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September 14, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 19

• President’s job plan includes possible housing aid • Continuing Resolution expected to start FY12 • Senate committee’s FY12 rural housing spending levels higher than House’s • House subcommittee proposes HUD spending cuts • USDA and HUD testify against moving RHS to HUD • USDA offers RA and equity loans for preservation • Guidance issued on using Section 538 for Section 515 preservation • National poverty rate worsened in 2010

September 14, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 19

PRESIDENT’S JOB PLAN INCLUDES POSSIBLE HOUSING AID. Project Rebuild, part of the American Jobs Act described in President Obama’s September 8 speech and sent to Congress September 12, would hire unemployed workers to repair distressed properties, emphasizing commercial properties. Visit https://www.whitehouse.gov.

CONTINUING RESOLUTION EXPECTED TO START FY12. Funding bills, including those for USDA and HUD, are not likely to be complete by the beginning of fiscal year 2012 on October 1. Visit http://ruralhome.org for updates and https://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app12.html for bill texts.

SENATE COMMITTEE’S FY12 RURAL HOUSING SPENDING LEVELS HIGHER THAN HOUSE’S. The Senate Ap-propriations Committee passed a bill September 7 that provides more funding for almost all USDA housing programs than the House, though less than FY11 appropriations. The Section 502 guarantee and Section 538 programs would remain at FY11 levels. The bill includes $30 million for Section 523 self-help, $2 million for multifamily preservation, and $904.7 million for Section 521 Rental Assistance. The $900 million for RA contract renewals is the amount pro-posed in the Administration’s budget, which assumed 300 properties (HAC estimates about 8,100 units) will leave the Section 515 and 514/516 programs in FY12.

USDA Rural Development Program (dollars in millions)	FY10 Approp.	FY11 Approp. (a)	FY12 Admin. Budget	FY12 Hse. Bill (H.R. 2112) (e)	FY12 Sen. Bill (H.R. 2112)
Loans and Payments
502 Single Fam. Direct	$1,121	$1,121	$211.4	$845.6	$900
502 Single Family Guar.	12,000	24,000	24,000	24,000	24,000
504 Very Low-inc. Rpr.	34.4	23.4	0	0	10
514 Farm Labor Hsg.	27.3	(b)	27	(d)	23.4
515 Rental Hsg. Direct	69.5	69.5	95.2	58.6	64.5
538 Rental Hsg. Guar.	129.1	30.9	0	0	130
Rental Prsrv. Revlg. Lns.	1.8	1	0	0	0
Grants
504 Very Low-inc. Rpr.	31.6	(c)	11.5	32	27
516 Farm Labor Hsg.	9.9	(b)	9.8	(d)	8
523 Self-Help TA	41.9	37	0	22	30
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants	9.4	(c)	0	0	7.3
521 Rental Assistance Preservation RA New Constr. 515 RA New Constr. 514/516 RA	980 (6) (2.03) (3.4)	955.6 0 (2.03) (3)	906.7 0 (3) (3)	890 0 (1.5) (2.5)	904.7 0 (2) (2)
542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers	16.4	14	16	11	11
Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR)	25	15	0	0	2
Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init.	6.3	5	8.4	3	4.2
a. Figures shown do not include 0.2% across the board reduction. b. Budget authority (the cost to the government) in the farm labor housing account remains at FY10 levels, but loan costs have risen as interest rates have risen, so the 514/516 program levels could be somewhat lower. c. The Rural Housing Assistance Grants pool, which funds Section 504 loans, Section 533, and some other smaller programs, is reduced by $1.1 million from FY10 levels. d. The BA for Section 514 and 516 would fall from $9.7 million in FY11 to $2.5 million for FY12, but the House bill does not allocate amounts specifically for loans or grants. e. Figures shown do not include 0.78% across the board reduction.

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE PROPOSES HUD SPENDING CUTS. On September 8 a House appropriations sub-committee passed an FY12 spending bill for HUD that would reduce funding for most programs and provide no funding for the Rural Innovation Fund or housing counseling. Dates have not been scheduled for consideration by the full House committee or by Senate appropriators.

