HAC News Formats. pdf

October 1, 2020
Vol. 49, No. 20

TOP STORIES

Federal funding continues through December 11.

A continuing resolution passed the House on September 22 and the Senate on September 30, then was signed into law by President Trump. It keeps the federal government running at fiscal year 2020 levels for most programs, including housing programs, through December 11. Congress will need to convene after the election to consider funding for the rest of fiscal year 2021.

Revised HEROES Act introduced in House.

The House may vote October 1 on a new version of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, H.R. 8406. In May the House approved a coronavirus relief measure with the same name, H.R. 6800, that was never considered by the Senate. The revised bill would provide a total of $2.2 trillion in aid, compared to $3.4 trillion in the May HEROES Act and $300 billion in a September 8 Senate proposal. It would establish national moratoriums on renter evictions and homeowner foreclosures. Like the May bill, it would reopen the Paycheck Protection Program and add funds to a number of HUD programs, as well as $309 million for additional USDA Section 521 Rental Assistance. This RA would be available for tenants who are not currently receiving RA as well as those who are. The bill does not, however, include a provision in the earlier bill that would have allowed up to $25 million to be used for Section 542 vouchers.

Legal disputes continue over ending census count.

On September 24, federal judge Lucy H. Koh issued an injunction telling the Census Bureau not to end its decennial data collection on September 30. The Census Bureau appealed Koh’s ruling, then posted a one-sentence tweet and news release setting October 5 – rather than its previous October 31 deadline – as the “target date” to end data collection. Koh is now reportedly considering whether that announcement could constitute contempt of court. A Commerce Department Inspector General’s publication, as well as other reports, explain that ending the count early jeopardizes its accuracy.

Federal Reserve requests input on Community Reinvestment Act.

The Federal Reserve Board, one of the three federal banking regulatory agencies, has issued a notice asking for comments on revisions to its Community Reinvestment Act regulations. Responses will be due 120 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register. For more information, contact S. Caroline (Carrie) Johnson, Fed, 202-452-2762. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency finalized a different CRA regulation in May. The third regulator, the FDIC, joined OCC’s initial proposal but not its final rule.

Native self-determination bill goes to President for signature.

The Practical Reforms and Other Goals to Reinforce the Effectiveness of Self-Governance and Self-Determination (PROGRESS) for Indian Tribes Act, S. 209, passed the Senate in June and the House on September 21. In addition to revising the Department of Interior’s process for approving self-governance agreements, the law will allow tribes participating in self-governance to assume some federal responsibilities with respect to construction projects.

OPPORTUNITIES

Community Connect broadband funds offered.

Nonprofits, for-profits, coops, state and local governments, and tribes can apply to USDA by December 23 for Community Connect grants to provide broadband service to underserved rural areas. For more information, contact USDA staff, community.connect@wdc.usda.gov, 202-720-0800.

HAC announces webinar on infill development.

Benefits of Infill Development: A Primer for Nonprofit Housing Developers will be offered on October 7. Successful infill development not only fills an empty lot with a new home. It also crafts a complete, well-functioning neighborhood with homes where resources are readily available and amenities are nearby, ensures the new development fits within the existing neighborhood context, and supports a cooperative partnership between government, community, financial institutions, nonprofits, neighborhood organizations and other stakeholders.

RuralSTAT

Seven states have more than 1 million rural homes as part of their housing stock. To view an interactive version of this map visit: https://arcg.is/0CGjD5

Source: Housing Assistance Council tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2014-2018 American Community Survey. For more information on rural homes in your state, visit www.ruraldataportal.org. 

CORONAVIRUS

Survey finds high levels of housing and food insecurity.

The Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey revealed that during the second half of August, 15% of renters were behind on paying their rent, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The rates were even higher for Black, Latino and Asian renters, those with incomes below $35,000 and those who had lost employment income. In early September the Household Pulse Survey found that 10.5% of adults in the U.S. said their households did not have enough to eat during the past week, compared to 3.7% in a different pre-pandemic survey. Hunger was more common in households with children than in those without, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which analyzed the data. Black and Latino families were more likely than others to lack sufficient food.

Data tool tracks economic impact of COVID-19.

The Opportunity Insights Economic Tracker, developed by economists at Harvard and Brown Universities, illustrates the economic impacts of COVID-19 on people, businesses and communities across the United States in real time. Rates of unemployment show that the pandemic is hitting low-income Americans the hardest. Data across all indicators is available by county and downloadable.

