HAC News Formats. pdf

June 5, 2013
Vol. 42, No. 11

• June is National Homeownership Month • House subcommittee approves FY14 USDA funding bill • OMB tells agencies to reduce budgets by 10% for FY15 • Kunesh named Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development • RD offers rental preservation loan funds to intermediaries • Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants available • HUD proposes updates to FOIA regulations • HAC blogs about Metropollyanna • Oklahoma tornado disaster guide available from HAC • Rural Voices magazine examines 7 issues facing Rural America

June 5, 2013
Vol. 42, No. 11

JUNE IS NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack marked the occasion, as did housing administrator Tammye Treviño in South and North Dakota.

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES FY14 USDA FUNDING BILL. The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee approved a bill on June 6. The full committee may consider it as early as next week. [tdborder][/tdborder]

USDA Rural Devel. Prog. (dollars in millions)	FY13 Approp. (H.R. 933)a	FY14 Admin. Budget	FY14 House Bill
502 Single Fam. Direct (Self-Help Setaside) (Teacher Setaside)	$900 (5) 0	$360 0 0	$820.2 0 0
502 Single Family Guar.	24,000	24,000	24,000
504 VLI Repair Loans	28	26.3	25.4
504 VLI Repair Grants	29.5	25	18.6
515 Rental Hsg. Direct	31.3	28.4	28.4
514 Farm Labor Hsg.	20.8	23.5	23.9
516 Farm Labor Hsg.	7.1	14	8.2
521 Rental Assistance (Preservation RA) (New Cnstr. 515 RA) (New Cnstr. 514/516 RA)	907.1 0 0 (3)	1,015 0 0 (3)	1,012 0 0 0
523 Self-Help TA	30	10	17.1
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants	3.6	0	0
538 Rental Hsg. Guar.	150	150	150
Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR)	17.8	20	17.3
Rental Prsrv. Revlg. Lns.	0	0	0
542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers	10	12.6	9.7
Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init.	6.1	0	6
a. Figures do not include 5% sequester or 2.5% across the board cut.

OMB TELLS AGENCIES TO REDUCE BUDGETS BY 10% FOR FY15. A May 29 memo instructs federal departments and agencies to develop FY15 budget requests at levels 10% below the amounts projected for FY15 in their FY14 budget requests, without using across-the-board cuts. These submissions are the first step in developing the Administration’s FY15 budget.

KUNESH NAMED DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT. The appointment of Patrice Kunesh, of Standing Rock Lakota descent, was announced in a May 31 letter from Secretary Vilsack to tribal leaders.

RD OFFERS RENTAL PRESERVATION LOAN FUNDS TO INTERMEDIARIES. Apply by August 5 to administer and reloan Preservation Revolving Loan Fund monies. Contact Sherry Engel, USDA, 715-345-7677.

CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS AVAILABLE. PHAs, local governments, nonprofits, tribal entities, and for-profits applying jointly with a public entity can apply by September 10. Contact HUD staff.

ONE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT ELIMINATED FOR SECTION 515/8 PROPERTIES. HUD’s Notice H 2013-16 says annual statements must be provided to USDA only. Contact HUD, 202-402-2629.

HUD proposes updates to FOIA regulations. Comments are due July 30 on proposed changes to HUD’s regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act. Contact Dolores W. Cole, HUD, 202-402-2671.

HAC BLOGS ABOUT METROPOLLYANNA. HAC’s latest post on Rooflines blog debunks the idea that everyone will move to the city eventually and live happily ever after.

OKLAHOMA TORNADO DISASTER GUIDE AVAILABLE FROM HAC. A supplement provides Oklahoma specifics and general information is available in Picking Up the Pieces: Restoring Rural Housing and Communities After a Disaster. Print copies are free to people and organizations in the disaster area from Dan Stern, HAC, 202-842-8600.

RURAL VOICES MAGAZINE EXAMINES 7 ISSUES FACING RURAL AMERICA. The spring issue of HAC’s quarterly magazine reprints issue papers from the 2012 National Rural Housing Conference and summarizes participant discussions. One print subscription per organization is free from Dan Stern, HAC, 202-842-8600.