https://ruralhome.org. Budget documents are posted at https://www.omb.gov, https://www.hud.gov, and https://www.usda.gov.

USDA rural housing: H.R. 1 would keep most USDA rural housing programs at or near FY10 funding levels, although it would eliminate rental preservation funds except for vouchers. The Administration’s budget would slash Section 502 direct loans from $1.1 billion to $211 million, eliminate the Section 523 self-help technical assistance program, and double the Section 502 guarantee program. Like H.R. 1, it proposes to eliminate rental preservation programs, but it would increase Section 515 funding, which can be used for some preservation activities.

USDA Rural Development Program (dollars in millions)	FY 2010 Approp.	FY 2011 Admin. Budget	FY11 Proposed CR (H.R. 1)	FY 2012 Admin. Budget
Loans
502 Single Fam. Direct	$1,121	$1,200	$1,121	$211.4
502 Single Family Guar.	12,000	12,000	12,000	24,000
504 Very Low-inc. Rpr.	34.4	34	34	0
514 Farm Labor Hsg.	27.3	27	27.3	27
515 Rental Hsg. Direct	69.5	95.2	69.5	95.2
38 Rental Hsg. Guar.	129.1	129.1	129.1	0
Rental Prsrv. Revlg. Lns.	1.8	0	0	0
Grants and Payments
504 Very Low-inc. Rpr.	31.6	31	31.6	11.5
516 Farm Labor Hsg.	9.9	10	9.9	9.8
523 Self-Help TA	41.9	37	37	0
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants	9.4	9.4	9.4	0
521 Rental Assistance d	980	966	955.6	906.7
Preservation RA	(6)	0	0	0
New Constr. 515 RA	(2.03)	(3)	(2.03)	(3)
New Constr. 514/516 RA	(3.4)	(3)	(3)	(3)
542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers	16.4	18	16.4	16
Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR)	25	0	0	0
Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init.	6.3	0	0	8.4

HUD housing: H.R. 1 would cut large proportions of the funding for CDBG, Section 202, and Section 811, eliminate housing counselling, and reduce funds for other programs including HOME and Native American housing. It would continue funding for the Rural Innovation Fund and SHOP. The Administration’s budget would cut CDBG, HOME, and Sections 202 and 811, while increasing homelessness funding and adding a full $1 billion for the never-funded National Housing Trust Fund. The Rural Innovation Fund would be fully funded and the Self-Help Home-ownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) would be eliminated.

HUD Program (dollars in millions)	FY10 Approp.	FY11 Admin. Budget	FY11 Proposed CR (H.R. 1)	FY12 Admin. Budget
Cmty. Devel. Block Grants – Sustainable Communities Initiative (b) – Rural Innovation Fund (a) – Catalytic Investment Grants	$4,450 (150) (25) –	4,380.1 (150) 0 (150)	1,500 0 25 –	3,781 0 25 0
HOME	1,825	1,650	1,650	1,650
Tenant-Based Rental Asstnce.	16,339	17,310	14,080	15,223
Project-Based Rental Asstnce.	8,551.5	9,382.3	8,882	9,035
Transforming Rental Asstnce.	–	350	–	200
Vets. Affairs Spptve Hsg. Vouchers	75	0	75	75
Public Hsg. Capital Fund	2,500	2,044	1,428	2,405
Public Hsg. Operating Fund	4,775	4,829	4,626	3,962
Public Hsg. Revtlztn. (HOPE VI)	135	0	0	0
Choice Neighbrhd. Initiative	65	250	65	250
Housing Trust Fund	–	1,000	–	1,000
Native Amer. Hsg. Block Grant	700	580	500	700
Homeless Assistance Grants	1,865	2,055	1,865	2,372
Hsg. Opps. for Persons w/ AIDS	335	340	335	335
202 Hsg. for Elderly	825	273	238	757
811 Hsg. for Disabled	300	90	90	196
Fair Housing	72	61	72	72
Rural Hsg. & Econ. Dev. (RHED) (a)	0	0	–	0
Healthy Homes & Lead Haz. Cntl.	140	140	120	140
Sustainable Communities Initiative (b)	–	–	0	150
Self-Help Homeownshp. (SHOP)	27	0	27	0
Brownfields Redevelopment	17.5	0	0	0
Housing Counseling	87.5	88	0	88

a. The Rural Innovation Fund replaced RHED. b. Funded as part of CDBG in 2010 and separately in the FY12 budget.