Materials posted on rural housing in the pandemic.

The recorded webinar (with subtitles available in English and Spanish) and slide presentation from Shelter in Rural Places: Facing Rural Housing Challenges in the Unfolding Pandemic are posted online. This session was the third Rural Opportunity and Development (ROAD) webinar co-designed and hosted by the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, the Housing Assistance Council, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership and Rural LISC.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

Changes proposed for rural rental assistance and rental housing management.

USDA RD requests comments by November 23 on possible changes in the Section 521 Rental Assistance program, particularly regarding reuse of RA, and in the management of Section 515 and 514/516 properties. For more information, contact Jennifer Larson, USDA, 202-720-1615.

Comments requested on Duty to Serve plans for 2021.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is seeking public input on their 2020 and 2021 plans to support manufactured housing, affordable housing preservation and rural housing. Comments can be submitted online by October 23. Comments will also be accepted during virtual listening sessions on October 16 (manufactured housing), October 21 (affordable housing preservation), and October 23 (rural housing). Advance registration is required.

Proposed rule would expand and revise Family Self-Sufficiency program.

HUD’s proposal implements legislative changes to the FSS program, including expanding it to cover privately owned projects with project-based rental assistance as well as public housing. It also makes other changes intended to reduce burden and streamline the program for PHAs, property owners and eligible families. Comments are due November 20. For more information, contact HUD staff, FSS@hud.gov.

RD expands regional development plan priorities to include some rural housing programs.

Applicants for some USDA housing programs and Rural Community Development Initiative grants are now eligible for funding setasides or priority points if their regions have multi-jurisdictional, multi-sectoral strategic community investment plans. The 2018 Farm Bill expanded RD’s Strategic Economic and Community Development provisions to apply to Section 514/516 farm labor housing, Section 523 self-help technical assistance, Section 523 and 524 site loans, Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants, Section 538 multifamily guarantees and RCDI. A final regulation implementing the change was published September 22 and is effective immediately. For more information, contact Greg Batson, USDA, 573-239-2945.

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

“Racial justice push creates momentum to protect Black-owned land.”

Four states have passed laws to protect the rights of Black families whose rural land is divided among numerous heirs when landowners die without wills. This Pew Trusts article points out that “heirs’ property contributes to the racial wealth gap and is among the strongest examples of historic and structural racism.”

“The path to rural resilience in America.”

The Center for American Progress explores the history of U.S. rural development policy and the changing nature of the rural economy in this new report. The authors propose an overhaul of the country’s approach to rural development to create a new framework that builds resilient rural communities.

HAC

Need capital for your affordable housing project?
HAC’s loan funds provide low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development and construction/rehabilitation. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.
Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including tribes).

HAC News Formats. pdf

September 3, 2020
Vol. 49, No. 18

TOP STORIES 
Tenants must provide affidavits to be covered by new nationwide eviction moratorium.
The Centers for Disease Control has issued an eviction moratorium, in effect September 4-December 31, that will protect tenants against eviction for nonpayment of rent if they provide landlords with affidavits certifying specific information including their inability to pay. The CDC’s order, which explicitly recognizes the link between eviction and spreading communicable diseases, applies throughout the U.S., except where more stringent state, tribal or local government moratoriums are in place. It differs in some important ways from the CARES Act’s moratorium, which expired in late July. The new order is not limited to tenants in federally assisted housing. It does allow landlords to charge late fees on delayed rent payments. Also, unlike the CARES Act, the CDC’s order provides criminal penalties for violating the moratorium: a fine of at least $100,000 or a year in jail or both.

Federal agencies extend foreclosure moratoriums to December 31.
Prohibitions on lender action against homeowners with federal mortgage supports, previously set to expire on August 31, have been extended through December 31. The new deadline applies to borrowers with USDA Section 502 direct and Section 504 loans or Section 502 guarantees, mortgages purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration. USDA’s summary of these provisions and other coronavirus-related guidance for Rural Development programs was updated on August 28 and September 1.

Continuing resolution expected to start FY21.  
Congress has not agreed on federal funding for fiscal year 2021, which begins October 1, 2020. The House passed appropriations bills in July, but the Senate did not take up those measures or develop its own. Now legislators must agree on a continuing resolution to keep the government open. Additional economic relief measures may be included in a continuing resolution or considered separately. Both houses have been on recess during August; the Senate will reconvene on September 8 and the House on September 15.

