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

CHANGES IN SECTION 202 AND 811 BECOME LAW. On January 4, President Obama signed the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act (S. 118) and the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Act (S. 1481) into law. The bills modernize the programs and do not include major changes proposed by HUD in 2010 (see HAC News, 10/13/10). The bills are available at https://thomas.loc.gov. A Technical Assistance Collaborative summary of the Melville Act is at https://www.tacinc.org/ and an American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging summary of the Section 202 Act is at https://www.aahsa.org.

HUD SETS FEBRUARY 23 DEADLINE FOR RURAL INNOVATION FUND APPLICATIONS. The Rural Fund NOFA (see HAC News, 12/8/10) and a correction are available at https://www.grants.gov or https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/rural-innov.cfm. Contact Robert Duncan, 202-402-4681, robert.duncan@hud.gov.

HUD ISSUES RESEARCH NOFAS. For details on the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program (Round 2), the Homeless Families Demonstration Small Grant Research Program, and the Sustainable Communities Research Grant Program, visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm or https://www.grants.gov.

FINAL RULE ISSUED FOR SECTION 538 CONTINUOUS GUARANTEE. The Section 538 rental guarantee program will now offer a single, continuous guarantee for construction advances and permanent financing. See Federal Register, 1/3/11. Contact Tammy S. Daniels, RD, tammy.daniels@wdc.usda.gov, 202-720-0021.

RD TO HOLD CALLS ON MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROGRAMS. Teleconference or web conference meetings will be scheduled during January, April, July, and October, 2011, covering a variety of subjects for stakeholders. See Federal Register, 12/23/10 or search for document RHS-10-MFH-0029-0001 at https://www.regulations.gov. To request notices as calls are scheduled, contact Sandra Mercier, RD, 202-720-1617, sandra.mercier@wdc.usda.gov.

HOUSING GOALS SET FOR FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANKS. The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s final rule is “substantially the same” as its May 28, 2010 proposed rule (see HAC News, 6/09/10). See Federal Register, 12/27/10, or https://www.fhfa.gov. Contact Brian Doherty, FHFA, 202-408-2991.

COMMENTS SOUGHT ON FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK MEMBERSHIP. The Federal Housing Finance Agency invites input on possible alternatives for revising its regulations governing FHLB membership. Deadline is March 28. See Federal Register, 12/27/10, or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Eric M. Raudenbush, FHFA, eric.raudenbush@fhfa.gov, 202-414-6421.

DIVERSITY REQUIRED FOR FANNIE, FREDDIE, AND FHLBS. A Federal Housing Finance Agency final rule implements a legislative provision that requires Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks to promote diversity and the inclusion of women and minorities in all activities. See Federal Register, 12/28/10, or https://www.fhfa.gov. Contact Eric Howard, FHFA, eric.howard@fhfa.gov, 202-408-2502.

WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS ESTABLISHED. The Council’s website says it will focus on highlighting ways to enlist more Americans and leaders across sectors to help catalyze change in communities to address important goals in education, youth development and employment. Visit https://www.serve.gov/communitysolutions. Contact Susannah Washburn, swashburn@cns.gov.

NEW PUBLICATIONS PROVIDE NSP CASE STUDIES. NeighborWorks America profiles 12 NeighborWorks organizations, most in metro areas, that are stabilizing communities impacted by the foreclosure crisis across the country. Implementing the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP): Community Stabilization in the NeighborWorks Network is at https://www.stablecommunities.org/library/implementingnsp. Neighborhood Stabilization Program: Innovative Development Strategies for Very Low-Income Housing features five metro area places and is available from the National Housing Law Project at https://nhlp.org/files/NHLP%20NSP%20Best%20Practices%20Final_0.pdf.

