HAC News Formats. pdf

April 18, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 8

• April is Fair Housing Month • Senate subcommittee marks up FY13 THUD bill • USDA appropriations to be considered in subcommittees soon • HUD offers Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency funding • RD tells states to centralize delivery of Section 502 guarantee program • Final HUD environmental justice strategy posted • Section 8 Annual Adjustment Factors published • Aging population will face housing cost burdens and other challenges • Report examines criminalization of homelessness • Research correlates income inequality and racial segregation • ERS suggests framework for creating rural wealth

April 18, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 8

APRIL IS FAIR HOUSING MONTH. HUD is celebrating with a “Live Free” theme. Numerous states and localities, as well as civil liberties organizations, have also recognized the occasion.

SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE MARKS UP FY13 THUD BILL. Complete details on HUD funding levels have not been released, but a Senate Appropriations Committee press release reports increases from FY12 levels for CDBG, Section 8 vouchers, public housing, homeless assistance grants. Funding for HOME, Native American housing, and HUD housing counseling would remain at FY12 levels. The full Appropriations Committee is scheduled to review the bill on April 19. The House THUD appropriations subcommittee has not yet scheduled a mark-up. Updates will be posted on HAC’s website when available.

USDA APPROPRIATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED IN SUBCOMMITTEES SOON. The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to mark up a bill next week, and its House counterpart to do so by mid-May.

HUD OFFERS PUBLIC HOUSING FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUNDING. Public housing agencies and tribes or Tribally Designated Housing Entities can apply by May 30 for funds to hire FSS coordinators. Details are posted on HUD’s site and at grants.gov. Contact Dina Lehmann-Kim, HUD, 202-402-2430.

RD TELLS STATES TO CENTRALIZE DELIVERY OF SECTION 502 GUARANTEE PROGRAM. A March 1 Unnumbered Letter asks state offices to submit plans by May 1 that maximize efficiency and reduce staff time spent on program delivery. The UL also reminds state offices that other centralization efforts will be forthcoming. Read the UL online or contact an RD office.

FINAL HUD ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE STRATEGY POSTED. The strategy is intended “to improve and expand HUD’s commitment to avoiding disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations, as well as creating geographies of opportunity.” See Federal Register, 4/16/12, or HUD’s site. Contact Sunaree Marshall, HUD, 202-402-6011.

SECTION 8 ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT FACTORS PUBLISHED. FY12 AAFs will be used to adjust contract rents on Section 8 contract anniversaries and are posted at HUDuser.org. Contact Catherine Brennan, HUD, 202-708-3000.

AGING POPULATION WILL FACE HOUSING COST BURDENS AND OTHER CHALLENGES. In Housing an Aging Population: Are We Prepared?, the Center for Housing Policy reports that older adults are more likely than younger adults to have housing affordability challenges. Many older adults lack access to affordable services that could help them age in place, and to meaningful housing choices. The study considers other trends as well, and offers policy recommendations.

REPORT EXAMINES CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS. In Searching out Solutions: Constructive Alternatives to the Criminalization of Homelessness, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Justice Department suggest that, instead of prohibiting sleeping in public spaces or panhandling, localities could offer comprehensive systems of care, collaboration between law enforcement and service providers, and alternative justice system strategies such as specialty courts and reentry programs.

RESEARCH CORRELATES INCOME INEQUALITY AND RACIAL SEGREGATION. HUD reports that a geographic information system (GIS) analysis of data on white and African-American residents shows that while income inequality exists throughout the U.S., it is more likely in the South to be associated with racial segregation. When a map of the U.S. highway system is added it can be seen that many of the areas with high income inequality and high proportions of Black population are located relatively far from regional transportation systems. Two articles in HUD’s Cityscape journal describe the research and its policy implications.

ERS SUGGESTS FRAMEWORK FOR CREATING RURAL WEALTH. USDA’s Economic Research Service notes that economic growth requires physical, financial, social, political, and other types of assets, and that creating wealth is highly context-dependent. Rural Wealth Creation: Concepts, Strategies, and Measures discusses the role of wealth creation in the rural development process, how wealth can be created in rural communities, and how its accumulation and effects can be measured.