September is National Preparedness Month, HAC provides disaster information.
As National Preparedness Month begins – this year’s theme is “Disasters don’t wait. Make your plan today” – HAC offers guidance for disaster-affected areas. Information and resources are compiled on HAC’s website and in the Picking Up the Pieces disaster guide. Specific information for survivors of Hurricane Laura is also posted.

OPPORTUNITIES
HUD offers Choice Neighborhoods and Jobs Plus funds.
Communities that are ready to implement plans to redevelop distressed public and/or assisted housing and neighborhood can apply by December 16 for Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants. A public housing authority, local government or tribal entity must be the lead applicant. The nonprofit or for-profit owner of the targeted housing may be a co-applicant. For more information, email  ChoiceNeighborhoods@hud.gov. December 1 is the deadline for PHAs with at least 200 non-elderly households to apply for Jobs Plus grants. For more information, email  JobsPlus@hud.gov.

POLICY
Ideas invited for reimagining federal response to housing challenges.
The Housing Playbook Project, launched on September 1 by Community Change and the Ford Foundation, will bring together housing policy ideas from leaders across the country, prioritizing those advocates who have been housing insecure themselves. Advocates and community members nationwide can submit their ideas for a robust housing agenda centered on racial equity and opportunity. David Lipsetz, HAC’s President and CEO, sits on the advisory committee guiding the project.

 CORONAVIRUS
“22 million owners and renters of manufactured homes are mostly left out of pandemic assistance.”
The Urban Institute reports that residents of manufactured homes tend to have lower incomes and work in industries that are vulnerable to the pandemic, but mostly fall outside federal protections. Manufactured home owners with chattel loans – loans for personal property rather than real estate mortgages – are not protected by provisions that apply to mortgage lenders.

RuralSTAT
The rural population grew by .8% between 2010 and 2018. The overall U.S. population grew by 6.2 percent during the same time period. Source: HAC tabulations of 2014-2018 American Community Survey Data. For more information on rural population change and growth visit HAC’s newest Rural Research Brief.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES
Census Bureau document and GAO report warn ending census early poses accuracy risks.
An internal Census Bureau document, leaked on September 2, agrees with concerns raised by many others that ending the 2020 decennial census count on September 30 and shortening the Bureau’s data review process will jeopardize the completeness and accuracy of the count. The Government Accountability Office’s latest report on the subject, 2020 Census: Recent Decision to Compress Census Timeframes Poses Additional Risks to an Accurate Count, lists additional concerns ranging from hiring to ensuring safety during the pandemic to monitoring IT risks. HAC encourages everyone in the U.S. to respond to the Census. 

USDA RD to target persistent poverty counties for FY20 funding.
FY20 appropriations law requires that, to the maximum extent feasible, at least 10% of certain RD programs’ funds must be allocated to persistent poverty counties. It also makes those counties’ county seats eligible if their population is up to 10% above the program’s authorized population. These provisions apply to the Section 502 direct, 504, 515, 523 and 533 housing programs, and to community facilities, business and utilities programs. USDA plans to provide implementation guidance in NOFAs or, for programs that do not use NOFAs, on program websites. For more information, contact an RD State Office.

HUD issues final Moving to Work operations notice.
The final operations notice for the expansion of the Moving to Work Demonstration Program establishes requirements for expanding the program and continuing to operate it. HUD requests comments by October 27 on the additional activities and waivers listed in this notice. For more information, contact  Marianne Nazzaro, HUD, 202-402-4306.

USDA Inspector General reviews rural housing programs.
In response to a congressional request, USDA’s Office of the Inspector General conducted an inspection to determine potential areas of overlap, duplication and fragmentation within USDA’s rural housing programs. On August 14, OIG issued a report summarizing the results of its review. While the review indicates there is some potential overlap, no instances of fragmentation or duplication were found. OIG concluded that there were no issues that would warrant recommendations.

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA
Population change in rural America examined in new Rural Research Brief.
Rural Population Change and Growth, HAC’s latest brief, notes that rural population decline over the past few decades is well documented, but some communities are experiencing growth. Population changes drive significant impacts in rural and small-town communities.

