Obama taps Valley man to head rural housing agency

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.