ART COLLINGS INTERNSHIP FUND ESTABLISHED. As a memorial to Art, who served as a mentor and trainer to many rural housers, HAC has created the Art Collings Internship. The first Collings intern will work at HAC during summer 2011. Donations in Art’s memory are welcome. Checks can be made out to the Housing Assistance Council, with “Collings internship” on the memo line, and mailed to HAC’s national office.

https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/grpruralinno.cfm. When it is posted at https://www.grants.gov, HUD will begin accepting applications and the 60-day application period will begin. A new mapping tool, not yet operating, will provide consistent needs data for applicants. Contact Robert Duncan, HUD, 202-402-4681.

FAIR HOUSING INITIATIVES PROGRAM FUNDS OFFERED. Fair housing organizations, nonprofits or others with anti-discrimination programs, and government agencies can apply by December 21 for three initiatives: Private Enforcement, Education and Outreach, and Fair Housing Organizations. Visit https://www.grants.gov or https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/grpfhip.cfm. Contact Myron P. Newry, 202-402-7095.

CAPITAL MAGNET FUND INTERIM RULE ISSUED. The CDFI Fund requests comments by February 1 on this program, which provides grants to CDFIs and nonprofit intermediaries for affordable housing and economic development. See Federal Register, 12/3/10 or https://www.cdfifund.gov. Contact Jeffrey C. Berg, 202-622-8662.

PRESIDENT TO SIGN BILL SETTLING BLACK FARMERS AND NATIVE AMERICAN TRUST LAND SUITS. Passed by the Senate November 19 and the House November 30, the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 (H.R. 4783) approves funding for the Pigford II lawsuit brought by African-American farmers, the Cobell lawsuit brought by Native Americans over the management of Indian trust accounts and resources, and four separate water rights suits by Native American tribes. The bill, scheduled for final signature on December 8, is available at https://thomas.loc.gov.

USICH SEEKS COMMENTS ON IMPROVEMENTS FOR VETERANS TO ACCESS BENEFITS. The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness requests input by December 16 at https://usich.uservoice.com as it develops a plan to remove barriers to mainstream program access for veterans and their families at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

AGENCIES SEARCHING FOR MODELS LINKING SERVICES AND HOUSING FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES. The Departments of Health and Human Services and HUD invite self-nominations by December 14 of systems that meet criteria including applicability in communities varying from large cities to rural areas, for possible inclusion in a study. Visit https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/call-for-nominations.html. Contact Emily_Holt@abtassoc.com.

HUD WEBSITE OFFERS HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DATA. Information from the Census Bureau, Labor Department, HUD, state and local governments, and the housing industry is consolidated in reports at https://www.huduser.org/portal/regional.html covering regions, states, metro areas, and counties.

NONMETRO COUNTIES WITH OUTMIGRATION MAY BE POOR OR PROSPEROUS, USDA REPORTS. An Economic Research Service paper says over a third of nonmetro counties lost at least 10% of their population through net outmigration over 1988-2008. Some lack economic opportunity. Most are relatively prosperous but quality-of-life factors inhibit inmigration. “The Two Faces of Rural Population Loss Through Outmigration” is at https://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/December10/Features/RuralPopulation.htm and includes a link to the research report.

HAC ANNOUNCES 2010 AWARD RECIPIENTS. At the 2010 National Rural Housing Conference HAC presented three rural housing awards. The Henry B. González Award for elected officials went to James E. Darling, City Commissioner, McAllen, Texas, and Joe L. Piccolo, Mayor, Price City, Utah. Recipients of the Skip Jason Award for local service were Manuel Gauna, Tiempo, Inc. (posthumously); Stan Keasling, Rural Community Assistance Corporation; Selvin McGahee, Florida Non-Profit Housing; and Linda Smith, Esther Stewart Buford Foundation. The Cochran /Collings Award for service with national impact, renamed by HAC’s Board to honor Art Collings as well as Clay Cochran, was given to Tom Carew, Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises. More information about the awards and awardees is posted at http://ruralhome.org.