Rural housing markets seeing more interest during pandemic.
As remote work continues to be available for a segment of the labor force during the coronavirus pandemic, rural areas are seeing an increase in homebuyer interest and home prices. According to Redfin, median sales prices in rural areas rose 11.3% as demand for homes in rural areas increased. Additionally, 19% of buyers reported a desire to find a home in a rural area, as compared to 9% at the same time last year. NBC News has also reported a 34% increase in online views of homes in rural areas from June 2019 to June 2020, greater than the 30% increase for suburbs, though “anecdotal evidence suggests some of [the interest] may be about searching for second-home getaways in more remote communities.” Speculation about a possible moving-to-rural trend has also been reported by The Hill and Yahoo Finance.

HAC
Need capital for your affordable housing project?
HAC’s loan funds provide low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development and construction/rehabilitation. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at  hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including tribes).

HAC News Formats. pdf

August 6, 2020
Vol. 49, No. 16

CONGRESS

Negotiations continue on more economic relief.

Federal eviction protections and increased unemployment assistance have expired, and congressional and White House leaders are still trying to agree on what to do next. On July 27, several Republican Senators released an eight-bill package collectively named the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act. Its supplemental appropriations provisions include $113.4 million for USDA Section 521 Rental Assistance, $2.2 billion for HUD Tenant-Based Rental Assistance and $1 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund. These figures and many other provisions in the bill differ from those in the HEROES Act that was passed by the House in May. The White House is reportedly considering reinstituting the eviction ban and unemployment payments, as well as suspending payroll tax collections, through executive orders, though it is not clear that such actions would have legal effect.

House passes FY21 funding bills for USDA, HUD, other agencies.

The House has approved two “minibus” bills, each of which combines appropriations measures for several federal departments and agencies. H.R. 7608, passed on July 24, includes USDA. H.R. 7617, passed on July 31, includes HUD. The Senate has not yet begun considering appropriations legislation for FY21, which begins on October 1, 2020.

OPPORTUNITIES

Lead hazard reduction grants available.

Local governments and some states and tribes are eligible for grants to control lead hazards, build local capacity, educate residents and more. Apply by August 24. For more information, contact  Yolanda Brown, HUD.

HUD offers healthy homes grants for tribes.

The Healthy Homes Production Program for Tribal Housing is intended to address housing-related hazards in a coordinated fashion, rather than addressing a single hazard at a time. The application deadline is August 24. For more information, contact  Aaron J. Salkoski, HUD.

HAC seeks photographers to document U.S. rural housing and development.

With support from the National Endowment for the Arts and honoring the legacy of photographer George Ballis (1925-2010) and his deep ties to rural housing and community development, HAC seeks photographers for an upcoming exhibition, “There Is More Work To Be Done.” Selected photographers will be offered a stipend to document the impact of rural housing and rural community development programs in areas across the country and the work that still needs to be done. Applications are due August 14. For more information, visit HAC’s website or email  ballisphoto@ruralhome.org.

RURALSTAT

90% of manufactured home borrowers whose loans were secured solely by their manufactured homes received high interest rate loans in 2018.

Source: HAC Tabulations of 2018 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Data. For more information on manufactured housing in rural America, see HAC’s recently published Rural Research Brief.

CORONAVIRUS

Rural COVID-19 cases skyrocketed in July.

A new HAC analysis shows that from July 2 to August 2 there were almost as many new reported rural cases (225,553) of COVID-19 as had been reported for the prior five months in total (235,201). Rates of cases and deaths increased most dramatically in the rural Southeastern U.S.

Guidance updated on Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness.

The Small Business Administration has updated its Frequently Asked Questions on forgiveness of PPP loans, which are intended to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the pandemic.

Webinar to consider immigrants and rural economies.

Our Essential Work: Immigrants and Rural Economies, Weathering the Pandemic Together, will be offered on August 19 and will include an opportunity for peer exchange. This is the second event in the Rural Opportunity and Development (ROAD) series sponsored by the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, HAC, RCAP and Rural LISC. The first webinar, on minority-owned small businesses, is available online.

Court halts public charge rule during coronavirus emergency.

A federal judge has issued an injunction against USCIS implementation of its 2019 “public charge” regulation for as long as the coronavirus public health emergency is in effect. USCIS will not apply the regulation, which had taken effect in February, to immigration determinations on or after July 29.

Executive order supports rural health access.

President Trump’s “Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access,” dated August 3,  calls for innovative payment models, investments in physical and communications infrastructure, steps to improve the physical and mental health of rural residents, and extension of telehealth flexibilities that have been instituted for Medicare patients and providers during the pandemic.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

Decennial census to end a month early.