HAC News Formats. pdf

March 21, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 6

Funding gridlock likely, given House Republican budget proposal • Donovan takes FY13 HUD budget to House subcommittee • Senators hear testimony on Indian housing • Senate panel holds hearing on homeless veterans • USDA offers RCDI funds • ACF funding available for IDAs • Water/waste priority possible for unserved colonias • Veterans vouchers clarifications published • Open forums offered on Section 538 • USDA draft MPR authorization bill moving forward • HUD adds to guidance on protecting tenants at foreclosure • Changes in Section 538 handbook underway • Rent still out of reach for minimum wage earners

March 21, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 6

FUNDING GRIDLOCK LIKELY, GIVEN HOUSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET PROPOSAL. The budget resolution proposed March 20 by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) is expected to pass the House, setting spending levels for domestic programs well below the caps in the Budget Control Act (the August 2011 deficit reduction agreement). Senate leaders plan to apply the BCA limits. The differences will complicate passage of FY13 appropriations bills.

DONOVAN TAKES FY13 HUD BUDGET TO HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan’s written testimony prepared for the House Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee, like that offered to the Senate subcommittee earlier this month (see HAC News, 3/7/12), included a section on rural housing. At the hearing, subcommittee chair Tom Latham (R-Iowa) asked about the elimination of SHOP funding in HUD’s budget. Donovan said the department had to make hard choices to reduce spending, and self-help housing can be funded under HOME. Latham noted that the majority of SHOP borrowers are in rural places where it is more difficult to access HOME. Written testimony is posted at https://appropriations.house.gov/CalendarArchive/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=281986.

SENATORS HEAR TESTIMONY ON INDIAN HOUSING. The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee held a hearing March 8 on the “Housing Crisis in Indian Country.” Preparing for NAHASDA reauthorization in 2013 was a consistent theme. Written testimony can be viewed at https://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=21e1f4ff-0f09-48c5-a7ab-cbcc3190f42e/.

SENATE PANEL HOLDS HEARING ON HOMELESS VETERANS. An archived hearing webcast and written testimony from a March 14 Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing on “Ending Homelessness Among Veterans: VA’s Progress on its 5 Year Plan” are available at https://1.usa.gov/yFNLva.

USDA OFFERS RCDI FUNDS. Intermediaries may apply for Rural Community Development Initiative grants to provide capacity building assistance. This year, some RCDI funds are available separately as part of the Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge (https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RuralJobsAccelerator.html). May 9 is the deadline for both competitions. See Federal Register, 3/21/12, or visit https://www.grants.gov. Contact an RD state office.

ACF FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR IDAS. The Administration for Children and Families will make Assets for Independence grants to community-based organizations to administer Individual Development Account projects. The deadline is May 25. Visit https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/type/discretionary or https://www.grants.gov. To register for a March 28 HHS webinar on rural IDAs, visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/896750728.

WATER/WASTE PRIORITY POSSIBLE FOR UNSERVED COLONIAS. Comments are due May 8 on a Rural Utilities Service proposed rule that would encourage use of the Section 306C Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program for unserved colonias facing significant health risks. See Federal Register, 3/9/12, or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Jacqueline M. Ponti-Lazaruk, RUS, 202-720-2670.

VETERANS VOUCHERS CLARIFICATIONS PUBLISHED. The March 23 Federal Register will include guidance on PHA administration of the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. See Federal Register, 3/23/12. Contact Michael S. Dennis, HUD, 202-708-0477 or a local HUD office.

OPEN FORUMS OFFERED ON SECTION 538. To register for calls on USDA’s rental guarantee program, contact Monica Cole, RD, 202-720–1251, monica.cole@wdc.usda.gov. See Federal Register, 3/20/12.

USDA DRAFT MPR AUTHORIZATION BILL MOVING FORWARD. USDA has sent a draft bill to authorize the Multi-Family Housing Revitalization Demonstration Program to OMB for review, reported RD staff in a March 15 call with stakeholders. They said the bill would allow use of MPR funds for preservation incentives currently authorized only through Section 515. The draft, promised by the Administration’s FY13 budget, is not available to the public.

HUD ADDS TO GUIDANCE ON PROTECTING TENANTS AT FORECLOSURE. A new notice adds to previous guidance on the responsibilities of immediate successors in interest when a rented property is foreclosed. See Federal Register, 3/15/12. Contact James Hass, HUD, 202-708-1672.

CHANGES IN SECTION 538 HANDBOOK UNDERWAY. Revisions to RD’s HB-1-3565, still in the clearance process, will add the continuous guarantee option now offered, and clarification on other topics. A summary and the revisions are posted at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/pn/pn455.html and have been incorporated into the handbook posted at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Handbooks.html#hbw6.

RENT STILL OUT OF REACH FOR MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS. The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s annual Out of Reach report says there are still no counties in the U.S. where a minimum wage earner can afford a two-bedroom rental at HUD’s Fair Market Rent. More than half of all American renters are paying more than 30% of their incomes for housing. Visit https://nlihc.org/oor/2012 or contact NLIHC, info@nlihc.org, 202-662-1530.

