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https://banking.senate.gov (click Hearings).

HUD RELEASES NOFAS FOR INDIAN CDBG, SECTION 202 DEMO, AND OTHERS. For details on these and lead hazard programs, the new Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, HOPE VI, Sustainable Communities Planning Grants, and university and college programs, visit https://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail or https://ruralhome.org or contact a HUD office.

RD TO PROCESS SECTION 502 GUARANTEE APPLICATIONS AFTER MID-SEPTEMBER. An August 23 letter to participating lenders explains that by then RD expects to finish temporary changes in its electronic system to accommodate the new fees (see HAC News, 8/18/10). Fee waivers for low- and very low-income borrowers will not be offered “at this time,” but funds for Section 502 direct loans remain available. For details, contact an RD office.

RD OFFERS OPTIONS TO REDUCE FORECLOSURES FOR SECTION 502 GUARANTEED HOMES. Effective September 24, lenders will be allowed to extend loans for up to 40 years and to advance funds on behalf of borrowers to bring defaulted loans current. RD will reimburse lenders for eligible advances. See Federal Register, 8/26/10 or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_NOFAs.html. Contact Stuart Walden, RD, 202-690-4507, stuart.walden@wdc.usda.gov.

RURAL VOUCHER NOFA CORRECTED. RD clarifies what documentation is required for proof of citizenship and corrects a hyperlink. See Federal Register, 8/25/10 or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_NOFAs.html. Contact Stephanie B.M. White, RD, 202-720-1615.

RD ISSUES ENERGY CONSERVATION REQUIREMENT. An Unnumbered Letter dated August 17, 2010 says that beginning January 1, 2011, management plans for Section 514 or 515 properties must include energy conservation measures. It includes tips for managers and residents, originally published by HUD, and lists potential funding sources. ULs are available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_UnnumberedList.html or from RD offices.

ETHICAL CONDUCT RULES FOR RD EMPLOYEES AMENDED. New restrictions on financial interests and more extensive prior approval requirements are added. The changes are effective August 20, with time for employees to divest themselves of certain types of financial interests. Comments are due September 20. See Federal Register, 8/20/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Michael M. Edwards, RD, 202-720-2251.

CENSUS PROPOSES REVISED CRITERIA FOR DEFINING URBAN/RURAL AREAS. Changes would be based on the 2010 Census results. Comments are due Nov. 22. See Federal Register, 8/24/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Vincent Osier, Census, vincent.osier@census.gov, 301-763-9039.

HUD REQUESTS COMMENTS ON MAHRA ELIGIBILITY DATE. Comments are due Oct. 26 on HUD’s determination of when a multifamily property covered by the Multifamily and Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act is eligible for restructuring. See Federal Register, 8/27/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Theodore Toon, HUD, 202-708-0001.

NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM RECAPTURE INFORMATION PUBLISHED. A HUD notice describes NSP recapture and reallocation processes. See Federal Register, 8/27/10 or https://hudnsphelp.info/index.cfm. Contact Stanley Gimont, HUD, 202-708-3587.

2010 DATA ON RD MULTIFAMILY TENANTS RELEASED. RD’s annual fair housing occupancy report shows little change in the characteristics of Section 515 and 514/516 tenants. Average incomes rose about 2%, to $11,364 for all tenants and $9,388 for tenants with Section 521 Rental Assistance. Obtain the report at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/ulaugust10.pdf or from RD offices.

NCH SEEKS COMMENTS ON 2010 CENSUS HOMELESS COUNT. The National Coalition for the Homeless asks social service agencies, local governments, and others to take a brief survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NCHCensusSurvey by September 30. Results will be used to develop recommendations for the 2020 Census.

https://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app11.html.

a. The new Rural Innovation Fund would replace RHED.
b. Proposed new programs.
c. Demonstration initially proposed in FY 2010 budget to replace HOPE VI.

PRESERVATION BILL PASSES COMMITTEE. The House Financial Services Committee passed three housing bills on July 28, including H.R. 4868, the Housing Preservation and Tenant Protection Act of 2010. Title VIII of this bill is the Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2010, which would provide ongoing authority for USDA’s preservation program (MPR), currently being conducted as a demonstration. The full House may consider the bill in September. No companion bill has been introduced in the Senate. The other bills approved by the committee are H.R. 5814, the Public Housing Reinvestment and Tenant Protection Act of 2010, and H.R. 476, the Veterans, Women, Families with Children, and Persons with Disabilities Housing Fairness Act of 2010. All three bills are at https://thomas.loc.gov.

HUD ISSUES HOUSING COUNSELING NOFA. Applications are due August 27. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/grphcp.cfm or https://www.grants.gov. Contact a HUD homeownership center or call 202-708-0317. Most of HUD’s other FY 2010 NOFAs have not yet been released.

FY 2011 FAIR MARKET RENTS PROPOSED. Comments are due September 3. Visit https://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html or https://www.regulations.gov.

USDA CONFIRMS MANUFACTURED HOUSING ENERGY STANDARDS. New manufactured homes must comply with the HUD Code, not the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. Find AN 4519 at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd-an_list.html or from RD offices. Contact William Downs, RD, 202-720-1499, william.downs@wdc.usda.gov.

Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • HUD, USDA spending bills for FY 2011 approved by House Subcommittees • Financial reform bill finalized • Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant NOFA released • 2009 American Housing Survey data available • Varying definitions of homelessness complicate services and data, GAO finds • HAC testifies at Rural Development Forum on Self Help Housing • HAC seeks nominations for rural housing awards • SAVE THE DATE FOR HAC’S NATIONAL RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE 2010!

July 7, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 14

HUD, USDA spending bills for FY 2011 approved by House Subcommittees. Congressional appropriators on June 30 and July 1 began the first steps toward an FY 2011 budget for HUD and USDA rural housing programs. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture passed a bill on June 30, but full details are not yet known on the rural housing programs. Rural Housing Service loans and grants are funded at $1.322 billion, $101.8 million below the 2010 level but $71.9 million above the President’s 2011 budget request. Rural housing programs will most likely stay at 2010 levels.

The Transportation-HUD Subcommittee, meeting July 1, rejected HUD’s proposals to cut or eliminate HOME, Indian housing, Sec. 202, Sec. 811, SHOP, and the Rural Innovation Fund. Those programs continue at 2010 levels. But the panel also declined to fund several new ideas proposed in the President’s budget, including Transforming Rental Assistance, Catalytic Investments, and Capacity Building. See the table below for HUD details.

Information on both bills, including lists of earmarks, is available at https://appropriations.house.gov. Complete details will be available after the full House Appropriations Committee considers the bills. Details, as available, will be posted at https://ruralhome.org.

a. New program replacing Rural Housing & Economic Development.
b. New program for economic development and gap financing for community revitalization.
c. New program for rental preservation, efficiency and resident choice.
d. Demonstration initially proposed in FY 2010 budget to replace HOPE VI.
e. Replaced by Rural Innovation Fund.

Financial reform bill finalized. The House has passed a conference committee’s version of H.R. 4173, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Senate may vote next week on the bill, which would extend the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act, provide $1 billion for a third round of HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program, and try to block predatory lending. Search by bill number at https://thomas.loc.gov.

Sustainable Communities RegionalPlanning Grant NOFA released. HUD has posted the FY 2010 NOFA for the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant, which has approximately $98 million to support multijurisdictional planning efforts that integrate housing, land use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure investments. At least $25 million will go to areas with populations under 500,000. Deadline to apply is August 23, 2010. For information, visit https://www.hud.gov/sustainability or contact Zuleika K. Morales-Romero, 202-402-7683 or Zuleika.K.Morales@hud.gov.

2009 American Housing Survey data available. AHS is conducted every two years by the Census Bureau and HUD. Preliminary figures from the 2009 AHS estimate there are approximately 111.9 million occupied housing units in the United States, an increase of about 1.2 million units from 2007. The survey indicates that roughly 25 million, or 22 percent of occupied homes are located outside of metropolitan areas. Data are published online at https://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/ahs/ahsdata09.html. To order data in print or on disk, call the Customer Services Center, 301-763-INFO (4636).

Varying definitions of homelessness complicate services and data, GAO finds. Researchers report that data collected by the Departments of Education, HHS, and HUD cannot be compared, and eligibility rules may be confusing. Homelessness: A Common Vocabulary Could Help Agencies Collaborate and Collect More Consistent Data (GAO-10-702) is free at https://www.gao.gov or at cost from GAO, 866-801-7077.

HAC testifies at Rural Development Forum on Self Help Housing. Rural Development held public forums to solicit feedback on the current method of delivering the self-help program with a focus on the Technical and Management Assistance contracts under Section 523. Ten forums were held between February and June across the country. Written comments can be submitted until July 15. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/Admin/2010SelfHelpForums.htm. Contact Debra S. Arnold, RD, 202-720-1366, debra.arnold@wdc.usda.gov. HAC’s testimony can be viewed at https://ruralhome.org.

HAC seeks nominations for rural housing awards. At the National Rural Housing Conference in December, HAC will present three rural housing awards; the Cochran/Collings Award for national rural housing service, the Skip Jason Community Service Award, and the Henry B. Gonzalez Award for local or tribal elected officials. The national service award is named after Clay Cochran and Arthur M. Collings. Dr. Cochran was a mentor and pioneer in the rural housing movement whose work dates back to the 1930s and 1940s. Collings, who passed away in March 2010, combined feistiness, humor, and an extensive knowledge of rural housing programs while working for USDA and HAC. The Community Service Award is named after Robert “Skip” Jason, a long-time housing activist with considerable community experience. The Elected Official Award is named for Henry B. Gonzalez, who served in Congress from 1961 to 1998 and chaired the House Banking Committee. Nominations are due September 15. For information, visit https://ruralhome.org or contact Lilla Sutton, HAC, 202-842-8600, lilla@ruralhome.org.

SAVE THE DATE FOR HAC’S NATIONAL RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE 2010! Plan to join rural housers from around the country in Washington, DC, December 1-3, 2010 for “A Place to Live: Rural Housing in a Changing Landscape.” Details will be posted at https://ruralhome.org as available.

Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • June is National Homeownership Month • Senate considering Extender/Jobs Bill with housing provisions • Additional funding for Section 502 guarantees still pending • HUD releases General Section for FY10 NOFAs • Section 514/516 application limit will be $3 million • Rule finalized on using AHP funds for refinancing • GSE goals proposed for rural housing, manufactured housing, and preservation • Housing goals to be established for FHLBs • Fair housing agreement reached for Texas disaster survivors • Tenants in foreclosed homes still being forced out, study finds • GAO reports federal reimbursement of nonprofits’ indirect costs is inconsistent

June 9, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 12

JUNE IS NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH. A press release at www.rurdev.usda.gov suggests contacting local RD offices for information about events. HUD’s release is available at https://www.hud.gov.

SENATE CONSIDERING EXTENDER/JOBS BILL WITH HOUSING PROVISIONS. At press time the Senate was working on H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act. The bill’s housing provisions, including funding for the National Housing Trust Fund, remained intact after some amendments to other provisions. For updates, visit https://www.nhtf.org.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SECTION 502 GUARANTEES STILL PENDING. On May 27 the Senate approved its version of H.R. 4899, the 2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act, which would provide funding to meet the entire FY 2010 demand for Section 502 guarantees. The cost would be covered by a 3.5% guarantee fee and 0.5% annual fee; USDA could waive the fees for low- and very low-income borrowers. The House Appropriations Committee will now consider the Senate bill to replace a version passed by the House in March. The bill text is available at https://Thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app10.html. Meanwhile, in a notice posted at https://ruralhome.org, USDA has authorized lenders to make commitments for Section 502 guaranteed loans, subject to availability of funds.

HUD RELEASES GENERAL SECTION FOR FY10 NOFAS. The instructions, intended to help applicants prepare for program NOFAs to be released this summer, were posted June 7 at https://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail. Appendix A shows when program NOFAs are expected; HUD anticipates releasing the NOFA for the Rural Innovation Fund (replacing RHED) in July or August.

SECTION 514/516 APPLICATION LIMIT WILL BE $3 MILLION. HAC is told that a notice changing the $2 million limit in the May 10 Farm Labor Housing NOFA has been approved and will appear in the Federal Register soon. Applications are due July 9. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_NOFAs.html or contact an RD state office.

RULE FINALIZED ON USING AHP FUNDS FOR REFINANCING. The Federal Housing Finance Agency is adopting its interim final rule published on August 4, 2009 (see HAC News, 8/5/09), with changes giving the Federal Home Loan Banks more flexibility in implementing the housing counseling requirement and making housing counseling costs an eligible use of AHP subsidy. See Federal Register, 5/28/10 or https://www.fhfa.gov/Default.aspx?Page=89. Contact Melissa L. Allen, FHFA, 202-408-2524, Melissa.Allen@fhfa.gov.

GSE GOALS PROPOSED FOR RURAL HOUSING, MANUFACTURED HOUSING, AND PRESERVATION. Comments are due July 22 on goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s service to these underserved markets. See Federal Register, 6/7/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Mike Price, FHFA, 202-408-2941.

HOUSING GOALS TO BE ESTABLISHED FOR FHLBS. Comments are due July 12 on a proposal to establish goals for the purchase of mortgages by the larger Federal Home Loan Banks. The notice states that the FHLBs account for a small proportion of total mortgage purchases. See Federal Register, 5/28/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Rafe R. Ellison, FHFA, 202-408-2968.

FAIR HOUSING AGREEMENT REACHED FOR TEXAS DISASTER SURVIVORS. Texas housing advocates filed complaints charging that the state’s proposed plan for spending CDBG disaster funds for Hurricanes Dolly and Ike did not adequately address low- and moderate-income needs or prevent discrimination. HUD, which had rejected the proposed plan, approved the agreement. Texas has submitted a new proposed plan that uses needs data to allocate more funds to East Texas and more to housing. The National Low Income Housing Coalition notes that cases related to Hurricane Katrina pending in Louisiana and Mississippi could be resolved similarly. HUD’s May 25 press release is at https://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/press_releases_media_advisories and NLIHC’s June 7 statement is at https://www.nlihc.org.

TENANTS IN FORECLOSED HOMES STILL BEING FORCED OUT, STUDY FINDS. Staying Home: The Rights of Renters Living in Foreclosed Properties explains the 2009 Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act and problems with its implementation, as well as summarizing developments in state laws protecting tenants living in foreclosed properties. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty report is free at https://www.nlchp.org.

GAO REPORTS FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT OF NONPROFITS’ INDIRECT COSTS IS INCONSISTENT. Based on a sample of nonprofits receiving funds from HHS or Emergency Shelter Grants or HOPWA funds from HUD, research found indirect costs were treated inconsistently. Nonprofit Sector: Treatment and Reimbursement of Indirect Costs Vary Among Grants, and Depend Significantly on Federal, State, and Local Government Practices is free at https://www.gao.gov or in print at cost from GAO, 1-866-801-7077.