The Census Bureau will end its data collection, both by field workers and by self-response methods, on September 30, a month earlier than previously planned. After the pandemic delayed the launch of field operations, the change raises concerns about the response rates of traditionally undercounted populations, including rural residents, Native Americans and people of color. HAC encourages everyone in the U.S. to respond to the Census.

Lammers retires, new Rural Housing Service head named.

Elizabeth Green became Acting Administrator of RHS on August 3 after former Administrator Bruce Lammers retired. She was most recently USDA Rural Development State Director in Virginia.

New Duty to Serve plans delayed by coronavirus.

The Federal Housing Finance Authority has instructed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to structure their proposed Duty to Serve activities and objectives for 2021 as a one-year extension of their 2018-2020 plans, rather than as the first year in new three-year plans, because of market disruption caused by the pandemic. For more information, visit FHFA’s website and statement on this announcement.

Housing counseling certification deadline moved to 2021.

Because of the pandemic, HUD is extending the time period for housing counselors to comply with new certification requirements. The deadline is now August 1, 2021. Comments are due September 4. For more information, contact  Lorraine Griscavage-Frisbee, HUD, 702-366-2160.

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

Interactive toolkit offers rural opioid resources.

The Rural Opioid Federal Interagency Working Group, in partnership with the University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health, developed an online toolkit to assist rural community leaders to assess the causes and impact of substance use disorder and find federal programs to help combat substance abuse disorder in their communities.

How do we change the narrative around housing?

Shelterforce examines recent research on messaging to advance housing justice. The article’s summary of the findings: “People want to have a conversation about housing, the opposition is weak, and moving away from commodity language toward basic human need language might offer a very powerful way to intensify support.”

How the Navajo Nation is flattening the coronavirus curve.

In May the Navajo Nation had one of the highest per capita rates of coronavirus infections in the U.S. NBC News examines how the tribe’s ongoing challenges of inadequate infrastructure and substandard housing have exacerbated the impacts of the virus.

Will the pandemic make it more difficult for rural students to attend college? 

A Daily Yonder article looks at the challenges for students in rural areas related to attending college and how the coronavirus pandemic complicates an already trying decision.

HAC

HAC is hiring an External Affairs Associate.

HAC is looking for a dynamic and creative writer to help build a culture of storytelling at HAC. The External Affairs Associate develops content and key messages for external audiences that highlight the incredible impacts of HAC’s work. To apply, email a resume and brief cover letter to  jobs@ruralhome.org with “External Affairs Associate” in the subject line. Applications will be considered as received, with interviews starting immediately.

Need capital for your affordable housing project?

HAC’s loan funds provide low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development and construction/rehabilitation. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at  hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including tribes).

HAC News Formats. pdf

July 9, 2020
Vol. 49, No. 14

FY21 funding process begins in the House, rural voucher expansion included.

The House Appropriations Committee is expected to consider a bill on July 9 to fund USDA for the fiscal year that begins October 1, and a bill for HUD funding soon. The Senate has not begun work on its bills yet. The House USDA bill would keep most rural housing programs at their FY20 funding levels, with increases for Section 521 Rental Assistance and Section 542 vouchers that were requested in the Administration’s budget. It would also make Section 542 vouchers available for tenants in properties where mortgages have matured as well as those where mortgages were prepaid. In addition, the measure would provide $5 million authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill to make loans to intermediaries to help resolve ownership issues for farmers with “heirs’ property” – land that has multiple legal owners after ownership passed through several generations without wills or clear titles. HAC will post updates online as the appropriations process continues.

Paycheck Protection Program application deadline extended to August 8.

The Paycheck Protection Program, created in the CARES coronavirus relief act, is intended to help small employers (including nonprofits) weather the pandemic. Employers can apply for forgivable loans from lenders approved by the Small Business Administration to keep paying their workers. The program was originally scheduled to end on June 30, but new legislation has now moved the deadline to August 8.

NEA offers creative placemaking grants.

The National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town program support projects that integrate arts, culture and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical and/or social outcomes. Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000 and must be matched by recipients. Applications are due to grants.gov by August 6 and to NEA August 11-18. For more information, contact NEA staff, OT@arts.gov.

CFPB cancels requirement for payday lenders to evaluate repayment ability.

