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HAC News: December 14, 2018

December 14, 2018/in HAC News CDFI

HAC News Formats. pdf

December 14, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 25

2018 HAC Rural Housing Conference educates, inspires, and advances the rural housing community. • Federal Reserve Board of Governors chairman Jerome Powell addresses HAC conference • HAC awards recognize national, local and federal leadership for rural housing • USDA and HUD spending now expiring December 21 • Congress passes Farm Bill • Increased staff specialization planned for USDA Rural Development • Mark Calabria named to lead Federal Housing Finance Agency • Kathy Kraninger becomes head of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau • Perdue announces RD initiative for broadband and e-connectivity • Executive Order encourages development in Opportunity Zones • HAC’s Rural Voices magazine covers capacity building • Census Bureau releases new data for counties, towns, Native lands and more • Study examines trust lands and manufactured homes in Indian Country

HAC News Formats. pdf

December 14, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 25

2018 HAC Rural Housing Conference educates, inspires, and advances the rural housing community.
Over 600 registrants from 48 states heard from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell (see item below), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), HUD Secretary Ben Carson, Rusty Smith from Rural Studio , HAC CEO David Lipsetz, former HAC Executive Director Moises Loza and former Deputy Director Joe Belden, as well as USDA and HUD staff and dozens of other experts. Materials from conference sessions are available through the conference app . Check out photos, comments and daily wrap-up videos on HAC’s social media: Twitter , Facebook , and YouTube . Watch HAC’s website and the HAC News for announcements as additional items, including videos of plenary sessions, become available.

Federal Reserve Board of Governors chairman Jerome Powell addresses HAC conference.
Speaking at the HAC Rural Housing Conference on December 6, Chairman Powell discussed the strength of the economy while acknowledging that not everyone has enjoyed the benefits of the strong economy equally. He stressed the importance of the Community Reinvestment Act and praised HAC’s research on the subject as beneficial to the Fed’s plans around potential CRA reform. His remarks garnered press coverage from the New York Times and Reuters.

HAC awards recognize national, local and federal leadership for rural housing.
At the 2018 HAC Rural Housing Conference, the Cochran/Collings Award for Distinguished Service in Housing for the Rural Poor went to Starry Krueger, President of the Rural Development Leadership Network. Four local leaders received the Skip Jason Community Service Award: Salvador Estrada (Tierra del Sol, NM), Cassie Hicks (University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies, MS), Dennis Lalor (South County Housing, CA) (posthumous) and Joe Myer (NCALL Research, DE). Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) received the Henry B. González Award for an elected official.

USDA and HUD spending now expiring December 21.
The deadline for negotiations on FY19 appropriations was extended to December 21 because congressional activity was slowed by the death of former President George H.W. Bush on November 30. Various end results, including a government shutdown, are still possible.

Congress passes Farm Bill.
House and Senate conferees reached an agreement on a new five-year Farm Bill, dropping provisions that would have imposed stricter work requirements on food stamp recipients. The Senate passed it on December 11 and the House on December 12. President Trump is expected to sign it into law. The bill requires USDA to have an Under Secretary for Rural Development and requires the appointee be confirmed by the Senate. The Under Secretary position had been eliminated in a 2017 reorganization, replaced by an Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development. Anne Hazlett has served in that role since June 2017. The bill also maintains local eligibility for USDA rural housing programs after the 2020 Census, so long as a place’s population does not exceed 35,000 and it remains “rural in character.” The bill authorizes a new Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant program, a concept HAC supported, to create rural job accelerators and related programming. HAC and others suggested additional improvements to the bill’s Rural Development title, but in general the 2018 RD title is much like the 2014 version.

Increased staff specialization planned for USDA Rural Development.
At the 2018 HAC Rural Housing Conference, RD officials explained some staffing changes, which are also described in letters from Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to members of the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees. An October 10 letter says that applications for the Section 538 rental guarantee program and Section 515 rental loan program will no longer be processed or underwritten in each state office. Twenty-five staff, who will remain in their current state office locations, will work exclusively on either 538 or 515. According to a November 30 letter, instead of handling the Section 502 guaranteed program in each of the 47 state offices, the agency will create a single unit, so the program will be delivered by 275 employees rather than 300. In addition, appraisers, architects, engineers, and others will be “realigned” into the RD Business Center. The November letter says that affected staff will remain in their current locations and implies that unneeded staff will be reassigned rather than laid off. The November letter enumerates other changes being made in the RUS, RBS, and Community Facilities staffs, and additional changes are described in the HAC News, 11/30/18.

