Success Stories
Find Stories
Use the filters below to find additional stories about how our programs have helped rural communities across the nation.
Search Results: 37 Stories
Vital Repairs Help Mother, Daughter Remain in their Home
Maria no longer felt safe in her own home, where she lives with her daughter, Margarita, in rural Malheur County in eastern Oregon. Wind blew in through the cracks around the windows, and water leaked through the roof. But with her low monthly income, Maria could not afford… [Read More]
A Journey from Generational Homelessness to Homeowner
“My journey to homeownership was not easy,” said Mendiola. It wasn’t just saving up the money, improving her credit, or finding the right lender. Mendiola had never lived in one place very long. She grew up in foster care and is a trafficking survivor. “I ended up on the streets… [Read More]
Creating a Path to Employment in Rural Areas for People with Disabilities
Rosa Cortes was struggling to find work in the rural town of Klamath Falls in southern Oregon. She volunteered at Good Will to build her experience, but found her disabilities made employers reluctant to offer her a job. Rosa has ankylosing spondylitis, a hereditary form of… [Read More]
Fueling Wage Growth, Business Expansion in the Columbia Gorge
Rural businesses on both sides of the Columbia River—from a brewery to an assisted living facility, from a Thai restaurant to a tribal fish market—are improving the local economy by hiring more employees and providing higher wages. These myriad small businesses have one thing in… [Read More]
Habitat and USDA Team Up to Create First-generation Homeowners
Donavan and Deborah Watts thought that, like their parents, they would never own their own home. But they were tired of the leaky roof, the water pump that sounded like a jet engine, and the strict landlord who would not allow them to plant a garden in front of their rented… [Read More]
Food Co-op Provides Leadership on Sustainability Issues
Since it was founded nearly half a century ago, the Ashland Food Co-op in rural southwest Oregon has modeled social and environmental responsibility. In addition to providing sustainably grown, local, organic food, this consumer-owned grocer also strives to minimize its impact… [Read More]
USDA Helps Rural Fire Department Replace Essential Equipment
For a small, volunteer fire department, the high cost of equipment can be a significant challenge. That was the case for the Reedsport Fire Department on the central Oregon coast. Their fire pumper truck was past its useful life and posed safety issues. Chief Tom Anderson could… [Read More]