HUD Program (dollars in millions)	FY10 Approp.	FY11 Admin. Budget	FY11 Proposed CR (H.R. 1)	FY12 Admin. Budget
Cmty. Devel. Block Grants	$4,450	4,380.1	1,500	3,781
Sustainable Commun. Initiative	(150)	(150)	0	(b)
Rural Innovation Fund (a)	(25)	0	25	25
Catalytic Investment Grants	–	(150)	–	0
HOME	1,825	1,650	1,650	1,650
Tenant-Based Rental Asstnce.	16,339	17,310	14,080	15,223
Project-Based Rental Asstnce.	8,551.5	9,382.3	8,882	9,035
Transforming Rental Asstnce.	–	350	–	200
Vets. Affairs Spptve Hsg. Vouchers	75	0	75	75
Public Hsg. Capital Fund	2,500	2,044	1,428	2,405
Public Hsg. Operating Fund	4,775	4,829	4,626	3,962
Public Hsg. Revtlztn. (HOPE VI)	135	0	0	0
Choice Neighbrhd. Initiative	65	250	65	250
Housing Trust Fund	–	–	–	1,000
Native Amer. Hsg. Block Grant	700	580	500	700
Homeless Assistance Grants	1,865	2,055	1,865	2,372
Hsg. Opps. for Persons w/ AIDS	335	340	335	335
202 Hsg. for Elderly	825	273	238	757
811 Hsg. for Disabled	300	90	90	196
Fair Housing	72	61	72	72
Rural Hsg. & Econ. Dev. (RHED) (a)	0	0	0	0
Healthy Homes & Lead Haz. Cntl.	140	140	120	140
Sustainable Housing & Communities (b)	–	–	0	150
Self-Help Homeownshp. (SHOP)	27	0	27	0
Brownfields Redevelopment	17.5	0	0	0
Housing Counseling	87.5	88	0	88
a. The Rural Innovation Fund replaced RHED. b. Funded as part of CDBG in 2010 and separately in the FY12 budget

USDA AND HUD TESTIFY AGAINST MOVING RHS TO HUD. Their statements were made at the House Financial Services Committee’s housing subcommittee’s second hearing, held September 8, on a draft bill that would move USDA’s Rural Housing Service to HUD (see HAC News, 5/25/11) and also change FHA and Ginnie Mae. At a September 13 House agriculture subcommittee hearing, RHS Administrator Tammye Treviño again made clear that the Administration opposes the idea. Visit http://ruralhome.org for a summary and links.

USDA OFFERS RA AND EQUITY LOANS FOR PRESERVATION. $3 million in Section 521 Rental Assistance and $10 million in equity loans are available to owners or nonprofit purchasers of Section 515 properties already on RD’s incentives waiting list. See August 8 Unnumbered Letter at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_UnnumberedList.html. Contact Cynthia L. Johnson, RD, 202-720-1940, cynthial.johnson@wdc.usda.gov.

GUIDANCE ISSUED ON USING SECTION 538 FOR SECTION 515 PRESERVATION. See August 16 Unnumbered Letter at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_UnnumberedList.html. Contact Tammy Daniels, RD, 202-720-0021, tammy.daniels@wdc.usda.gov.

NATIONAL POVERTY RATE WORSENED IN 2010. Visit http://ruralhome.org for a rural perspective on new poverty, income, and health insurance data from the Census Bureau, https://www.census.gov.

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August 18, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 17

• New spending reduction process begins • White House Rural Council report and forum focus on jobsSection 514/516 Farm Labor Housing NOFA corrected • Multifamily exception authority requests must be complete, RD reminds field staff • Agencies request input on disposition of REO properties • Federal agencies renew commitment to environmental justice • RD to clarify calculation of student income • Farm loan claims packages available for Hispanic and women farmers • September 16 deadline for Native American trust account holders to file Cobell claims • African-American farmers being notified of Pigford II eligibility • Low-income families and children struggling, annual Kids Count data show • Energy efficiency finance options summarized in report

August 18, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 17

NEW SPENDING REDUCTION PROCESS BEGINS. The first stage of deficit reduction required by the Budget Control Act of 2011 allows more total domestic discretionary spending for FY12 than House appropriations bills had anticipated. The House is not expected to reconsider its USDA spending bill, passed June 16 (see HAC News, 6/22/11). The House has not yet acted on FY12 HUD funding, and the Senate must address both USDA and HUD. The second deficit reduction stage requires proposals from the new Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction by November 23. The 12 committee members include three Democrats and three Republicans from each house: co-chairs Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX); Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), John Kerry (D-MA), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Pat Toomey (R-PA); Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Dave Camp (R-MI), James Clyburn (D-SC), Fred Upton (R-MI), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

WHITE HOUSE RURAL COUNCIL REPORT AND FORUM FOCUS ON JOBS. A new Jobs and Economic Security for Rural America report cites several HUD and foreclosure avoidance programs, mentions USDA housing programs, and acknowledges housing need in Indian Country. President Obama’s recent trip to Iowa included an August 16 White House Rural Economic Forum. Visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/rural-council.

