Rural and Mountain Workforce Housing Act

This bill would establish a competitive grant and low-interest loan program administered jointly by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture to support the construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of workforce housing in rural and mountain communities. Eligible projects would provide affordable rental or starter-home options for teachers, health-care workers, first responders, public employees, and other workers earning local wages, and would be located near jobs, schools, transit, and essential services. Priority would be given to communities demonstrating severe housing shortages, high construction costs, and plans to maintain long-term affordability, with preference for projects using energy-efficient designs and locally appropriate building methods.