Tag Archive for: rural
Winter 2012 – 13: Taking Stock of Housing in Your Community
The winter 2012 – 13 issue of Rural Voices, Taking Stock of Housing in Your Community, is now available for download from the Housing Assistance Council. This issue includes information about the data resources available for rural community devlopers and advocates to document housing needs in their communities and make their case to policy makers.
View from Washington
Erika Poethig, Acting Assistant Secretary
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Policy Development and Research
FEATURES
Developing a Statistical Portrait of your Community
by Arthur Cresce, The U.S. Census Bureau
Using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey
What is Rural?
by the Housing Assistance Council
A question that matters
Information on What Banks Are Doing in Your Community
by John Taylor, National Community Reinvesment Corporation
Getting the Most from Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Data
Data Resources for Rural Communities
A Visual Guide to Selected Data and Information Sources
Q&A with John Cromartie
Rural Voices sat down with John Cromartie, Senior Geographer at USDA’s Economic Research Service, to discuss demographic trends and data for rural areas
The National Housing Preservation Database
by Megan Bolton, National Low-Income Housing Coalition
A long awaited national database of federally-assisted housing can make the case for affordable housing preservation
Share your Story
Rural Voices is curious to hear your stories of how you have used data to further your work in your community. Do you have a story from your own community to share on this subject? Please share your story on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter and help demonstrate the importance of accurate data for rural communities across the country.
National Rural Housing Conference 2012
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Materials from the 2012 HAC Conference
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Join the National
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HAC’s National Rural Housing Conference is an expression of our continuing commitment to provide local organizations with the resources needed to build affordable housing in rural America. The Conference will bring together more than 700 community-based housing advocates for a celebration of our collective efforts to develop and sustain affordable housing in rural communities. Based on the theme, “Promises to keep in Challenging Times” the Conference will focus on the promise America made through the Housing Act of 1949 and how those promises still apply even in the face of America’s new fiscal reality. Scheduled events will include numerous workshops, networking sessions, peer-learning opportunities, our awards program and entertainment. The theme brings to mind the vision and promises America has made through the Housing Act of 1949 and all subsequent housing legislation and policy. While these promises, that include the opportunity for quality affordable housing, still remain the country continues to face a difficult fiscal situation with many questions or concerns about what can be done to protect affordable housing as an industry in the future, particularly in rural areas. Keeping the vision and promises is important, not just to increase the quality of life for low-income Americans, but also to build stronger and more sustainable communities as a whole. |
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Where: |
The Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill |
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When: |
December 6-7, 2012 Pre-Conference Activities December 5 |
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Stay Informed: |
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Sign up for the HAC News [vresponse][/vresponse] |
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Help HAC keep registration fees low for our participants. |
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Join the Conversation: |
Join the National Rural Housing Conference Group on LinkedIn and tweet your thoughts, expectations and ideas for the Conference using hashtags #nrhc12 and #rural2012. Don’t forget to Follow HAC for more on the Conference and all things rural housing. [addthis2][/addthis2] |
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Affordable Housing for Rural Veterans
Rural Veterans and Local Nonprofits Receive Housing Support
Funded by The Home Depot Foundation
Washington, D.C., September 21, 2018 – Veterans and their families in eleven rural communities will have better lives, thanks to The Home Depot Foundation and the Housing Assistance Council. The Foundation is awarding grants totaling $306,500 to eleven local nonprofit housing associations around the country to build or preserve housing for veterans in rural America.
The funds are part of The Home Depot Foundation’s Veteran Housing Grants Program, which wascreated to support the development and repair of housing for veterans. Too many American veterans and their families face major housing challenges, aggravated by issues like unemployment, age and service-related disabilities. The Home Depot Foundation is dedicated to giving back to those who have already given so much for our country.
Made possible with the Generous Support of The Home Depot Foundation
Veterans Data Central
A Resource for Informing Strategies to Help Veterans
The Housing Assistance Council (HAC), in partnership with The Home Depot Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation has created the Affordable Housing for Rural Veterans (AHRV) initiative to provide rural organizations with the technical assistance, training, information, and financial resources they need to improve their ability to serve veterans.
Veterans of the United States military services put their lives in danger to protect their country and its citizens. However, when they return home they are not always able to find housing and access to services in their communities.