SECTION 514/516 FARM LABOR HOUSING NOFA CORRECTED (see HAC News, 7/6/11). The maximum points for energy conservation for purchase and substantial rehab for an existing non-FLH property are increased from 16 to 32. The deadline remains August 22. See Federal Register, 8/18/11, https://www.grants.gov, or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_NOFAs.html. Contact an RD state office.

MULTIFAMILY EXCEPTION AUTHORITY REQUESTS MUST BE COMPLETE, RD REMINDS FIELD STAFF. An Unnumbered Letter dated July 19 emphasizes elements that must be included in a request for the housing administrator to grant an exception to regulations. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_UnnumberedList.html. Contact Melinda Price, 614-255-2403, melinda.price@wdc.usda.gov.

AGENCIES REQUEST INPUT ON DISPOSITION OF REO PROPERTIES. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, Treasury Department, and HUD are exploring alternatives for selling single-family real estate owned properties held by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA, including approaches that support rental and affordable housing needs. Visit https://www.fhfa.gov/Default.aspx?Page=360 or email reo.rfi@fha.gov.

FEDERAL AGENCIES RENEW COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. USDA, HUD, and 15 others signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 4 related to the 1994 Executive Order that established the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice. They will prepare strategies, release annual reports, and more to ensure equal treatment for all in environmental matters. Visit https://epa.gov/environmentaljustice/interagency.

RD TO CLARIFY CALCULATION OF STUDENT INCOME. The National Housing Law Project reports that RD will issue an Unnumbered Letter making clear that student income should be treated differently for those receiving USDA Rental Assistance than those with HUD Section 8. NHLP’s summary is posted at http://ruralhome.org.

FARM LOAN CLAIMS PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR HISPANIC AND WOMEN FARMERS. Those who believe USDA improperly denied farm loan benefits to them between 1981 and 2000 because they are Hispanic or female can request claims packages at 1-888-508-4429 or https://www.farmerclaims.gov. No deadline is given.

SEPTEMBER 16 DEADLINE FOR NATIVE AMERICAN TRUST ACCOUNT HOLDERS TO FILE COBELL CLAIMS. A court-approved settlement in July resolved the Cobell case regarding federal government mismanagement of Native American trust funds. Visit https://www.indiantrust.com. Contact 1-800-961-6109, info@indiantrust.com.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN FARMERS BEING NOTIFIED OF PIGFORD II ELIGIBILITY. Notices are being sent to those who missed the claim deadline of October 12, 1999 in the original Pigford discrimination case against USDA. Claims packages are not yet available. Updates are posted at https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/pigford-ii-settlement-update and https://www.blackfarmercase.com. Call 1-877-810-8110.

LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND CHILDREN STRUGGLING, ANNUAL KIDS COUNT DATA SHOW. The 2011 data book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation provides state-level figures. Visit https://www.kidscount.org for interactive data or to print or order the book. Contact webmail@aecf.org.

Energy efficiency finance options summarized in report. A new white paper from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy describes the types of initiatives offering financing for the residential and commercial sectors. Energy Efficiency Finance 101: Understanding the Marketplace is free at https://www.aceee.org. Contact ACEEE, 202-507-4000, aceeeinfo@aceee.org.

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July 20, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 15

• House postpones consideration of FY12 HUD funding • Subcommittee votes to eliminate National Housing Trust Fund • Section 515 funds offered • Household Water Well System Grants available • Continuum of Care applicant registration open • RD to withdraw SAVE immigration verification requirement for FLH • Comments on Con Plan changes invited • HUD explains public housing work preference policies • Four major lenders hold almost half of Section 502 guaranteed loans, NHLP reports • California public radio features self-help housing • 2010 Census data added to Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America • ERS reports on evidence of Delta Regional Authority’s impact • GAO considers Dodd-Frank’s possible effect on mortgage credit • Nominations sought for HUD planning award

July 20, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 15

HOUSE POSTPONES CONSIDERATION OF FY12 HUD FUNDING. The Transportation-HUD mark-ups scheduled for July have been postponed, with no new date established yet.