ART COLLINGS INTERNSHIP FUND ESTABLISHED. As a memorial to Art, who served as a mentor and trainer to many rural housers, HAC has created the Art Collings Internship. The first Collings intern will work at HAC during summer 2011. Donations in Art’s memory are welcome. Checks can be made out to the Housing Assistance Council, with “Collings internship” on the memo line, and mailed to HAC’s national office.

https://www.grants.gov and https://www.hudhre.info. The deadline remains November 18. Submit questions at https://www.hudhre.info/helpdesk/.

NSP3 INFORMATION PUBLISHED. A HUD notice provides the allocation formula and amounts, the list of grantees, alternative requirements, and the waivers of regulations for grantees under the third round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding. The program requirements in this notice apply to NSP1 also; the allocation and application information apply only to NSP3. See Federal Register, 10/19/10 or https://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/neighborhoodspg/index.cfm. Contact Stanley Gimont, HUD, 202-708-3587.

HUD OFFERS SNAPS-TA FUNDING. States, local governments, and nonprofits can apply by November 22 for funds to provide technical assistance for McKinney-Vento homeless programs or for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/grpsnaps-ta.cfm or https://www.grants.gov. Contact Holly Kelly, HUD, Holly.A.Kelly@hud.gov, 202-402-6324.

CAPITAL FUND EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMUNITY FACILITIES PROGRAM NOFA RELEASED. The CFCF program will provide capital funding to PHAs for facilities to provide early childhood education, adult education, and job training programs for public housing residents. Deadline is January 14. Visit https://www.grants.gov or https://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail. Contact Jeffrey Riddel, HUD, pihoci@hud.gov, 202-708-1640, ext. 4999.

FINAL RULE ALLOWS PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUNDS FOR FINANCING. Financing activities may include payment of debt service, and housing development and modernization activities. A PHA may grant a security interest in future Capital Fund grants. HUD is still considering the use of operating funds for financing activities. See Federal Register, 10/21/10 or https://www.hud.gov/hudclips. Contact Jeffrey Riddel, HUD, 202-708-1640, ext. 4999.

FEMA REQUESTS COMMENTS ON DISASTER HOUSING GUIDE. The Disaster Temporary Housing Operational guide, intended to present a comprehensive picture of FEMA housing assistance and support, is available at https://www.regulations.gov (docket ID FEMA-2010-0062). Comments are due November 22. Contact Stephen Miller, FEMA, 202-212-1000.

HUD FINALIZES VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT REGULATION. VAWA protects victims of domestic violence, including those living in public housing or participating in HUD’s tenant-based and project-based Section 8 programs. See Federal Register, 10/27/10, or https://www.hud.gov/hudclips. Contact HUD program staff.

GUIDANCE OFFERED ON FHA AND PROTECTING TENANTS AT FORECLOSURE ACT. HUD’s interpretive notice addresses differences between FHA regulations and the PTFA when an FHA mortgage is foreclosed. See Federal Register, 10/28/10 or https://www.hud.gov/hudclips. Contact Vance Morris, HUD, 202-708-1672.

USDA CALCULATES JOBS IMPACTED BY HOUSING SPENDING. A report on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act accomplishments says Section 502 direct loans saved or created 19,500 jobs and Section 502 guaranteed loans did the same for 125,000 jobs. The report includes data on USDA ARRA funds for each state and is free at https://www.usda.gov/documents/USDA_ARRA_AnnualReport_10192010.pdf.

GAO FINDS PROBLEMS IN AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING. A review found that many state and local governments’ Analyses of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice were out of date, and many current AIs did not provide timelines for addressing identified problems. Housing and Community Grants: HUD Needs to Enhance Its Requirements and Oversight of Jurisdictions’ Fair Housing Plans (GAO-10-905) is free at https://www.gao.gov or available for a fee from GAO, 202-512-6000.

