In rural Oklahoma, for small towns like Okmulgee, a housing program isn’t just about building homes.

It’s about keeping families in place, keeping jobs local and keeping communities intact.

When one of those programs disappears, the impact doesn’t stay on paper, it shows up in neighborhoods, in schools and in the dayto- day lives of the people who call those places home.

Changes at the federal level are beginning to reshape how housing programs operate across rural America, and in Okmulgee County, those changes have already led to the loss of a long-running program that once helped families build homes and communities build economies.

The Deep Fork Community Action Foundation confirmed that its Self-Help Housing program, which served 10 counties including Okmulgee County, ended in May 2025.

The program, part of a nationwide rural housing initiative supported through U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, had provided a pathway to homeownership for low-income families while also supporting local economies. “The program not only built homes in the community,” said Executive Director Christie Baldridge, “but also created jobs locally, paid local taxes, rented facilities within the community, purchased materials from local businesses and hired local contractors.”

At its height, the program had assisted over 700 families and stood as one of the earlier self-help housing ef- forts in the state.

Its closure marks a shift not only for families seeking affordable housing, but for the broader network of small businesses and workers tied to residential construction in rural areas. — A System Under Pressure

Baldridge said recent funding disruptions, including delays tied to the federal government shutdown, created challenges for maintaining program continuity. “These delays created temporary disruptions in funding timelines,” she said. “We had to carefully plan financially to ensure continuity of services.”

In addition to delays, changes to federal housing programs such as the USDA 502 loan program and HOME program guidelines have altered how local agencies administer housing assistance.

Those changes, she said, often come with additional requirements and documentation that can slow down the delivery of services, particularly in rural communities.

— Rural Housing Challenges

The loss of programs like Self-Help Housing comes at a time when rural communities are already facing ongoing housing challenges.

Across small towns like Okmulgee, access to affordable housing remains limited. Many available homes are older and in need of repair, while new construction can be difficult due to rising material costs, labor shortages and financing barriers.

Unlike urban areas, rural communities often rely on fewer housing programs and have limited access to developers or large-scale housing projects. Programs like Self-Help Housing have historically helped fill that gap by allowing families to build homes at reduced cost through shared labor.

When those programs are reduced or eliminated, fewer pathways to homeownership remain.

Baldridge noted that rural communities operate differently than larger cities, where housing programs are often designed and tested. “Building homes in larger urban areas is not the same as building homes in rural communities,” she said, pointing to differences in land use, infrastructure and access to resources.

As those differences collide with changing federal requirements, local organizations are left trying to bridge a widening gap between available resources and growing need.

— More Than Housing: A Community System The impact of housing programs in rural communities extends far beyond individual homes.

In places like Okmulgee County, homeownership plays a central role in maintaining community stability. Owner-occupied homes are often tied to property values, which in turn influence local tax bases that support schools and public services.

When fewer homes are built or maintained, the effects can begin to spread.

A limited housing supply can make it harder for families to remain in the area, reducing population over time. That decline can affect local businesses, workforce availability and the overall economic activity that small communities depend on.

At the same time, fewer affordable housing options can increase pressure on rental markets and contribute to housing instability for some residents.

In rural areas, where resources are often limited and systems are closely connected, changes in one area can quickly impact others. As housing opportunities shrink, the ripple effects can reach far beyond construction, touching schools, infrastructure, local employment and long-term community growth.

— National concerns emerging

Housing organizations connected to the national Self-Help Housing network have recently raised concerns that broader structural changes may further impact programs like the one that ended in Okmulgee County.

In a statement circulated among housing groups, organizations involved in providing technical and management support for the federal mutual self-help housing program said the U.S. Department of Agriculture is not renewing key support contracts set to expire in March 2026.

According to the statement, the contracts help provide training, oversight and technical assistance to local housing providers.

Without those services, organizations warned the program could face significant strain.

The statement noted that services may either be shifted to already limited federal staff or discontinued, which could affect the long-term stability of the decades-old program and limit opportunities for low-income families to build homes.

While the full impact of those changes remains unclear, the concerns point to a broader uncertainty surrounding rural housing programs nationwide.

— Real Needs, Right Now

Despite program changes, the need for assistance in Okmulgee County remains high.

Baldridge said residents continue to seek help with housing, utilities, employment and food.

“Many individuals are seeking housing, employment, utility assistance, rent assistance, food and help meeting basic daily needs,” she said.

However, she noted that when government funding is involved, immediate assistance is not always possible. “There is often a significant amount of required paperwork and verification before assistance can be provided,” she said.

— What Help Is Still Available

Residents needing assistance are encouraged to contact Deep Fork directly at 918-756-2826, where staff or volunteers can provide screening and referrals.

The organization continues to serve primarily low-income individuals and families and is working to maintain services despite funding challenges.

— Looking Ahead

Baldridge said the organization remains focused on helping residents build stability.

“Our ultimate goal is to help individuals and families move toward self-sufficiency,” she said. “Not just a handout, but a hand up.” At the same time, organizations like Deep Fork are navigating a changing landscape where funding decisions, administrative changes and policy shifts made at higher levels are increasingly shaping what services are available at the local level.

For communities like Okmulgee, those decisions are no longer distant. They are showing up in real ways in the programs that remain, and in the ones that are no longer there.