – yet construction costs remain high.

CREATING RURAL HOMELESSNESS

Mobile and manufactured homes are non-subsidized affordable housing options, making up <a href="[link removed]">13 percent</a> of all occupied homes in rural and small towns across the country. Yet recent <a href="[link removed]">private equity takeovers</a> have <a href="[link removed]">hiked rent</a> for the more than 20 million Americans who live in these homes – rather than spurring development, these private investments are worsening the housing crisis.

Corporate ownership, heightened demand, the continuing shortage of affordable housing, and resulting spiked costs is exacerbating rural homelessness, which increased <a href="[link removed]">nearly 6 percent</a> from 2020 to 2022.

Rural homelessness hits <a href="[link removed]">children</a> particularly hard: rural counties often lack family homeless shelters and schools sometimes provide the only support system available. Students who do not have a stable place to live face a vicious cycle: they are unable to attend school regularly, score low on standardized tests, and fail to graduate from high school – putting them at great risk for future homelessness.

RURAL PROGRESS SUMMIT 2023
Curious about creating safe and affordable places to live? Join OCP founder and former Senator Heidi Heitkamp and the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Kayla Laywell at OCP's second <a href="[link removed]">Rural Progress Summit</a>! Tune in virtually Wednesday, June 7th through Friday, June 9th to hear about how to expand affordable and accessible housing opportunities in rural America.

Register for the Summit here: [link removed]


Each week, this newsletter highlights what's going on in rural states, counties, communities, and what One Country Project is up to around the country. If you value this content, please consider donating to One Country Project. Your contribution supports our efforts to connect with rural voters and to promote greater opportunities for rural communities. Donate Now: [link removed]

ARE YOU HEARING THAT?

Today, the <a href="[link removed]">House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations</a> is holding the hearing: <a href="[link removed]">Growing the Domestic Energy Sector Supply Chain and Manufacturing Base: Are Federal Efforts Working?</a>

Tomorrow, the <a href="[link removed]">House Committee on Small Business</a>will hold a hearing focusing on <a href="[link removed]">Saluting Service: Supporting Veteran Owned Small Businesses</a>.

Thursday, the <a href="[link removed]">House Committee on Ways and Means' Subcommittee on Trade</a> will hold a hearing examining "<a href="[link removed]">Modernizing Customs Policies to Protect American Workers and Secure Supply Chains</a>."

In Case You Missed It

The New Republic: <a href="[link removed]">No Labels' Old Allies Agree: The Group Is "Dangerous" and Must Be Stopped</a>

Axios: <a href="[link removed]">Report: Abortion bans led to life-threatening health complications</a>

NBC News: <a href="[link removed]">Abortion bans could drive away young doctors, new survey finds</a>

WGLT: <a href="[link removed]">A rural Illinois hospital closed its labor and delivery unit. A month later, a baby was born along I-55.</a>

WGLT: <a href="[link removed]">Doulas, educators and more try to fill in the gaps of rural health care in Illinois</a>

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: <a href="[link removed]">Report: Rural areas have less access to substance use treatment resources</a>

The Conversation: <a href="[link removed]">Farm families are struggling to grow their businesses in child care deserts – the US farm bill may finally offer some help</a>

WNMU: <a href="[link removed]">Stabenow opposes calls to cut soft drinks from SNAP program in 2023 Farm Bill</a>

GET THE HOT DISH

Hungry for more news affecting rural America? Check out OCP's Hot Dish podcast to hear from OCP founder and former Senator Heidi Heitkamp and co-host Joel Heitkamp <a href="[link removed]">here</a>.

Be sure to follow the One Country Project on
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And check out The Hot Dish podcast: [link removed]


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