RURAL CHDOS’ CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES DESCRIBED IN RURAL VOICES MAGAZINE. “Rural CHDOs: Building Capacity, Building Homes” is the fall issue of HAC’s quarterly magazine Rural Voices. This and back issues are free at http://ruralhome.org. One print subscription per organization is free from Lawrence Adams, HAC, 202-842-8600, lawrence@ruralhome.org.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/proclamations or in the Federal Register, 9/15/10.

FISCAL YEAR 2011 BEGINS WITH CONTINUING RESOLUTION. At press time, Congress is expected to pass a continuing resolution funding the federal government through December 3. Most programs will remain at FY10 levels. Check here for an update.

USDA COMMITTING SECTION 502 DIRECT LOANS WITHOUT APPRAISALS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30. Appraisals must be performed before loan closing. USDA RD’s Unnumbered Letter dated September 13 is available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/ulseptember10.pdf or from RD offices.

RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FUNDS AVAILABLE. RCDI funds intermediary organizations to provide financial and technical capacity building assistance to local groups. This year’s program includes a “Great Regions” initiative encouraging substantive economic growth, including job creation, in regions with fewer prospects and the greatest need for improved economic opportunity. Deadline is December 22. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm or https://www.grants.gov. Contact an RD State Office.

HUD OFFERS FUNDS FOR CONTINUUM OF CARE, HOUSING COUNSELING TRAINING. Both NOFAs are posted at https://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail and www.grants.gov. The Continuum of Care deadline is November 18; contact a HUD field office. The counseling training deadline is October 29; contact Gerard P. Donahoe, Jr., Gerard.P.Donahoe@hud.gov, 202-402-3951.

LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION DEMO GRANT NOFA CORRECTED, DEADLINE EXTENDED. The new deadline is November 4 for some and October 22 for others. The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program deadline remains October 15. See https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/grpleadcombo.cfm or https://www.grants.gov. Contact Michelle Miller, HUD, Michelle.M.Miller@hud.gov, 202-402-5769.

HUD ASKS CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT APPLICANTS FOR ADVANCE NOTICE. Entities expecting to request either planning or implementation grants are asked – but not required – to notify HUD by October 7. See Federal Register, 9/24/10, or https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/grpchoice.cfm. Contact Caroline Clayton, HUD, Caroline.C.Clayton@hud.gov, 202-402-5461.

FINAL FAIR MARKET RENTS SET FOR FY11. On October 4 the final FMRs for Section 8 and other programs will be published in the Federal Register and at https://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html. Until then, the notice is posted at https://www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx.

REVISED DDA NOTICE PUBLISHED. HUD’s September 9, 2010 notice omitted the tables listing Difficult Development Areas for 2011. A corrected notice is available at https://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/qct.html or in the Federal Register, 9/21/10.

RURAL POVERTY INCREASED IN 2009. The Census Bureau reports in Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009 that the 2009 nonmetro poverty rate of 16.6% was higher than the national level and increased from 15.1% in 2008. Visit http://ruralhome.org for a HAC research note and a link to the Census report. • Separately, the Census Bureau released 2009 American Community Survey data, including poverty and housing figures, for places over 65,000 population. Data for smaller places will be released in December and January. Visit https://www.census.gov/acs/www/. A Census Bureau online tutorial that describes the ACS and how to find ACS data is available at https://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/e_tutorial/. • The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Data Center has been updated to include the 2009 ACS poverty data, and for the first time breaks down child poverty rates by congressional district. Visit https://datacenter.kidscount.org.

DATA ON NONMETRO JOB LOSS AND MIGRATION ANALYZED. USDA Economic Research Service’s Rural America at a Glance 2010, focusing on these topics, is at https://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/eib68/. The rural news website The Daily Yonder reports on ERS’s data and more at https://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-america-2010-%E2%80%94-jobs-and-migration/2010/09/18/2942 and https://www.dailyyonder.com/job-loss/2010/09/13/2935.

HAC News, 8/18/10). RD is first processing conditional commitments issued since May. The notice is available at http://ruralhome.org. For more information, contact an RD office.