MORTGAGE ORIGINATORS AT FEDERALLY REGULATED LENDERS MUST REGISTER BY JULY 29. The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) for Mortgage Licensing Act requires registration. See Federal Register, 2/3/11. Visit https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org. Contact the mortgage registry, 240-386-4444.

HUD PROPOSES COMBINING PUBLIC HOUSING MODERNIZATION PROGRAMS.Comments are due April 8. See Federal Register, 2/7/11 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Jeffrey Riddel, HUD, 202-708-1640.

INDIAN HOUSING BLOCK GRANT ADVANCES OFFERED FOR FY11. HUD Notice PIH 2011-06 tells tribes and tribally designated housing entities how to request IHBG advances pending a final FY11 HUD appropriations bill. Visit https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/hudclips/notices/pih. Contact an Area Office of Native American Programs, listed at https://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/ih/index.cfm.

ADMINISTRATION ISSUES HOUSING FINANCE REFORM REPORT. The report suggests reliance on the private sector. It says both homeownership and rental housing are needed. It states that USDA, HUD, and VA will establish a task force “to explore ways in which their housing finance programs can be better coordinated, or even consolidated . . .” Reforming America’s Housing Finance Market is at https://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/Pages/housing.aspx.

RURAL VOICES MAGAZINE OFFERS REFLECTIONS ON CHANGE. “Rural Housing Leaders Reflect: Where Do We Go from Here?” is the winter issue of HAC’s quarterly magazine, free at https://ruralhome.org. One print subscription per organization is free from Dan Stern, HAC, 202-842-8600, dan@ruralhome.org.

https://ruralhome.org or https://rules.house.gov for updates. The FY12 funding process will begin when the Administration releases its budget proposals, expected to be during the week of February 14.

EPA OFFERS GRANTS TO BUILD CAPACITY TO ADDRESS CHILDREN’S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. State and local governments, tribes, and nonprofits can apply by February 18. Projects should be multi-media (involving multiple environmental health hazards), holistic (involving multiple stakeholders and built on strong partnerships), and focused on underserved communities. Visit https://www.grants.gov or https://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/grants.htm. Contact seikel.kathy@epa.gov.

USDA OIG CRITICIZES SECTION 502 GUARANTEE PROGRAM. On December 6, 2010 USDA’s Office of Inspector General issued preliminary findings from an audit of Section 502 loans guaranteed with Recovery Act funding. Based on a sample of 100 loans, OIG estimated that 33% of the 81,000 loans made may have been ineligible for the program because borrowers’ incomes were too high or too low, they already owned adequate homes, or they purchased homes with swimming pools. OIG also identified instances where agency policies and guidance were unclear, inadequate, or insufficient, and suggested that agency oversight might have been a contributing factor. USDA officials did not agree with OIG’s conclusions for many of the loans it reviewed. The preliminary report is available at https://www.usda.gov/oig/rptsauditsrhs.htm.

HOMELESSNESS AND DOUBLED UP LIVING INCREASED FROM 2008 TO 2009. The National Alliance to End Homelessness studied state and national data, finding that the nation’s homeless population increased by 3% – approximately 20,000 people – from 2008 to 2009. Increased numbers of people experienced homelessness in each of the subpopulations examined: families, individuals, chronic, unsheltered. The doubled up population (people living with family or friends for economic reasons) increased by 12% to more than 6 million people. State of Homelessness in America 2011 is at https://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/3668.

USDA MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES MAY ADOPT NON-SMOKING POLICIES. An Unnumbered Letter (Dec. 29, 2010) provides guidance to owners who choose to limit smoking. The UL is available from RD offices and posted at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_UnnumberedList.html. Contact Janet Stouder, RD, 202-720-9728. A similar HUD piece from September, PIH-2010-21, is at https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/notices/hsg/10hsgnotices.cfm.

REPORT SAYS PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN ALSO HELP BUILD ASSETS. Homeownership Today and Tomorrow: Building Assets While Preserving Affordability presents research showing how inclusionary housing, limited equity coops, and community land trusts can accomplish both goals and is available from the National Housing Institute at https://nhi.org/go/Assets. It is based on data presented in full in Balancing Affordability and Opportunity: An Evaluation of Affordable Homeownership Programs with Long-term Affordability Controls, available from the Urban Institute at https://www.urban.org/sharedequity.

HOUSING COUNSELING 101 PODCAST OFFERED. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling series is in-tended to help homeowners understand the use of housing counseling to avoid foreclosure. Visit https://www.nfcc.org/housing/index.cfm.