SUBCOMMITTEE VOTES TO ELIMINATE NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND. On July 12, a House Financial Services subcommittee approved a package of bills intended to dismantle Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, including H.R. 2441, which would abolish the NHTF as well as the Capital Magnet Fund. Full committee consideration has not yet been scheduled. For details visit https://www.nhtf.org/template/page.cfm?id=40 and https://financialservices.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=250326.

SECTION 515 FUNDS OFFERED. Pre-applications are due August 29 for new construction or purchase and rehabilitation. Requests are capped at $1 million; $18 million is available for Section 515 as well as $2 million for new Rental Assistance. Points will be awarded for energy initiatives. See Federal Register, 7/13/11 or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_NOFAs.html. Contact a state RD office.

HOUSEHOLD WATER WELL SYSTEM GRANTS AVAILABLE. Rural Development offers grants to nonprofits that will make loans to homeowners to construct or repair household water wells for existing homes. Deadline is August 10. Visit https://www.grants.gov or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-individualwellsystems.htm. Contact Cheryl Francis, 202-720-1937, cheryl.francis@wdc.usda.gov.

CONTINUUM OF CARE APPLICANT REGISTRATION OPEN. Applicants must register in the e-snaps system by July 25 to be eligible for the FY11 funding competition. Visit https://www.hudhre.info. For assistance, contact a HUD CPD field office.

RD TO WITHDRAW SAVE IMMIGRATION VERIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR FLH. HAC has learned that RD plans to rescind its June 9 Unnumbered Letter requiring use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system to check the immigration status of Farm Labor Housing tenants (see HAC News, 7/6/11).

COMMENTS ON CON PLAN CHANGES INVITED. A forum is available until August 11 at https://www.hud.gov/ideasinaction for comments about the new data, mapping tool, and system upgrades HUD plans to implement.

HUD EXPLAINS PUBLIC HOUSING WORK PREFERENCE POLICIES. Notice PIH 2011-33, issued June 24, clarifies how work preference policies must operate if a public housing agency chooses to impose them for applicants on a public housing waiting list and for those already living in public housing. Contact a PHA or visit https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=pih2011-33.pdf.

FOUR MAJOR LENDERS HOLD ALMOST HALF OF SECTION 502 GUARANTEED LOANS, NHLP REPORTS. JP MorganChase Bank alone has made 246,000 of these loans, according to a National Housing Law Project analysis of data it obtained from USDA. Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and US Bank hold a total of just under 100,000 loans. The data also showed that several state housing finance agencies participate in the program as lenders. “RHS Releases Data on Guaranteed Home Loan Program,” to be published in the Housing Law Bulletin, is available on HAC’s site, http://ruralhome.org.

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO FEATURES SELF-HELP HOUSING. “Rural Homebuilding Project Faces Budget Axe” includes Self-Help Enterprises and USDA RD. Visit https://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201107180850/b.

2010 CENSUS DATA ADDED TO ATLAS OF RURAL AND SMALL-TOWN AMERICA. This online application provides county level data and maps on people, jobs, agriculture, and county characteristics. Visit https://www.ers.usda.gov/data/ruralatlas/.

ERS REPORTS ON EVIDENCE OF DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY’S IMPACT. Impacts of Regional Approaches to Rural Development: Initial Evidence on the Delta Regional Authority compares nonmetro counties covered by the DRA, which began funding rural development projects in 2002, with similar counties. Per capita income, net earnings, and transfer payments grew more rapidly in DRA counties than in similar non-DRA counties, and those impacts were stronger in counties in which DRA spending was higher. The report is online at https://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR119/.

GAO CONSIDERS DODD-FRANK’S POSSIBLE EFFECT ON MORTGAGE CREDIT. Mortgage Reform: Potential Impacts of Provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act on Homebuyers and the Mortgage Market discusses the Act’s qualified mortgage criteria, credit risk retention requirement, and provisions concerning homeownership counseling and regulation of high-cost loans. The report (GAO 11-656) is free at https://www.gao.gov or from GAO, 1-866-801-7077.