HAC News Formats. pdf, mobi, epub

February 22, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 4

• Administration budget requests some increases, some reductions for housing in FY13 • HUD offers funds for fair housing, ROSS, FSS, planning, and TA • New rural jobs initiative announced • HUD provides guidance on HOME program’s resale and recapture requirements • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau seeks nominations for advisory board • Fewer units affordable for extremely low-income renters • Slower growth, increased diversity in U.S. nonmetro population reported

February 22, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 4

ADMINISTRATION BUDGET REQUESTS SOME INCREASES, SOME REDUCTIONS FOR HOUSING IN FY13. More details are posted on HAC’s website, https://ruralhome.org, including materials and audio from HAC’s February 21 budget webinar. Official budget documents are at https://www.omb.gov.

^aFigures shown do not include 0.2% across the board reduction.

USDA: The Section 502 direct loan program would be cut to $653 million, and for the first time would include setasides for borrowers participating in Section 523 self-help housing and for teachers. Section 523 self-help would drop from $30 million to $10 million. Section 515 multifamily housing would be eliminated, with all new construc-tion using the Section 538 guarantee program and all rental preservation efforts moved into MPR. The Administration will propose legislation to authorize MPR. Again this year, the budget proposes to increase RCDI to $8 million for intermediary organizations to support regional economic development strategies.

^aFigures shown do not include 0.2% across the board reduction.

HUD: The Administration again requests no funding for its Rural Innovation Fund initiative. It does propose to implement the Rural Housing Stability Assistance Program that was authorized in the 2009 HEARTH Act but is not yet operating; $5 million would go to nonprofits and local governments to aid people who are homeless or near homeless. (Visit https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/hudprograms/rural-housing for a program description; program regulations have not yet been proposed.) HOME funding would remain at its $1 billion FY12 level and CDBG would be reduced. Savings are projected in project-based vouchers by reducing contract lengths. No funding is requested for SHOP. HUD tenants would be required to pay monthly rent of at least $75.

HUD OFFERS FUNDS FOR FAIR HOUSING, ROSS, FSS, PLANNING, AND TA. Apply for Choice Neighborhoods Demonstration Small Research Grants by March 13, One CPD Technical Assistance by March 15, Fair Housing programs by March 16, ROSS Service Coordinators Grants by March 27, Natural Experiments Grants by March 29, Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grants by April 10, and Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency Grants by April 24. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm or https://www.grants.gov.

NEW RURAL JOBS INITIATIVE ANNOUNCED. The Rural Jobs Accelerator, one of three initiatives announced by the Obama Administration on February 21, will combine funding from USDA’s Rural Community Development Initiative, the Economic Development Administration, the Delta Regional Authority, and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Details have not yet been provided but a NOFA will be released in a few weeks, according to the notice at https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/rural-council.

HUD PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON HOME PROGRAM’S RESALE AND RECAPTURE REQUIREMENTS. CPD Notice 12-003 outlines these obligations for HOME-funded homebuyer projects and explains the impacts on the responsibilities of participating jurisdiction and HUD staff. Visit HUD’s list of CPD notices or contact a HUD office.

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR ADVISORY BOARD. Nominations are due March 31, according to a notice that will be published in the February 23 Federal Register. Contact Kimberly Miller, CFPB, 202-435-7451.

FEWER UNITS AFFORDABLE FOR EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME RENTERS. The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports there are now only 30 affordable and available housing units for every 100 extremely low-income renters in the U.S. “The Shrinking Supply of Affordable Housing,” a Housing Spotlight research brief, also includes data for each state and is posted at https://www.nlihc.org.

SLOWER GROWTH, INCREASED DIVERSITY IN U.S. NONMETRO POPULATION REPORTED. Fewer people moved to nonmetro areas between 2000 and 2010 than between 1990 and 2000, and population growth was greatest in high-amenity counties and places near metro areas, according to the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire. Racial and ethnic minorities accounted for 83% of 2000-2010 rural population growth, although there are still few multi-ethnic nonmetro counties. Demographic changes do not alleviate persistent poverty, Carsey notes. “Rural Demographic Change in the New Century” is available at https://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/.