Mark Calabria named to lead Federal Housing Finance Agency.
President Trump will nominate Calabria, currently chief economist for Vice President Mike Pence, to serve a five-year term as director of FHFA, which regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank system. The term of Melvin Watt, the current director, ends in January. FHFA director nominees must be confirmed by the Senate.

Kathy Kraninger becomes head of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Kraninger, most recently an associate director at the Office of Management and Budget, was confirmed by the Senate on December 6 and sworn in on December 10. She takes over from Mick Mulvaney, head of OMB, who has been CFPB’s acting director.

Perdue announces RD initiative for broadband and e-connectivity.
On December 13 Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a new ReConnect Program to provide broadband infrastructure in rural areas with populations under 20,000. State and local governments, tribes, nonprofits, for-profits, limited liability companies, and coops are eligible for funding. Applications for grants are due April 29, for loan and grant combinations May 29, and for low-interest loans June 28. For more information, contact Chad Parker, RUS, 202-720-9555.

Executive Order encourages development in Opportunity Zones.
On December 12, President Trump signed an order creating a White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, to be comprised of 13 federal agencies and chaired by HUD Secretary Ben Carson. The council is charged with targeting existing federal programs to “urban and economically distressed areas,” including Opportunity Zones, and to engage with all levels of government on revitalizing low-income communities. A list and map of all Opportunity Zones are available on the CDFI Fund’s website. A supportive statement issued by Anne Hazlett, USDA Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, says “USDA Rural Development programs will award priority points on applications from private sector intermediaries for projects built in opportunity zone census tracts as well as in other select programs for projects that directly benefit communities located in Opportunity Zones.”

HAC’s Rural Voices magazine covers capacity building.
The conference issue of Rural Voicesdescribes what it means to build the capacity of rural housing organizations, why it is important, who does it, how it is done and how it is financed.

Census Bureau releases new data for counties, towns, Native lands and more.
The newest American Community Survey data has been released on the Census Bureau’s American Fact Finder website. This five-year data provides estimates of demographic characteristics, income, housing, education and other subjects for states, counties, and smaller areas such as zip codes, census tracts, and American Indian Areas/Alaska Native Areas/Hawaiian Home Lands. For the first time, broadband-related data is included.

Study examines trust lands and manufactured homes in Indian Country.
The Center for Indian Country Development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has released new research, reported in a blog post titled “Race, Location, and Manufactured-Home Loans on American Indian Reservations.” They examine the statistically higher rate of loan applications at the intersection of manufactured housing, American Indian identity, and reservation trust land. Much of this research was shared at the 2018 HAC Rural Housing Conference session “Homeownership in Indian Country – Creating the Opportunity for Choice.”

Happy holidays from HAC!
The board and staff of the Housing Assistance Council wish peace, prosperity and affordable housing to all! HAC’s offices will be closed from December 24 to January 1.

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).

USDA RD's Unnumbered Letters – Archive

December 13, 2018/in Documents & Notices

USDA Rural Development’s Administrative Notices (ANs) and Unnumbered Letters (ULs) provide very useful information for rural developers and advocates. However, USDA does not maintain an archive of notices after they are removed from the RD website. HAC maintains this archive as a reference.

2019

UL May 30, 2019 – Implementation of the Revised Definition of Domestic Farm Laborer for Farm Labor Housing (FLH)