Sponsored by:
In Partnership with The Home Depot Foundation, JP Morgan Chase Co, and The Wells Fargo Housing Foundation
Past Trainings
December 5, 2017: Affordable Housing Solutions for Rural Veterans: A Symposium – Recording
October 20, 2017: Veterans Aging Summit – Website
August 10, 2016: Overview on VA REO Property Preservation and Maintenance and Access Opportunities for Nonprofits – Materials: Presentation | Recording | Handbook
July 13, 2016: VA Specially Adapted Housing Grant Program – Materials: Presentation | Recording | Application
June 8, 2016: VA Housing Resources for Heroes: An In-depth Overview of the VA Home Loan Guaranty Benefit – Materials
May 18, 2016: Serving Our Aging Veterans: A Symposium – Materials
May 20, 2015: Serving Veterans in Rural America: A Symposium – Materials
May 6, 2015: Access to Health and Homeless Services for Rural Veterans – Materials
August 20, 2014: Building a Community for Veterans: Patriot Place, Tennessee – Materials
July 23, 2014: Canal Street Housing: Housing for Homeless Veterans – Materials
June 25, 2014: From Service to Shelter, Housing for Veterans in Rural America – Materials
April 22-23, 2014: Housing Seniors and Veterans in Rural America: Preservation, Development, & Services
April 9, 2014: Serving Veterans in Rural America – A Symposium – Summary and Materials
August 28-29, 2013: Housing Seniors and Veterans in Rural America: Preservation, Development and Services – Materials
Link to more Information and Resources
Link to Information about Initiative Grantees
Rural Economies and Industry
HAC’s seventh Rural Research Note takes a brief look into rural America’s economies and industries. Rural economies, and people in general, are often perceived as being heavily reliant on farming and other natural resource industries. While it is true that the majority of these industries are located in rural places, they employ only 5.5% of rural and small town workers. Overall, the sector-by-sector employment profile of rural America is surprisingly similar to that of suburban and urban America.
This Rural Research Note presents employment data and maps that highlight the similarities, and differences, between rural America and more densely populated regions. Additionally, the effects of large agribusiness are explored within the context of small family farming.
July 2012
Why Keep Rural Housing Programs at USDA?
Why Keep Rural Housing Programs at USDA?
By Leslie Strauss
July 17, 2012
Rural housing professionals complain about USDA’s Rural Development/Rural Housing Service all the time. We also tout the advantages of using HUD programs, such as HOME, in rural areas. But we hate the idea of moving USDA’s housing programs to HUD. That is not the cure for rural housing’s problems.
HAC News: July 11, 2012
HAC News Formats. pdf
July 11, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 14
• Ag spending bill up next • House committee considering Farm Bill • Reserve account regulation revised for new USDA multifamily developments • USDA RD rule confirms annual fees for Section 502 guarantees • CFPB requests public comment about reverse mortgages • CFPB study on reverse mortgages identifies risks to consumers • Data access could help USDA monitor Rental Assistance payments, GAO says • Report highlights uses of American Community Survey data • Guide describes programs of Administration for Children and Families • HAC provides more rural poverty resources • SAVE THE DATE! 2012 National Rural Housing Conference! Promises to Keep in Challenging Times
July 11, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 14
AG SPENDING BILL UP NEXT. Following a July 4 recess at home, the House may take up 2013 appropriations for USDA soon. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) is expected to offer an amendment to keep growing rural communities eligible for RD housing programs. Similar amendments passed in the Senate as part of the Farm Bill in June and its USDA appropriations bill in April. There will be a continuing resolution to begin FY13 on October 1, 2012. Final budget decisions for 2013 will come in a post-election session, or in the new Congress next year.
HOUSE COMMITTEE CONSIDERING FARM BILL. The House Agriculture Committee began marking up its Farm Bill on July 11. The bill differs from S. 3240, approved by the Senate, and does not include housing provisions.
RESERVE ACCOUNT REGULATION REVISED FOR NEW USDA MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS. A final rule published in the Federal Register, 7/9/12, applies only to new construction Section 515 or 514/516 properties. Their reserve account deposits must be based on life-cycle analyses or Capital Needs Assessments prepared by third parties, rather than on the total development cost, as required in the past. Contact Michael Steininger, RD, 202-720-1610.
USDA RD RULE CONFIRMS ANNUAL FEES FOR SECTION 502 GUARANTEES. Implementing a provision of USDA’s FY12 appropriations act, a final regulation in the Federal Register, 7/11/12, enables RD to charge an annual fee as well as an up-front guarantee fee, in order to make the program self-supporting (see HAC News, 11/1/11). The fee amount will be announced each fiscal year. Contact an RD office or Cathy Glover, RD, 202-720-1460.
