Farm Labor Housing Improvement Act

Presented By Felix Morales

This Movement Is Currently
In The Planning Stage.

THE FARMWORKER HOUSING CRISIS

The 2.4 million people who harvest America’s food face a severe housing crisis undermining health, safety, and dignity:

• 33% of farmworker housing fails basic health and safety standards
• Average farmworker spends 30% of limited income on housing
• Rural affordable housing shortage exceeds 350,000 units nationwide
• H-2A visa program housing requirements cover only 10% of total workforce
• Overcrowding rates 5x higher than national average
• Substandard conditions include lack of adequate plumbing, heating, and sanitation
• Housing responsibilities fragmented across multiple federal agencies
• Enforcement resources insufficient for widespread violations
• Transportation challenges exacerbate limited housing options
• Climate impacts increasingly threaten worker housing safety

Despite producing the nation’s food supply, farmworkers often live in conditions that would be unacceptable in any other context, creating health risks for workers and their families while undermining food system stability.

OUR COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING SOLUTION

Our proposed legislation would establish:

1. EXPANDED FINANCING & DEVELOPMENT TOOLS

• Low-Income Housing Tax Credit set-aside for farmworker housing
• USDA Rural Development direct loan program expansion
• Farm Labor Housing Grant program for nonprofit developers
• Infrastructure financing for water, sewer, and utilities
• Community Development Block Grant targeted allocation
• Mixed-income development models supporting integration
• Technical assistance for rural housing developers
• Revolving loan funds for housing rehabilitation
• Predevelopment funding addressing planning costs
• Design assistance creating appropriate housing models

2. QUALITY STANDARDS & ENFORCEMENT

• Unified federal standards for all farmworker housing
• Joint enforcement coordination between agencies
• Increased inspection resources targeting highest-risk housing
• Self-certification elimination for labor camps
• Anonymous complaint systems protecting workers
• Regular condition assessment and reporting
• Habitability standards aligned with general housing requirements
• Climate resilience requirements in vulnerable regions
• Occupancy standards preventing overcrowding
• Language-appropriate notification of rights and standards

3. EMPLOYER INCENTIVES & ASSISTANCE

• Tax credits for qualifying employer-provided housing
• Technical assistance for housing development
• Streamlined permitting for qualifying projects
• Property tax abatement for worker housing
• Cost-sharing for infrastructure connections
• Model housing management programs
• Design assistance for appropriate accommodations
• Energy efficiency incentives reducing operating costs
• Liability protection for compliant housing providers
• Cooperative models spreading responsibility across employers

4. FARMWORKER HOMEOWNERSHIP PATHWAYS

• Mortgage products designed for agricultural worker incomes
• Down payment assistance for qualified farmworkers
• Sweat equity and self-help housing program expansion
• Land trust models creating permanently affordable options
• Financial education supporting successful ownership
• Cooperative ownership structures in agricultural communities
• Home repair programs for existing owner-occupied housing
• Credit-building programs addressing qualification barriers
• Location-efficient models reducing transportation costs
• Manufactured housing financing innovations

5. INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES INTEGRATION

• Childcare facility integration in housing developments
• Transportation connections to employment centers
• Community facilities supporting resident needs
• Healthcare access through co-located services
• Educational programs including ESL and workforce development
• Community gardens and food access initiatives
• Internet connectivity supporting education and services
• Recreation spaces enhancing quality of life
• Service coordination maximizing resource access
• Energy efficiency measures reducing utility costs

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

The legislation would establish a Farmworker Housing Coordination Office within USDA Rural Development with $200 million in annual funding. Implementation would prioritize:

• Regions with largest farmworker populations
• Areas with documented substandard conditions
• Communities with supportive local governments
• Projects leveraging multiple funding sources
• Models demonstrating innovative approaches
• Developments with integrated services
• Housing linked to stable employment opportunities
• Regular assessment of implementation challenges
• Stakeholder engagement throughout process
• Continuous improvement based on resident experience

Our coalition includes farmworker advocacy organizations, agricultural employers, rural housing developers, public health experts, and community development organizations committed to creating housing solutions that respect the dignity and essential contribution of those who harvest America’s food.

Your support will help address the critical but often invisible housing crisis facing America’s farmworkers—creating the financing tools, standards, and implementation capacity needed to ensure safe, affordable housing for the essential workers who feed our nation.