Rural housing programs serve Texas’ elderly and disabled. This federal bill could make the process easier.

Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett introduced House Bill 7412 to fix administrative issues that have created hurdles for some in rural communities. BY JAYME LOZANO CARVER Homes under construction in a future neighborhood Wednesday, April. 26, 2023, near Wolfforth in Lubbock County. Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune LUBBOCK — As Texans spend more of their income on paying their rent than essentials like health care, food, and transportation, several bills filed this congressional session aim to make it easier for people in rural communities to continue living there. Last week, Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a Dallas Democrat, introduced House Bill 7412. It would address administrative issues in the Rural Housing Voucher program that prevent people in rural communities from using critical benefits like housing vouchers. The bill would clean up some of the hurdles, such as making official notices about housing assistance more readable and informing landlords of the program so they are more likely to accept vouchers from tenants. It would also direct the Rural Housing Service office to develop a plan identifying at-risk tenants and ensure they have a fast approval process for vouchers. Crockett’s bill, along with a package of bills under the Rural Housing Service...