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR HUD PLANNING AWARD. The HUD Secretary’s Planning and Empowerment Award, offered in partnership with the American Planning Association, honors excellence in community planning that has led to measurable benefits for low- and moderate-income residents. Deadline is Aug. 30. No entry fee is required. Visit https:// www.planning.org/awards. Contact Roberta Rewers, APA, 312-786-6395, rrewers@planning.org.

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June 22, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 113

• House passes FY12 USDA funding bill without changes • HUD offers funds for Native institutions and Section 3 coordinators • Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant advance funding notice posted • White House Rural Council established • HUD will not implement Rural Housing Stability Program in FY11 • Habitat to package Section 502 and 504 direct applications • Guidance provided on closing MPR preservation transactions • RD instructs field staff on evaluating multifamily properties in default • HUD’s 2010 homeless assessment report shows progress and problems • Two studies document housing issues for people with disabilities • Fact sheet lists benefits of housing counseling • Congressional district profiles updated with Out of Reach 2011 data

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June 22, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 113

HOUSE PASSES FY12 USDA FUNDING BILL WITHOUT CHANGES. On June 16 the House approved H.R. 2112 with a 0.78% across-the-board cut. Amendments to eliminate funding for Section 523 self-help housing were defeated by both the Subcommittee and Committee, and one to reduce funding for Section 504 grants was rejected on the House floor. Also defeated was an effort to move money from the Foreign Agricultural Service to Section 542 vouchers and USDA business programs. A funding table is at http://ruralhome.org and the bill’s text is at https://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app12.html. The House will begin work on HUD funding in July. When the Senate begins action on FY12 appropriations bills it is expected to propose higher housing figures than the House.

HUD OFFERS FUNDS FOR NATIVE INSTITUTIONS AND SECTION 3 COORDINATORS. The deadline for Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities is August 1; contact Robert S. Kroll, HUD, 213-534-2601, robert.s.kroll@hud.gov. The deadline for entities receiving Section 3 funds to request coordinator funding is July 20; contact HUD’s fair housing office, 202-708-3633. Both notices are posted at https://www.grants.gov.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES REGIONAL PLANNING GRANT ADVANCE FUNDING NOTICE POSTED. Pre-applications are not yet being accepted. Funds will be set aside for areas with populations under 500,000. Visit https://www.grants.gov or https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm. Contact sustainablecommunities@hud.gov.

WHITE HOUSE RURAL COUNCIL ESTABLISHED. The group, chaired by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, consists of numerous federal agencies. President Obama’s June 9 Executive Order is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov.

HUD WILL NOT IMPLEMENT RURAL HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM IN FY11. HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs says the funding available this year will not allow HUD to implement many provisions of the HEARTH Act, including the Rural Housing Stability Program, although HUD is working on program regulations. SNAP’s May 16 update is posted at https://www.hudhre.info/hearth/.

HABITAT TO PACKAGE SECTION 502 AND 504 DIRECT APPLICATIONS. Rural Development and Habitat for Humanity have signed a memorandum of agreement intended to improve program access for Habitat participants, according to an Unnumbered Letter dated June 2, 2011 and posted at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/uljune11.pdf. Contact Brooke Baumann, RD, 202-690-4250.

GUIDANCE PROVIDED ON CLOSING MPR PRESERVATION TRANSACTIONS. An RD Unnumbered Letter dated May 31, 2011 includes a matrix showing what closing documents are needed for different types of transactions. Intended to supplement handbook HB-1-3560, the UL is posted at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments /ulmay11.pdf. Contact Bonnie Edwards-Jackson, RD, 202-720-0759, bonnie.edwards@wdc.usda.gov.

RD INSTRUCTS FIELD STAFF ON EVALUATING MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES IN DEFAULT. An Unnumbered Letter dated May 18, 2011 explains steps to be taken in evaluating and resolving servicing actions related to properties with defaulted Section 515 or 514 loans. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/ulmay11.pdf. Contact Stephanie White, RD, 202-720-1615.

HUD’S 2010 HOMELESS ASSESSMENT REPORT SHOWS PROGRESS AND PROBLEMS. HUD credits the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program with keeping the number of homeless persons unchanged from 2009 to 2010. Over 90% of HPRP clients exited the program to permanent housing. Between 2007 and 2010, however, the number of people using shelters in rural and suburban areas increased 57% and family homelessness increased 20%. 2010 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress is available at https://www.usich.gov.