WEBSITE COVERS RECOVERY ACT IMPACT IN INDIAN COUNTRY. Created by the National Congress of American Indians, https://www.indiancountryworks.org provides information and links to news and data, as well as two 2010 NCAI reports on the Recovery Act’s activities and remaining need.

SUCCESSFUL AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNICATIONS DESCRIBED. What Works and Why: Affordable Housing Communications Campaigns 2000-2010 describes 15 campaigns by advocates and government agencies to build public and political support for affordable housing and to counteract negative attitudes. The report is $12.00 from the Partnership for Sustainable Communities at https://www.p4sc.org/articles/category/54 or 415-453-2100.

HUD OFFERS EMAIL LISTS AND A NEW BLOG. Lists on multifamily property disposition, rural economic development, homelessness, lead based paint, and several other topics are open to the public. To sign up, visit https://www.hud.gov/subscribe/. A new blog, the HUDdle, is online at https://blog.hud.gov.

https://thomas.loc.gov.

EMERGENCY CAPITAL REPAIR GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ELDERLY PROJECTS. HUD will award funds as applications are received for properties owned by nonprofits and designated for elderly occupancy and financed by HUD or having project-based Section 8 (including Section 515 properties with Section 8). Grants can be used to repair immediate threats to health, safety, and quality of life of residents. See https://www.grants.gov or www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/grpecrg.cfm. Contact G. DeWayne Kimbrough, HUD, 202-708-3000.

HUD REQUESTS COMMENTS ON 202/811 PROCESSING. A draft notice would revise procedures relating to processing activities after selection of Section 202 and Section 811 applications for fund reservations, including mixed-finance transactions. Visit www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/progdesc/progdesc.cfm. Comments are due January 18. Contact Kerry Mulholland, HUD, 202-708-3000 ext. 2649.

FHLBANK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LENDING RULE FINAL. Community financial institution (CFI) members of the Federal Home Loan Banks may use community development loans as collateral for FHLBank advances, and FHLBanks may make long-term advances to CFIs for community development activities. The rule also defines “community development” and related terms. See Federal Register, 12/9/10 or www.fhfa.gov/Default.aspx?Page=89. Contact Thomas E. Joseph, FHFA, thomas.joseph@fhfa.gov, 202-414-3095.

FINAL RULE PROVIDES CRA CREDIT FOR SUPPORTING NSP PROJECTS. The regulatory agencies that enforce the Community Reinvestment Act will give favorable consideration to lenders’ community development activities in Neighborhood Stabilization Program target areas. See Federal Register, 12/20/10 or www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/bcreg/20101215a.htm. Contact Michael S. Bylsma, OCC, 202-874-5750.

INTERAGENCY APPRAISAL AND EVALUATION GUIDELINES ISSUED FOR FEDERALLY REGULATED LENDERS. Regulatory agencies’ guidelines apply to real estate loans and other transactions for lenders including credit unions. Loans made or guaranteed by government entities are exempt. See Federal Register, 12/10/10 or www.occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2010/bulletin-2010-42.html. Contact Robert L. Parson, OCC, 202-874-5411.

ACS DATA PUBLISHED FOR PLACES UNDER 20,000. Visit https://factfinder.census.gov for American Community Survey 2005-2009 data covering housing and other topics formerly included in the decennial census.

FIRST 2010 CENSUS DATA TO BE RELEASED DECEMBER 21. Available that day will be population figures for the U.S. and the states, as well as the congressional apportionment totals for each state. Additional 2010 Census data will be released in coming months. Visit https://www.census.gov.

2009 FEDERAL SPENDING DATA AVAILABLE FOR COUNTIES. The figures compiled by USDA’s Economic Research Service include each USDA and HUD housing program. Visit https://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/FederalFunds/ for data from 2009 and previous years to 2004.

NATIONAL RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS ONLINE. PowerPoints and handouts from many (not all) workshop panelists from the December 1-3 conference are posted at https://www.slideshare.net/nrhc2010.

HAC STUDY EXAMINES POSSIBLE REASONS FOR DECLINE IN DIRECT SECTION 502 LOANS TO VERY LOW-INCOME BORROWERS. USDA has had increasing difficulty meeting the legal requirement to loan at least 40% of direct Section 502 dollars to homebuyers with incomes under 50% of area median. HAC’s research considered external and internal factors such as changes in number of applications, closing of county offices, use of the Payment Assistance 2 program, changes in housing costs, and more. Very Low-Income Loan Obligations within USDA’s Section 502 Direct Homeownership Loan Program is free at https://ruralhome.org or $4.00 from Lawrence Adams, HAC, 202-842-8600.