HAC News Formats. pdf

January 25, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 2

• Obama budget to be released Feb. 13, HAC plans webinar • USDA to recapture entire subsidy on foreclosures • Section 542 vouchers available • 2012 income limits for Section 502 direct and guarantee programs released • FHFA requests comments on energy upgrade funding • Updates announced for Hispanic and women farmers’ discrimination claims • GAO recommends improvements for homeless women veterans • National homeless population decreased slightly from 2009 to 2011, NAEH reports • Homeless children increased from 2007 to 2011, NCFH calculates • Administration activities to promote green building recommended • HAC research note shows population growing fastest in suburbs and exurbs

January 25. 2012
Vol. 41, No. 2

OBAMA BUDGET TO BE RELEASED FEB. 13, HAC PLANS WEBINAR. The budget release, originally scheduled for February 6, begins the process of setting federal spending levels for FY 2013. Check https://ruralhome.org and follow @ruralhome on Twitter to receive information as soon as it is available. Join HAC on Tuesday, February 21 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time for a webinar presentation and Q&A about the budget’s possible impact on rural housing programs. Visit https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=s1q5l8dybb38 to register.

USDA TO RECAPTURE ENTIRE SUBSIDY ON FORECLOSURES. A final rule clarifies that RHS will recapture the full subsidy on a Section 502 direct loan in the event of foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure. See Federal Register, 1/24/12 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Brooke Baumann, RD, 202-720-1474.

SECTION 542 VOUCHERS AVAILABLE. These USDA vouchers are available only to low-income tenants of Section 515 multifamily properties where the loan has been prepaid or foreclosed after September 30, 2005. See Federal Register, 1/24/12. Contact an RD office or Stephanie B.M. White, RD, 202-720-1615.

2012 INCOME LIMITS FOR SECTION 502 DIRECT AND GUARANTEE PROGRAMS RELEASED. Visit https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov or contact an RD office.

FHFA REQUESTS COMMENTS ON ENERGY UPGRADE FUNDING. Property Assessed Clean Energy programs in many states and localities finance energy efficient upgrades, and some impose liens that have priority over first mortgages. The Federal Housing Finance Agency requests opinions on steps to protect mortgages owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from these liens. After FHFA’s notice is published in the January 26 Federal Register, visit https://www.fhfa.gov or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Alfred M. Pollard, FHFA, 202-649-3050.

UPDATES ANNOUNCED FOR HISPANIC AND WOMEN FARMERS’ DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS. USDA offers a maximum cash recovery of $250,000 rather than the former $50,000 and says the new process provides a streamlined alternative to litigation for Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who can prove USDA discrimination between 1981 and 2000. Visit the newsroom at https://www.usda.gov to read the announcement. To obtain a claims package, visit https://farmerclaims.gov or call 1-888-508-4429.

GAO RECOMMENDS IMPROVEMENTS FOR HOMELESS WOMEN VETERANS. The Government Accountability Office studied existing data on available services and recommended that VA and HUD should collaborate to collect data and plan services, VA should follow policies to refer people to shelters, VA should improve transitional housing services for homeless women veterans with children, and VA should evaluate gender-specific safety and security standards for its Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs. Download Homeless Women Veterans: Actions Needed to Ensure Safe and Appropriate Housing (GAO 12-182) at https://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587334.pdf or purchase a hard copy from GAO, 1-866-801-7077.

NATIONAL HOMELESS POPULATION DECREASED SLIGHTLY FROM 2009 TO 2011, NAEH REPORTS. The National Alliance to End Homelessness credits the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program for small declines in homelessness nationwide and in subpopulations such as families and chronically homeless people. It reports an increase in unsheltered people and in the homeless populations in 24 states and DC. The State of Homelessness in America 2012, which includes data for states and large metro areas but does not analyze rural homelessness separately, is free at https://www.endhomelessness.org.

HOMELESS CHILDREN INCREASED FROM 2007 TO 2011, NCFH CALCULATES. Using different data than NAEH, a new National Center on Family Homelessness reportdocuments the numbers and characteristics of homeless children in every state, risks for child homelessness, and state policy activities. America’s Youngest Outcasts 2010 is free at https://www.homelesschildrenamerica.org. Contact campaign@familyhomelessness.org.

ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE GREEN BUILDING RECOMMENDED. A report by the U.S. Green Building Council and partners summarizes executive branch actions taken since 2010 to promote green building and sustainability in housing and commercial buildings. It recommends additional steps that can be taken without the need for new legislation. Better Buildings Through Executive Action: Leveraging Existing Authorities to Promote Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Multifamily, Residential and Commercial Buildings is posted at https://www.usgbc.org.

HAC RESEARCH NOTE SHOWS POPULATION GROWING FASTEST IN SUBURBS AND EXURBS. Analyzing 2010 Census data, HAC found rural population growth was fastest in the West and South, while the Midwest and parts of Central Appalachia, the South, and the Northeast lost residents. “Rural Research Note: Rural Population Change” is free at https://ruralhome.org or from Dan Stern, HAC, dan@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.