2018

UL November 8, 2018 – Short Sale and Real Estate Owned (REO) Acquisitions by Nonprofit Organizations and Public Bodies
UL October 26, 2018 – Guidance on Use of Rent Incentive Options in Multi-Family Housing Properties
UL September 28, 2018 – Reserve Accounts for Rural Development’s Multi-Family Housing Properties (Supervised Bank Accounts)
UL September 21, 2018 – Allowable Expenses in Multi-Family Housing Properties
UL September 19, 2018 – Guidance for Reallocation of Rental Assistance Units for Properties No Longer in the Program
UL September 17, 2018 – Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program Auxiliary Processing Unit Administrative Information
UL September 6, 2018 – Processing Section 514/516 New Construction Loan and/or Grant Requests Fiscal Year 2018
UL August 31, 2018 – Status of Classification Structure for Single-Family Housing Positions in State Offices and Field Offices
UL August 9, 2018 – Manufactured Housing Pilots under the Section 502 Programs Single Family Housing Direct and Guaranteed
UL July 5, 2018 – Implementation of the Revised Definition of Domestic Farm Laborer for Farm Labor Housing (FLH)
UL June 19, 2018 – Status of Single Family Housing Foreclosure Process Centralization
UL June 18, 2018 – Protective Advance – Recoverable Cost Procedures for Multi-Family Housing Loans
UL June 15, 2018 – Supervised Bank Accounts
UL May 18, 2018 – Dedicated Loan Origination System (DLOS) Annual Access Review
UL May 11, 2018 – Fiscal Year 2015 Management Control Review for Multi-Family Housing Section 515 Rural Rental Housing and Section 514/516 Off-Farm Labor Housing Loan Servicing
UL April 24, 2018 – Temporary Authorization for Fiscal Year 2018 Single Family Housing Direct Program
UL April 20, 2018 – 2015 Management Control Review for Multi-Family Housing Section 514 On-Farm Labor Housing Loan Servicing
UL April 20, 2018 – Credit Alert Verification Reporting System Confirmation Data in Multi-Family Housing Direct Loan Programs Application Processing
UL April 17, 2018 – Fiscal Year 2018 Allocation and Funding Guidance Single Family Housing Direct Loan and Grant Programs
UL April 13, 2018 – Availability of Section 515 Funds for Disaster Assistance to Projects Affected by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria
UL April 6, 2018 – Results of the 2017 Multi-Family Housing Annual Fair Housing Occupancy Report
UL March 30, 2018 – Non-Profit Asset Management Fee in Multi-Family Housing Properties
UL March 20, 2018 – Extensions and De-Obligations of Multi-Family Housing Section 533 Housing Preservation Grant Program Unliquidated Obligations
UL March 5, 2018 – Two-Tiered Income Limit Pilot Single Family Housing Programs
UL March 5, 2018 – Establishing the Fiscal Year 2018 Area Loan Limits for the Single Family Housing Direct Programs and the Continuation of the Pilot Program Using the Alternative Method
UL March 1, 2018 – Fiscal Year 2018 Site Manager and Maintenance Person of the Year Recognition Program
UL February 28, 2018 – Mixed Occupancy in the Farm Labor Housing Pilot Program
UL February 28, 2018 – Extensions and De-Obligations of Multi-Family Housing Section 515, Section 514, and Section 516 Unliquidated Obligations
UL February 27, 2018 – Hosting the U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Meals Program at Rural Development-Financed Housing Properties and Community Facilities
UL February 27, 2018 – Implementation of the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in the Community Facilities Loan and Grant Programs
UL January 24, 2018 – Multi-Family Housing Financial Reporting Requirements for Fiscal Year 2017
UL January 18, 2018 – Nationally Approved Online Homeownership Education Providers Section 502 Direct Loan Program

2017

2016

UL September 16, 2016 – March 1, 2017, Pilot Program to Promote Non-Profit Partcipation in Transactions to Retain the Section 515 Portfolio
UL
UL

Rural Voices: Building Capacity for Rural America

December 4, 2018/in Rural Voices Capacity Building

Affordable rural housing and stronger rural communities are a longterm endeavor. There are no quick fixes. But there is one constant magic elixir, and it is worthy of ongoing investment: capacity building. That is how local organizations learn skills, tap information, and gain the wherewithal to do what they know needs to be done.

This issue of Rural Voices magazine describes in more detail what it means to build the capacity of rural housing organizations, why it is important, who does it, how it is done, and how it is financed. These stories show that capacity building succeeds. They also show that capacity building is an ongoing process – when an organization masters one set of tasks, it can move on to tackle something different or more complex. Affordable housing development, like life, requires continual learning.