Adopting a regulatory change it proposed in February 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is eliminating a requirement for payday lenders to determine whether a borrower can repay a loan. For more information, contact Joseph Baressi, Lawrence Lee or Adam Mayle, CFPB, 202-435-7700. In May other federal regulatory agencies took a very different approach, issuing lending principles to encourage banks and credit unions to make small-dollar loans that can be repaid without putting borrowers into cycles of debt.

Rural unemployment rate remains in double digits.

A HAC analysis of the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that rural labor markets are still suffering economic fallout from the COVID-19 health crisis. The May jobs numbers revealed a seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate of 11.0% for counties outside metropolitan areas. Across the nation over 2.8 million rural workers were unemployed in May. Like the health crisis itself, rates of unemployment varied by county, but most rural communities still have unprecedented unemployment rates. County data are available in an interactive map.

RuralSTAT: 48% of rural homeowners own their homes outright and do not have mortgage debt. Source: Housing Assistance Council tabulations of 2014-2018 American Community Survey data 

Homeownership in rural America examined in new HAC research brief.

A Rural Research Brief released by HAC in June looks at several aspects of rural homeownership. For example, while homeownership rates are higher in rural areas than in cities, they vary widely by age, race/ethnicity and other characteristics.

HUD updates income and rent limits.

The income limits, used in programs including HOME, CDBG, SHOP and others, and the rent limits for HOME and the Housing Trust Fund are available online. The new data took effect July 1.

CDC turns down coronavirus data requests from American Indian tribes.

Tribes and American Indian epidemiology centers battling coronavirus among their populations have reported that their requests for raw data were denied by the federal Centers for Disease Control and the states of Michigan and Massachusetts although the data is freely available to states. American Indians face serious health risks, and tribes are reporting that a lack of cooperation from data owners is making it more difficult for them to keep their communities safe. Several Senators and members of Congress have written to the CDC director urging the agency to be more transparent with data.

USDA Rural Development housing program data posted.

As of the end of June, nine months into fiscal year 2020, USDA has obligated 103,122 loans, loan guarantees and grants totaling over $16 billion. This is an increase of $5.7 million over this time last year. Most of the dollars obligated were for the Section 502 guaranteed loan program. Many of the loan programs seem to be on track to fully utilize this year’s funding.

Recent publications and media of interest

• As More Households Rent, the Poorest Face Affordability and Housing Quality Challenges, a Government Accountability Office report, examines the increase in renter households’ problems from the end of the 2007-2009 recession to 2017. Lower-income renters are more likely to have trouble with affordability and the physical quality of their housing. The report includes an appendix examining rural renter cost burdens by state.
• The COVID-19 Response in Indian Country: A Federal Failure, published by the Center for American Progress, argues that the pandemic’s disproportionate harm to American Indian and Alaska Native communities is a direct result of the federal government’s failure to uphold its trust and treaty obligations. The report lists seven high priority actions for the government.
• Police are Killing Fewer People in Big Cities, But More in Suburban and Rural America, an analysis on FiveThirtyEight, notes that declines in police shootings in the largest 30 urban areas have been offset by an increase in police shootings in suburban and rural areas.
• Shonterria Charleston: “the mission of creating communities of safe and affordable housing for families … keeps me here” profiles HAC’s Director of Training and Technical Assistance. The interview is part of the Rural Assembly’s #RuralWomenLead series.

Webinar on minority-owned rural small businesses offered by HAC and partners.  

On July 22, HAC is partnering with Aspen CSG, Rural LISC, and RCAP to co-host a webinar on rural small business in the time of COVID-19. In this first Rural Opportunity and Development (ROAD) Session, rural minority business owners will detail their recent experiences, in partnered conversation with the regional intermediaries who have been helping them with technical assistance, funding and advocacy. Register here. 

Need capital for your affordable housing project?

HAC’s loan funds provide low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development and construction/rehabilitation. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including tribes).

HAC News Formats. pdf

June 11, 2020
Vol. 49, No. 12

“Peace cannot be found where injustice also resides.” 

HAC is committed to doing our part to dismantle racism and racist housing policy in partnership with the rural communities where we live, work and invest our capital. Read our full statement here.  

June is National Homeownership Month.  

HAC is celebrating by sharing stories from across our network participating in HUD’s Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program. President Trump, USDA Rural Development and HUD issued statements recognizing the importance of homeownership.  

HAC and partners consider rural housing in the time of Covid-19. 

