[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 76 (Thursday, May 8, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMEMORATING DUANE MUNFORT HILL OF UKIAH, CALIFORNIA FOR HIS 
            OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING

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                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2008

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Duane Hill, affordable housing trailblazer and friend, upon his 
retirement after 33 years as founder and executive director of Rural 
Community Housing Development Corporation. Based in Ukiah, Mendocino 
County, RCHDC is Northern California's largest rural nonprofit housing 
development organization.
  Duane Hill recognized the overwhelming need for affordable housing in 
rural areas when cities were receiving substantial housing subsidies 
and few resources were being distributed in rural areas. He assembled a 
board of influential volunteers and embarked on a campaign of community 
awareness and public education that led to the incorporation of the 
Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation in 1975.
  Under Duane Hill's leadership, RCHDC grew from its original $500 
investment and staff of two to its current $3.3 million operating 
budget with assets worth more than $200 million. The agency has built 
19 developments from the ground up that together provide 528 affordable 
rental apartments. By purchasing nine large housing developments, RCHDC 
also preserved 400 units of rental housing that were in danger of 
conversion to market-rate.
  The agency has provided first-time homebuyers with more than 350 
self-help homes in 30 subdivisions scattered throughout rural Northern 
California, and has 126 more in development. RCHDC now manages 1,000 
affordable housing units and serves between 1500 and 2000 people 
annually. The agency also has $30 million worth of future projects in 
the pipeline. In 2008, RCHDC will complete rehabilitation of 144 new 
units in Del Norte County, one of the most underserved areas of the 
State, as well as an additional 50 units in Humboldt County. In 
Kelseyville, RCHDC's new farm worker housing will not only provide 
agricultural workers with a suitable place to live, but will also help 
to ensure the viability of agriculture as an economic, employment and 
cultural resource for Lake County.
  Duane's steadfast resolve to see projects through to completion, 
coupled with his uncanny ability to build consensus and marshal both 
human and financial resources has created an inventory of affordable 
housing stock that has served as both a home and a springboard to 
upward mobility for thousands of low-income rural Californians.
  He is on the forefront of campaigns for housing bonds and community 
development funding. He built his own ``self-help'' home and started a 
program for RCHDC employees to do the same. Under Duane Hill's 
leadership, RCHDC has become nationally recognized as an innovator in 
rural housing development. The California Housing Consortium inducted 
RCHDC into the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame. Just last month, Duane 
received the prestigious National NeighborWorks Association's 2008 
Lifetime Achievement award
  Madam Speaker, Duane Hill has earned the respect of his colleagues 
and community. Through visionary leadership, technical expertise and 
quiet persuasion, Duane Hill has invented, built and sustained the 
community development movement in rural Northern California. For these 
reasons and for the lasting impact RCHDC continues to have in rural 
Northern California, it is appropriate that we honor Duane Munfort 
Hill.

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