SEASON’S GREETINGS! HAC’s board and staff wish peace, happiness, and affordable housing to all!

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room, USDA’s announcement of regional meetings in a November 1 press release at https://www.usda.gov, and a HUD blog post at https://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/blog.

NOVEMBER 14-20 IS NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK. Details from the National Coalition for the Homeless are posted at https://www.nationalhomeless.org/projects/awareness/index.html.

NEW CONGRESS MEANS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT KEY PLAYERS FOR HOUSING. The new 112th Congress next year will have many new chairs and members of committees that impact appropriations and authorizations for both USDA and HUD programs. Details are posted on HAC’s site, https://ruralhome.org.

FUTURE OF 2011 APPROPRIATIONS UNCLEAR. With a continuing resolution in effect until December 3, the current Congress reconvenes on November 15 for a lame duck session. It is currently unclear whether 2011 appropriations will be funded in an omnibus bill, a year-long continuing resolution, or another short-term CR until early next year. There also seem to be possibilities for inclusion of several pieces of authorizing legislation in an omnibus spending measure, but that too is uncertain. Watch HAC’s website at https://ruralhome.org for updates.

PRESERVATION REVOLVING LOAN FUND NOFA PUBLISHED. USDA Rural Development will grant funds to intermediary lenders for revolving funds to assist with preservation of Section 515 and 514/516 housing. Deadline is January 10. See Federal Register, 11/9/10, or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_NOFAs.html. Contact Timothy James, RD, 202-720-1094, timothy.james@wdc.usda.gov.

HUD OFFERS FSS AND ROSS FUNDS. PHAs can apply by December 6 for Housing Choice Voucher Family Self-Sufficiency funds; contact HUD’s Public and Indian Housing Resource Center at 800-955-2232. PHAs, THDEs, tribes, nonprofits, and resident groups can apply by February 21 for the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Service Coordinators Program; contact Anice Schervish Chenault at Anice.S.Chenault@hud.gov or 202-402-2341. PHAs and TDHEs can apply by January 19 for ROSS FSS funds; contact Ms. Chenault. Visit https://www.grants.gov or https://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail.

FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR NATIVE CDFIS. Current or potential CDFIs that target at least 50% of their activities to Native Americans, Hawaiians, or Alaskans are eligible for financial or technical assistance grants. Deadline is December 22. Visit https://www.cdfifund.gov. Contact CDFI Fund staff, 202-622-6355, cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov.

NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND REGULATIONS PROPOSED. Comments are due December 28. A National Low Income Housing Coalition summary is at https://www.nlihc.org/detail/article.cfm?article_id=7443. See Federal Register, 10/29/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Marcia Sigal, HUD, 202-402-3002.

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY EFFORT LAUNCHED. Under a USDA-DOE partnership, contractors will inspect homes and make recommendations for energy retrofits. The program will be piloted in Indiana, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Homeowners may apply for existing RD energy efficiency program funding. USDA’s November 9 press release is in the newsroom at https://www.usda.gov.

RURAL CHILD POVERTY RATES AS HIGH AS 55.8%, CARSEY INSTITUTE REPORTS. Reviewing data for children under age 6, researchers found rural children poorer than those in central cities, with African Americans having the highest rates, followed by Hispanics and then whites. “The Unequal Distribution of Child Poverty: Highest Rates among Young Blacks and Children of Single Mothers in Rural America” is at https://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/.

JOINT CENTER CONSIDERS FUTURE OF LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT. A new Joint Center for Housing Studies paper entitled “Long-Term Low Income Housing Tax Credit Policy Questions” is available at https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/.

LENDING INFORMATION SCARCE FOR RURAL AREAS, HAC REPORTS. A new research note, “Improving HMDA: A Need to Better Understand Rural Mortgage Markets” is free at https://ruralhome.org or $1.00 from Lawrence Adams, HAC, lawrence@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

PREPARE FOR THE CONFERENCE ON TWITTER! HAC has launched a Twitter feed for the 2010 National Rural Housing Conference at @NRHC10. To get started, visit https://www.twitter.com. The conference will be held in Washington, DC, December 1-3.

