HAC News
Shawn Poynter / There Is More Work To Be Done
Shawn Poynter / There Is More Work To Be Done
HAC News: March 5, 2014
HAC News Formats. pdf
March 5, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 5
• For USDA housing, budget proposes minimum rents and new limits on Rental Assistance • HUD budget proposes some cuts, some increases • FY14 HUD NOFAs’ general section issued, includes transportation emphasis • Section 811 Project Rental Assistance funds offered • Housing counseling funds available • RD implements Violence Against Women Act changes • Section 184 fee increased, regulations revised • EPA proposes expanded pesticide protection for farmworkers
March 5, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 5
FOR USDA HOUSING, BUDGET PROPOSES MINIMUM RENTS AND NEW LIMITS ON RENTAL ASSISTANCE. On March 4 the Obama Administration released its budget proposal for FY15. Many of the USDA rural housing programs would be funded at the same level as in FY14. Differences include decreases in Section 502 direct loans and Section 523 self-help housing; as it has in past budgets, the Administration states it would rely on the Section 502 and 538 guarantee programs to finance single- and multifamily housing. Significant changes are proposed for the Section 521 Rental Assistance program. RA recipients would be required to pay a minimum rent of $50 per month unless exempted because of hardship. RA contracts would not automatically be renewed, and USDA would determine whether projects needed renewed RA.
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|
USDA Rural Devel. Prog. |
FY13 |
FY14 |
FY15 |
|
502 Single Fam. Direct |
$900 |
$900 |
$360 |
|
502 Single Family Guar. |
24,000 |
24,000 |
24,000 |
|
504 VLI Repair Loans |
28 |
26.3 |
26.3 |
|
504 VLI Repair Grants |
29.5 |
28.7 |
25 |
|
515 Rental Hsg. Direct Loans |
31.3 |
28.4 |
28.4 |
|
514 Farm Labor Hsg. Loans |
20.8 |
23.9 |
23.9 |
|
516 Farm Labor Hsg. Grants |
7.1 |
8.3 |
8.3 |
|
521 Rental Assistance |
907.1 |
1,110 |
1,089 |
|
523 Self-Help TA |
30 |
25 |
10 |
|
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants |
3.6 |
3.5 |
0 |
|
538 Rental Hsg. Guar. |
150 |
150 |
150 |
|
Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR) |
17.8 |
20 |
20 |
|
Rental Prsrv. Revlg. Lns. |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers |
10 |
12.6 |
8 |
|
Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init. |
6.1 |
6 |
0 |
|
a Figures shown do not include 5% sequester or 2.5% across the board cut. |
|||
HUD BUDGET PROPOSES SOME CUTS, SOME INCREASES. HUD programs such as homeless assistance, public housing operating and capital funds, Section 202 housing for seniors, Section 811 housing for the disabled, tenant-based rental assistance, fair housing, housing counselling, and lead hazard control all have proposed increases. The Housing Trust Fund would receive $1.0 billion. Community Development Block Grants and HOME would be cut, and small rural programs are zeroed out. The Rural Innovation Fund and its predecessor, the Rural Housing and Economic Development program, are not mentioned at all. As was proposed for FY14, the SHOP program would receive an appropriation of $10 million, but only as a setaside within HOME (which would be cut).
| HUD Program (dollars in millions) |
FY13 |
FY14 |
FY15 |
|
Cmty. Devel. Fund |
3,308 |
3,100 |
2,870 |
|
HOME |
1,000 |
1,000 |
950 |
|
Self-Help Homeownshp. (SHOP) |
13.5 |
10 |
c |
|
Tenant-Based Rental Asstnce. |
18,939.4 |
19,177.2 |
20,100 |
|
Project-Based Rental Asstnce. |
9,339.7 |
9,516.6 |
9,346 |
|
Public Hsg. Capital Fund |
1,886 |
1,875 |
1,925 |
|
Public Hsg. Operating Fund |
4,262 |
4,400 |
4,600 |
|
Choice Neighbrhd. Initiative |
120 |
90 |
120 |
|
Housing Trust Fund |
d |
d |
1,000 |
|
Native Amer. Hsg. Block Grant |
650 |
650 |
650 |
|
Homeless Assistance Grants |
2,033 |
2,105 |
2,406.4 |
|
Rural Hsg. Stability Prog. |
e |
e |
e |
|
Hsg. Opps. for Persons w/ AIDS |
334 |
330 |
332 |
|
202 Hsg. for Elderly |
377 |
385.3 |
440 |
|
811 Hsg. for Disabled |
165 |
126 |
160 |
|
Fair Housing |
70.8 |
66 |
71 |
|
Healthy Homes & Lead Haz. Cntl. |
120 |
110 |
120 |
|
Housing Counseling |
45 |
45 |
60 |
|
a Figures shown do not include 5% sequester. |
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FY14 HUD NOFAS’ GENERAL SECTION ISSUED, INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION EMPHASIS. As in past years, this document provides information that applies to all FY14 program NOFAs and does not itself offer funds. One of HUD’s crosscutting priorities is to reduce transportation costs by locating housing close to amenities such as grocery stores, medical facilities, and schools. A nonmetro site can receive a rating point if it is within one mile of amenities or within half a mile of public transportation to amenities. Contact HUD’s grants management office, 202-708-0667.
SECTION 811 PROJECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS OFFERED. State, regional, and local housing agencies can apply for FY13 and FY14 monies to provide project-based rental assistance for Section 811 supportive housing for extremely low-income persons with disabilities. Deadline is May 5, 2014. Contact Lessie Powell Evans, HUD, PRAapplications@hud.gov.
HOUSING COUNSELING FUNDS AVAILABLE. Apply by April 7 for FY14 and FY15 funding. Contact HUD, housing.counseling@hud.gov.
RD IMPLEMENTS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT CHANGES. The March 2013 reauthorization of VAWA made USDA’s multifamily programs (Sections 515, 514/516, 533, and 538) subject to the law. Administrative Notice 4747 begins to implement it, notifying RD staff that victims are protected from eviction, offenders may be removed from leases, victims may be relocated to other units using RD’s LOPE process, and more. Contact Barbara Chism, USDA RD, 202-690-1436.
SECTION 184 FEE INCREASED, REGULATIONS REVISED. HUD issued a final rule implementing a provision in the FY13 appropriations law that allows it to increase the guarantee fee under the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee program to as much as 3%. A separate notice increases the fee, effective April 4, to 1.5% from the current 1%. Contact Rodger Boyd, HUD, 202-401-7914.
EPA PROPOSES EXPANDED PESTICIDE PROTECTION FOR FARMWORKERS. A proposed rule is posted on EPA’s site. Comments will be due 90 days after publication in the Federal Register. Contact Kathy Davis, EPA, 703-308-7002.