TWO STUDIES DOCUMENT HOUSING ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. Renter households that include people with disabilities are more likely than other renters to face worst case housing needs, according to Worst Case Housing Needs of People with Disabilities – Supplemental Findings of the Worst Case Housing Needs 2009: Report to Congress, available at https://www.huduser.org/portal/publications/affhsg/wcn_disability.html. Supplemental Security Income payments are lower than HUD’s Fair Market Rents for one-bedroom or efficiency rentals in many states and metro areas nationwide, reports Priced Out in 2010 by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force and the Technical Assistance Collaborative, available at https://pricedout.tacinc.org.

FACT SHEET LISTS BENEFITS OF HOUSING COUNSELING. The Center for Housing Policy summarizes research on the impacts housing counseling has in reducing mortgage delinquency and foreclosure. Visit https://www.nhc.org/policy/Papers-Briefs-and-Fact-Sheets.html.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT PROFILES UPDATED WITH OUT OF REACH 2011 DATA. The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s snapshots of housing needs in each congressional district and state are at https://www.nlihc.org.

https://appropriations.house.gov.

USDA Rural Development Program (dollars in millions)	FY10 Approp.	FY11 Approp. (a)	FY12 Admin. Budget	FY12 Hse. Subcmte. Proposal
Loans and Payments
502 Single Fam. Direct	$1,121	$1,121	$211.4	$845.6
502 Single Family Guar.	12,000	24,000	24,000	24,000
504 Very Low-inc. Rpr.	34.4	23.4	0	0
514 Farm Labor Hsg.	27.3	(b)	27	(d)
515 Rental Hsg. Direct	69.5	69.5	95.2	58.6
538 Rental Hsg. Guar.	129.1	30.9	0	0
Rental Prsrv. Revlg. Lns.	1.8	1	0	0
Grants
504 Very Low-inc. Rpr.	31.6	(c)	11.5	32
516 Farm Labor Hsg.	9.9	(b)	9.8	(d)
523 Self-Help TA	41.9	37	0	22
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants	9.4	(c)	0	0
521 Rental Assistance Preservation RA New Constr. 515 RA New Constr. 514/516 RA	980 (6) (2.03) (3.4)	955.6 0 (2.03) (3)	906.7 0 (3) (3)	890 0 (1.5) (2.5)
542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers	16.4	14	16	11
Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR)	25	15	0	0
Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init.	6.3	5	8.4	3

a. Figures shown do not include 0.2% across the board reduction.
b. Budget authority (BA, the cost to the government) in the farm labor housing account would remain at FY10 levels, but loan costs have risen as interest rates have risen, so the 514/516 program levels could be somewhat lower.
c. The Rural Housing Assistance Grants pool, which funds Section 504 grants, Section 533, and some other smaller programs, is reduced by $1.1 million from FY10 levels.
d. The BA for Section 514 and 516 would fall from $19.7 million in FY11 to $12.5 million for FY12, but the bill does not allocate amounts specifically for loans or grants.

House subcommittee considers moving USDA rural housing to HUD. On May 25 the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity held a hearing on a draft bill entitled the “FHA-Rural Regulatory Improvement Act,” which would move USDA’s rural housing programs to a new office in HUD headed by a new Deputy Assistant Secretary for Rural Housing. The bill would also institute fees to make the Section 538 program self-supporting and make changes in FHA and Ginnie Mae. The draft bill is posted at https://financialservices.house.gov/UploadedFiles/fha_rural.pdf and hearing witnesses’ testimony is at http: //financialservices.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=241957.

Section 538 loan guarantees available. The May 26 Federal Register will announce that lenders can apply by Dec. 30 for multifamily rental housing loan guarantees. Funds will be committed first to approved applications from prior years. See Federal Register, 5/26/11, or https://www.grants.gov. Contact an RD State Office, https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html, or Monica Cole, USDA, monica.cole@wdc.usda.gov, 202-720-1251.

HUD offers FY11 funds for lead hazard programs, asthma interventions, HOPWA, Section 811. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm or https://www.grants.gov.

HOME program under scrutiny. Washington Post articles criticizing HOME for incomplete projects and unused funding are online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/2010/07/08/AFxelh3G_page.html. HUD’s response was posted May 19 at https://blog.hud.gov/. The House Financial Services Committee will hold an oversight hearing May 31, and the Senate Banking Committee is expected to schedule a hearing.