CFPB REQUESTS PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT REVERSE MORTGAGES. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which regulates reverse mortgage transactions, seeks “detailed information from the public on the factors that influence reverse mortgage consumers’ decision-making, consumers’ use of reverse mortgage loan proceeds, longer-term consumer outcomes of a decision to obtain a reverse mortgage, and differences in market dynamics and business practices among the broker, correspondent, and retail channels for reverse mortgages.” Comments are due August 31. Contact Monica Jackson, CFPB, 202-435-7275.
CFPB STUDY ON REVERSE MORTGAGES IDENTIFIES RISKS TO CONSUMERS. In a report required by Congress, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau surveys the reverse mortgage market, identifies consumer protection concerns, and describes new challenges. It concludes that reverse mortgages are complex and hard for consumers to understand, misleading advertising and other scams occur, and the currently available consumer counseling may not be sufficient. It identifies roles for itself including regulation, education, and complaint resolution. Complaints on reverse mortgages can be submitted through CFPB’s website or by phone, 1-855-411-CFPB (2372).
DATA ACCESS COULD HELP USDA MONITOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS, GAO SAYS. To identify RA payment errors due to unreported tenant income, legislation is needed to allow USDA to match tenant data with federal income data collected by other departments, according to a new GAO report, Rural Housing Service: Efforts to Identify and Reduce Improper Rental Assistance Payments Could Be Enhanced (GAO-12-624). GAO also suggests internal improvements that do not require legislation. For print copies, contact GAO, 866-801-7077 (toll free).
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS USES OF AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA. The Census Project compiled “Eliminating America’s Playbook,” a collection of case studies and comments from a range of organizations about the ACS’s importance to both government and business. The House voted in May to eliminate ACS funding from the Commerce Department’s FY13 appropriations bill (see HAC News, 5/16/12); the Senate has not yet voted on its bill.
GUIDE DESCRIBES PROGRAMS OF ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. ACF is part of the federal Department of Health and Human Services. It offers Assets for Opportunity IDA grants and resources for economic development, health care, refugee assistance, and other needs. Its program guide also includes basics for those new to requesting federal funding from any agency as well as links to capacity building resources.
HAC PROVIDES MORE RURAL POVERTY RESOURCES. In addition to its decennial rural poverty map (see HAC News, 6/27/12) HAC has issued a Rural Research Note on “Poverty in Rural America” and posted a recording of a recent webinar on the subject.
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SAVE THE DATE! 2012 NATIONAL RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE! |
State of the Nation's Housing 2012
THE STATE OF THE NATION’S HOUSING
The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released its annual State of the Nation’s Housing report for 2012 on June 14th. This year’s report presents signs of a recovery in the nation’s housing markets. However, the Joint Center cautions that this progress is measured and not evenly experienced across all markets and populations. Additionally, the study notes that housing affordability problems are at an all-time high, and that housing assistance for low-income families has not kept pace with the demand for affordable housing. The State of the Nation’s Housing report can be accessed from the Joint Center for Housing Studies website at, https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/research/publications/state-nation%E2%80%99s-housing-2012
The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is a proud sponsor of the State of Nation’s Housing report.
Mapping Poverty in Rural America
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To have an event posted on our calendar*, please e-mail Dan Stern. Or send event description or brochure to: Housing Assistance Council Or fax to (202) 347-3441 [addthis2][/addthis2] *Calendar Posting Guidelines: HAC’s calendar posts announcements about periodic conferences, training sessions, audioconferences, and the like. Topics must be relevant to professionals in the rural housing and community development arena. HAC reserves the right to accept or decline any request to post an item. We do not include sessions provided by entities (for-profit or nonprofit) that offer numerous regularly scheduled training events; links to such entities are provided below. |
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MAPPING POVERTY IN RURAL AMERICA
Date: Thursday, June 28, 2012 Presenters: Moises Loza – Executive Director, Housing Assistance Council Lance George – Director of Research & Information, Housing Assistance Council More Americans are living in poverty today than at any other time since the Census Bureau began measuring its occurrence. Poverty is particularly acute in urban cities and rural communities, as well as in several distinct regions across the nation. As a prelude to the 2012 edition of Taking Stock — HAC’s decennial report on social, economic, and housing conditions in rural America — we are releasing our newly updated poverty map. HAC’s map details county-level poverty data from 2010 Census figures, as well as information on historic, regional, and persistent poverty in the United States. Please join us for a webinar presentation of the HAC poverty map, and a discussion of poverty in rural America on THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012 – 2:00pm -2:45pm (EDT). Register Now! Space is limited so please register early. For information, contact: Dan Stern, 202-842-8600 or dan@ruralhome.org. |