In partnership with the Rural Assembly, HAC presents two virtual conversations on the state of rural housing in the coronavirus era. The first conversation, “What was the rural housing landscape like before COVID-19 and where are we now?,” took place on June 9 and featured a panel of rural housing experts. The second conversation will be held on June 16, titled “Has the government’s response been adequate?” It will examine what more needs to be done to help rural housing respond to the pandemic. For more information and to register, visit the Rural Assembly’s website.  

Changes enacted to Paycheck Protection Plan. 

The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, signed into law on June 5, increases flexibility for PPP loans. These loans are available through June 30 from SBA-approved lenders to help small businesses and their employees weather the coronavirus pandemic. The new law extends several deadlines and time periods, including the time for businesses to disburse the PPP funds they borrow. It also reduces the amount that must be spent on payroll. More information about the program is available from the SBA and the Treasury Department.  

Research examines characteristics, expertise and needs of rural community organizations.  

Local and regional rural-serving organizations shape and strengthen the fabric of their communities. But what expertise do they have – and what expertise do they need? Based on the findings from a survey of over 350 rural-serving organizations in 45 states, a research brief from HAC and the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group offers information on the inner workings of rural-serving organizations. Ground Truth from Rural Practitioners includes recommendations for building these groups’ capacity. This brief is the third product of a partnership between HAC and CSG; previously published reports addressed the limitations of rural media coverage and the need for better data on rural communities.

FEMA offers guidance on preparation for hurricane season during pandemic. 

FEMA’s COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2020 Hurricane Season suggests actions emergency managers and public officials can take to prepare for response and recovery operations during the pandemic.  

New goals set for Federal Home Loan Banks. 

To promote affordable homeownership, the Federal Housing Finance Administration sets goals for single-family mortgage purchases by the 11 regional FHLBs. FHFA is finalizing changes it proposed in 2018. The new rule, which takes effect in 2021, replaces four separate goals with one, adds a new goal for small institutions, and makes other changes. For more information, contact Ted Wartell, FHFA, 202-649-3157.

Lawsuit claims state farmworker housing rules inadequate for coronavirus protection.  

Familias Unidas por la Justicia, a farmworkers’ labor union, has filed suit over the Washington state government’s emergency housing rules for farmworkers coming to the area with H-2A visas. The union argues the rules do not provide adequate protection against the spread of the coronavirus in grower-provided housing. There are fears around the country that illnesses among farmworkers may increase as summer advances, Politico has reported. The Centers for Disease Control and U.S. Department of Labor have issued guidance for protecting farmworkers against infection, but employers are not obligated to follow it.  

RuralSTAT: The unemployment rate outside metropolitan areas skyrocketed to 13.7% in April – up from 4.9% in March. While the unemployment caused by COVID-19 is unprecedented and unpredictable, such high jobless rates signal the potential for serious concerns across the housing spectrum. For more information and interactive maps on the recent rural employment data, visit HAC’s Mapping Rural America platform. 

USDA makes one temporary change to help use Section 502 direct funds. 

An Unnumbered Letter dated June 4, 2020 authorizes USDA RD to treat the purchase of a home from an owner with an existing Section 502 direct loan as if it were a new loan rather than an assumption of an existing loan. This is the only such step taken so far this year to help use all program funds before the fiscal year ends on September 30; last year and in previous years the agency issued several temporary authorizations.  

May 28 HAC News revised to include Section 502 direct. 

USDA has extended to June 30 its moratorium on foreclosure and eviction of homeowners with mortgages under the Section 502 direct and guarantee programs. The email version of the May 28 HAC News referred to the guarantee program but not to Section 502 direct. 

Recent publications and media of interest   

• Native American Tribes’ Pandemic Response is Hamstrung by Many Inequities, published by the Daily Yonder, considers tribes’ susceptibility to the coronavirus from an environmental justice perspective.  
• Perspectives from Main Street: The Impact of COVID-19 on Communities and the Entities Serving Them is a Federal Reserve Board report on a survey it conducted in April. Slightly over half of the almost 4,000 survey respondents said their service areas include rural places. Among the findings: “Nearly 2 out of 3 respondents (66%) indicated demand for their services has increased or is anticipated to increase, and more than half of the respondents (55%) noted a corresponding decrease or anticipated decrease in their ability to provide services.”  
• Small Rural Businesses Fight for Bailout Aid, a Pew Charitable Trusts article, describes the difficulties rural businesses have faced in applying for SBA assistance.  

Need capital for your affordable housing project?  HAC’s loan funds provide low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development and construction/rehabilitation. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600. 

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including tribes).