BRYAN HOOPER BECOMES RD DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING. Hooper directed the Small Business Administration’s Office of Credit Risk Management from 2006 until August 2010, and previously spent 16 years at the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae).

HUD DESIGNATES DIFFICULT DEVELOPMENT AREAS FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT. October 2009 designations of Qualified Census Tracts remain in effect. Visit www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/qct.html. Contact Michael K. Hollar, HUD, 202-402-5878, michael.k.hollar@hud.gov.

RD NOTICE ADDRESSES LEAD-BASED PAINT REGS COMPLIANCE. Administrative Notice 4537 provides guidance for all USDA housing and community development programs regarding HUD’s and EPA’s regulations on leadbased paint. Obtain AN 4537 at www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/an4537.pdf or from an RD office.

GUIDANCE OFFERED ON SECTION 502 DIRECT LOAN INTEREST RATES. An Unnumbered Letter dated September 8, 2010 says some active loans have rates either higher or lower than the authorized rate. Obtain the letter at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/ulseptember10.pdf or from an RD office. Contact Migdaliz Bernier, RD, 202-690-3833, migdaliz.bernier@wdc.usda.gov.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS FINALIZED FOR FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC. The goals refer to single-family and multifamily affordable housing. Rural housing, along with manufactured housing and rental housing preservation, will be covered in separate “duty to serve” regulations (see HAC News, 3/5/10 and 6/9/10). See Federal Register, 9/14/10, or https://www.fhfa.gov. Contact Nelson Hernandez, FHFA, 202-408-2819.

NEW MANUAL COVERS RIGHTS OF RD HOMEOWNERS AND APPLICANTS. RD Homeownership Programs: Owners’ and Purchasers’ Rights is a detailed guide to the Section 502 direct and guaranteed programs and the Section 504 loan and grant programs. Intended for advocates helping RD clients, it addresses foreclosure avoidance mechanisms, available subsidies, the RD appeals process, and more. Electronic or hard copies are available for $39 from the National Housing Law Project, https://www.nhlp.org.

HOUSING FOR REENTERING PRISONERS DESCRIBED. Reentry Housing Options: The Policymaker’s Guide, published by the Council of State Governments, offers an overview of options and provides three case studies. Visit https://reentrypolicy.org/jc_publications/reentry-housing-options.

REPORT EXAMINES TRENDS IN DATA ON ELDERLY. New Realities of an Older America: Challenges, Changes and Questions from the Stanford Center on Longevity notes, among other findings, that “In 1970, the numbers of older households in central cities, suburbs and non-metropolitan areas were roughly equal . . . Today, there are over 10 million older households in suburbs, compared to 6.5 million in non-metropolitan areas and 6 million in central cities” (page 33). The report is available at https://longevity.stanford.edu/node/1020.

STATES USE ARRA FUNDS TO RETROFIT MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. A fact sheet from the National Housing Trust and Enterprise describes how some states are using the Department of Energy’s State Energy Program for energy efficiency upgrades in multifamily housing. Visit https://www.nhtinc.org.

FORECLOSURES IMPACT HEALTH. Data from urban Alameda County, Calif. show that individual and community health can be affected. Rebuilding Neighborhoods, Restoring Health, by the Alameda County Public Health Department and Causa Justa :: Just Cause, is available at https://www.acphd.org.

WEBSITE OFFERS HMDA DATA HELP. New York Law School’s Economic Justice Project has released an online tool for analyzing data on lending in metro areas made public under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. The site does not generate data itself; it provides instructions for finding, extracting, and using data from other sources. Visit https://hmdanalysis.nyls.edu. Contact EJP, 212-431-2180, rmarsico@nyls.edu.

GET THE HAC NEWS SOONER – GET IT BY EMAIL. To subscribe, visit https://lists.ruralhome.org/lists/info/hac_news. To be removed from the postal mailing list, send a request to lawrence@ruralhome.org.