VIEW FROM WASHINGTON

Rural America Will Thrive
Representative Bennie G. Thompson

The Delta’s future depends on a sustained investment in local economies and residents’ well-being.

FEATURES

The U.S. Must Invest in Capacity Building for Affordable Rural Housing
by David Lipsetz

HAC works to empower local entities in rural regions and tribes so they may flourish.

Thinking Nationally, Building Locally
with Suzanne Anarde, Marietta Rodriguez, Terri Ludwig, and Sue Henderson

Rural Voices interviewed four national intermediaries to learn more about how they assist with capacity building needs unique to rural organizations.

Intermediary Support Continues to be Invaluable
by Fannie Brown

Central Mississippi Housing and Development Corporation benefits from intermediary partnerships.

Pillars of Capacity Building Help Improve Texas Colonias Housing
by Jose Alvarez

Building AYUDA’s capacity has empowered them to build the capacity of other local organizations.

A Communitywide Capacity Building Approach is Key

A West Virginia organization works with their community to find solutions to their housing issues.

Learn from Our Experience
by Randall Hrabe

Northwest Kansas Housing offers advice about building capacity.

Rural Voices would like to hear what you have to say about one, or all, of these issues. Please comment on these stories by sending a tweet to #RuralVoices, discuss on the Rural Affordable Housing Group on LinkedIn, or on our Facebook page.

HAC News: November 30, 2018

November 30, 2018/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

November 30, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 24

REP. MAXINE WATERS TO SPEAK AT 2018 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE • FY19 spending set to expire December 7 for part of U.S. government • Affordable Housing Program regulation changes finalized • RD offers energy efficiency loans to rural electric service providers for relending • Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees available • GAO recommends ways to improve tribal access to broadband • Rural statistic: rural bank deserts • USDA RD posts several guidance documents on multifamily properties • Coalition analyzes HUD intent to reduce public housing stock • Authority for environmental matters and single-family loan servicing transferred away from Rural Housing Service • Disaster recovery funding underused for vulnerable populations

HAC News Formats. pdf

November 30, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 24

REP. MAXINE WATERS TO SPEAK AT 2018 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE.
On-site registration will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, December 4 for the conference , to be held December 4-7 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. Other confirmed speakers include Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell , Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and HUD Secretary Ben Carson . The conference agenda is online.

FY19 spending set to expire December 7 for part of U.S. government.
USDA and HUD, along with a number of other federal departments and agencies, are still operating under a continuing resolution that ends December 7. Because of the ongoing dispute on spending for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, it is not yet clear whether Congress will approve appropriations, use a short-term continuing resolution to extend negotiations, or adopt a long-term CR to keep FY18 funding levels in place for the rest of FY19, which began October 1. President Trump could veto whatever Congress passes, leading to a partial government shutdown.

Affordable Housing Program regulation changes finalized.
Amendments to the program’s governing rule make numerous changes, including giving individual Federal Home Loan Banks additional authority to allocate their AHP funds and authorizing the Banks to establish separate competitive funds that target specific affordable housing needs in their districts. The changes will take effect gradually through January 1, 2021. For more information, contact Ted Wartell, FHFA, 202-649-3157.

RD offers energy efficiency loans to rural electric service providers for relending.
Rural Energy Savings Program loans are available to utility districts, local governments, nonprofits, and other entities that provide rural electric service. Recipients will reloan the funds to customers for energy efficiency improvements or to replace a manufactured housing unit with another, energy efficient manufactured home. Letters of intent are due September 30, 2019. For more information, contact Robert Coates, RUS, 202-260-5415.

Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees available.
The Rural Utilities Service will accept applications through September 30, 2019 from nonprofits, tribes and state or local governments for construction, improvement and acquisition of broadband facilities and equipment. Applications will be evaluated every 90 days. Loan guarantees will not be available in FY19. For more information, contact Shawn Arner, RUS, 202-720-0800.

GAO recommends ways to improve tribal access to broadband.
A 2018 Federal Communications Commission analysis estimated that 35% of Americans living on tribal lands lack broadband service, compared to 8% of Americans overall. FCC concluded that increased access to available radio frequency spectrum could expand broadband service on tribal lands. Tribal Broadband: FCC Should Undertake Efforts to Better Promote Tribal Access to Spectrum, a new Government Accountability Office report, recommends how the FCC could increase tribes’ ability to use available spectrum. For more information, contact Mark Goldstein, GAO, 202-512-2834.