. The Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act (S. 118) and the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act (S. 1481) were approved by the Senate Banking Committee on September 30. S. 1481 is the same as H.R. 1675, which passed the House in July; S. 118 is similar to Title VII of H.R. 4868, which passed the House Financial Services Committee in July. Both bills may be enacted into law after Congress returns to work on November 15. Bills are available at https://thomas.loc.gov.

CRA REFORM LEGISLATION INTRODUCED. The American Community Reinvestment Reform Act, H.R. 6334, introduced on September 29 by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and others, would expand the Community Reinvestment Act to cover non-bank lenders, improve enforcement, and increase the importance of community development activities. The bill is available at https://thomas.loc.gov.

YOUTHBUILD FUNDS AVAILABLE. Public and private nonprofits can apply by December 3 for grants to provide disadvantaged youth with skills while improving housing. Visit https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm or https://www.grants.gov. Fax questions to Ariam Ferro, DOL, 202-693-2705, labeled SGA/DFA PY 10-02 and including complete contact information.

CDFI PROGRAM 2011 ROUND OPENS. Applications are due November 19 for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund’s Financial Assistance and Technical Assistance aid. CDFIs can apply for only FA or TA, not both. A webinar, conference calls, and on-site workshops are available for potential applicants. See Federal Register, 10/6/10 or https://www.cdfifund.gov. Contact James Yagley, yagleyj@cdfi.treas.gov.

HUD OFFERS FAMILY UNIFICATION VOUCHERS. PHAs can apply by December 1. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/grpfup.cfm. Contact Amaris Rodriguez, 202-708-0477, amaris.rodriguez@hud.gov.

HUD REQUESTS INPUT ON PROPOSED SECTION 202 AND 811 LEGISLATION. Comments are due November 15 on proposals that would reform both programs, separate from the bills pending in Congress (described above). The Section 202 program’s 15% setaside for nonmetro areas would be eliminated, replaced by distribution based on housing needs. HUD’s proposals are posted at www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/202811/sec202reform.cfm and www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/202811/sec811reform.cfm. Contact Benjamin Metcalf, HUD, benjamin.t.metcalf@hud.gov or Leslie Strauss, HAC, leslie@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

SECTION 8 RENEWAL POLICY GUIDE BOOK REVISIONS AVAILABLE. HUD seeks comments by November 15 on changes to its comprehensive guidance for renewing expiring Section 8 contracts, available at https://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/mfhsec8.cfm. Contact Kerry Mulholland, HUD, 202-708-3000, ext. 2649.

USDA OBLIGATED 85% OF SECTION 502 DIRECT FUNDS AVAILABLE IN FY 2010. A total of $2.144 billion were obligated, 55% more than the $1.39 billion committed in FY 2009. In 2010, very low-income borrowers received 36% of the total, less than the 40% required but the highest dollar amount USDA has ever spent in one year in the category. A National Rural Housing Coalition analysis is posted on HAC’s website, https://ruralhome.org.

NON-HOMEOWNERSHIP FACTORS MAY EXPLAIN BENEFITS TO CHILDREN, RESEARCHERS FIND. A Center for Housing Policy research brief summarizes three recent reports testing the hypothesis that homeownership directly leads to better outcomes for children. The studies found that what really matters are other factors such as residential stability, neighborhood quality, and the parents themselves. Foundation for Success? A Review of New Research on the Effects of Homeownership on Children is posted at https://www.nhc.org/publications/.

CASE STUDIES HIGHLIGHT LIVABILITY AND TRANSIT IN RURAL PLACES. Twelve case studies compiled by Transportation for America are available at https://t4america.org/tag/livability-case-studies/.

GAO REVIEWS WAYS OF DISTRIBUTING CDBG FUNDS. A new study examines how entitlement jurisdictions and states distribute CDBG monies and finds few issues related to methods of distribution. Community Development Block Grants: Entitlement Communities’ and States’ Methods of Distributing Funds Reflect Program Flexibility (GAO-10-1011) is free at https://www.gao.gov or available for a fee from GAO, 202-512-6000.

REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 1 TO GET EARLY BIRD RATES FOR HAC’S 2010 NATIONAL RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE! “A Place to Live: Rural Housing in a Changing Landscape” will be held December 1-3 in Washington, DC. Pre-conference activities begin November 30. Limited scholarships are available for nonprofits. Visit https://ruralhome.org or contact staff at HACconference2010@ruralhome.org or 202-842-8600 ext. 137.