RSSObama taps Valley man to head rural housing agency
Covering Washington StateYakima Herald-Republic
E-mail
Print
Comments
More 'Local'
- Edler says strong-mayor system would provide leadership
- Looking back on a journalism career full of colorful characters
- Photo — Turning heads on cruise night
- As a legend and a rock'n'roller, Dylan delivers
- Hit-and-run driver sought in I-90 crash that left 2 injured
- 09/05/10 Death notices
- It's a case of biomass catch-22
Top Read
- Man accused of hitting boy, girlfriend
- It's a grim time for Granges
- Photos: John Mellencamp rocks Yakima County Stadium crowd
- Family dispute leads to stabbing
- Troopers looking for driver after hit-and-run accident near Cle Elum
- Cruisers converge on downtown
- Murray touts role in fighting gang problems
YAKIMA, Wash. -- The Obama administration named the leader of a Yakima housing agency on Monday to head the federal agency for rural housing in Washington.
Mario Villanueva, currently director of Catholic Charities Housing Services in Yakima, will take responsibility for the federal Department of Agriculture's Washington State Office of Rural Development.
"The USDA is poised to do great things in the rural communities of the whole state. I'm anxious to get to the work," said Villanueva, 58.
The Sunnyside native will leave his position with the Catholic housing agency in the next few months. That agency, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, provides affordable housing to more than 1,100 farm workers and senior citizens throughout the Yakima Valley.
"He's nothing less than incredible when it comes to doing this work," said John Young, executive director of the Diocese of Yakima Catholic Charities. "I don't know if the USDA could find a more suitable, qualified or competent person than Mario Villanueva."
Rural Development programs work to improve the economic stability of rural communities by providing loan and grant programs for housing, businesses and critical infrastructure, such as public safety buildings, libraries, town halls and safety equipment.
"Mario Villanueva will be an important advocate for rural communities and will help administer programs and services that can enhance their economic success," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a written statement.
The Yakima housing agency provides affordable housing to more than 1,100 people in eight Central Washington communities. In addition to overseeing those operations, Villanueva created the Raices Corp. to address common concerns of farm workers, first-time homebuyers, seniors and other low-income families throughout Central Washington. Last year he won the Golden Tennis Shoe Award from Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
Villanueva also takes personal experience to the new job. He is the son of migrant farm workers from Texas.
"We know what our mission is," he said. "Of course, political appointments are unique because folks don't usually come up through the ranks. But my background in the last 25 years has focused on a lot of these areas ... I think I have the skills to network and connect."
He and his wife, Jane, will leave Yakima for Olympia, where the Rural Development office is based, but not without regrets.
"I really love my work here," Villanueva said. "I have a great, great staff and we're doing some very unique things in affordable housing, client education, working with local communities.
"But it's timing, this is part of life."
* Melissa Sánchez can be reached at 509-577-7675 or msanchez@yakimaherald.com.
Figures. I think the farmers should be able to allow camping during their temporary harvest labor needs, just like in the old days. That was when people from all over would come and make the harvest a family vacation.
Of course, the State has seen fit to make that impossible by requiring the farmers to provide nicer homes than I live in for people who are supposed to be here only part of the year. They also ruined the "vacation" part by making it illegal for kids to work in the fields, or even be around any machinery.
No wonder we have gangs. All the State will allow is for the kids to stay home and play violent video games or be in school. Think about it, those of you who are going to bad-mouth my comment, before you go off half-cocked.
I definitely think that child labor laws are a contributing factor. We are so worried about not letting our children work too hard or be exploited, that it leaves dropouts with a lot of free time. Businesses have to abide by the strict laws for child labor, yet gangs and the black market do not have to abide by any laws.
I believe that we can end most of our gang problems by ending prohibition of drugs. However, this is another example of how we can combat the ills of our society by relaxing laws, and not trying to create more laws only to make things worse.
Congratulations Mario! Keep up the good work, your efforts have not gone unnoticed!!
Report ViolationThe problem when someone does an exemplary job is they move up--and often that's to someplace outside of the Yakima Valley. Congratulations, Mario, thank you for the work you've done here for Catholic Charities Housing. We know you are going to set high standards in Olympia.
Report Violation
Posting Guidelines - Updated Aug. 21 2009
Readers are encouraged to use these forums to discuss issues affecting the
Yakima Valley. Debate the ideas presented in stories and other comments, but
refrain from personal attacks and offensive remarks aimed at others; e.g.,
you may call an idea idiotic, but don't say the person is an idiot. The
Herald-Republic reserves the right to remove any comment for any reason.
Examples include material that is obscene, encourages illegal activity or
stereotypes based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and
other factors. Continued violation of these guidelines can lead to
suspension or revocation of your ability to post comments. If you believe a
comment is inappropriate, you can bring it to our attention by clicking the
"report violation" link by each comment. Guidelines revised Aug. 21, 2009.
Registered User?
