To date. these programs have obligated only $28 million. or about 45 percent of what the Farmers Home Administration was authorized to obligate. The money has provided new or improved housing units only for about 4.000 families and 3.000 individual workers. This amount just scratches the surface of what is believed to be the total need of the 1.000.000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families. Perhaps one reason that the Federal programs for migrant and seasonal farmworkers have not effectively alleviated the problem is that a different approach is necessary. Presently. the initiative for new projects comes from the local level from people who do not necessarily have a direct interest in seeing that farmworkers are provided with decent housing. Because of the transient nature of the work. the workers themselves often are not permanent residents.