Rural statistic: rural bank deserts.
An increasing number of rural areas lack any access to traditional depository institutions and their products. Approximately 274 counties – almost exclusively rural – have one or less bank branch or have only small-asset lender branches, limiting their ability to fully engage with resources such as the Community Reinvestment Act. For more information on rural banks and CRA, please visit HAC’s resource page on the Community Reinvestment Act in rural America.

USDA RD posts several guidance documents on multifamily properties.
Administrative Notice 4862 explains the process of obtaining professional resources for large portfolio deals and the use of the contract method for construction and/or renovation of new or existing multifamily properties. Allowable expenses that can be paid by project income in Section 514 and 515 rental properties are clarified in an Unnumbered Letter (Sept. 21, 2018). Changes to policies and procedures for supervised bank accounts of multifamily properties are explained in an Unnumbered Letter (Sept. 28, 2018). An Unnumbered Letter (Oct. 26, 2018) provides guidance in the development of rent incentive options to address high vacancies.

Coalition analyzes HUD intent to reduce public housing stock.
A November 13 letter from HUD to public housing agency directors promotes the “repositioning” of their units with “a goal to reposition 105,000 public housing units to a more sustainable platform by September 30, 2019.” The National Low Income Housing Coalition posted the letter and an analysis. Some units could be converted to vouchers through the Rental Assistance Demonstration and others demolished. HUD’s letter promises forthcoming guidance on two other options: voluntary conversions to vouchers and releasing the “declarations of trust” that give HUD a formal legal interest in public housing property.

Authority for environmental matters and single-family loan servicing transferred away from Rural Housing Service.
USDA has announced that some authority related to environmental laws has been transferred to the Rural Development Business Center from the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service and Rural Utilities Service. Authority to service RHS single-family loans is also moving to the RD Business Center. Anne Hazlett, Assistant to the Secretary for RD, has been given the power to transfer loan servicing for multifamily housing, community facilities, RUS and RBS to the RD Business Center in the future. For more information, contact Melissa McClellan, USDA, 202-720-5565.

Disaster recovery funding underused for vulnerable populations.
In a November 15 webinar the Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition explained how federal disaster assistance programs have failed to address the housing needs of disaster survivors, especially for low-income and minority populations. The coalition recommends congressional oversight hearings and legislation to ensure survivors get the housing disaster recovery assistance they need on a timely basis without racial disparities.

HAC News: November 9, 2018

November 9, 2018/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

November 11, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 23

EARLY BIRD RATE EXTENDED FOR 2018 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE, NEW SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED • House committee leadership will change under Democratic majority • Congress to return for lame-duck session • November is National Native American Heritage Month • National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is November 10-18 • HUD offers funds for public and private entities doing fair housing work. • Revisions proposed to Federal Home Loan Bank housing goals regulation • Labor Department proposes online ads for U.S. farmworkers • Online tool refined for rural mortgage eligibility • Creative placemaking webinar series announced • New HUD database lists fair housing organizations • Report describes use of state housing trust funds in rural areas • HUD report looks at who uses homebuyer education and housing counseling • New resource guide offered to help address rural opioid epidemic

HAC News Formats. pdf

November 11, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 23

EARLY BIRD RATE EXTENDED FOR 2018 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE, NEW SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED.
By popular demand, early bird registration rates have been extended! Register now for the conference, to be held December 4-7 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) are now confirmed as speakers, as is HUD Secretary Ben Carson.

House committee leadership will change under Democratic majority.
Control of House committees will shift to Democrats when the 116th Congress takes office in January. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) is expected to become Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over matters related to authorizing housing programs, including USDA’s rural housing programs. Important Appropriations Committee changes will be in the Agriculture and Transportation-HUD subcommittees, where Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Rep. David Price (D-NC), respectively, are currently the top Democratic members. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) is likely to Chair the House Agriculture Committee, with jurisdiction over the Farm Bill.

Congress to return for lame-duck session.
The 115th Congress will be back in session beginning November 13 and will need to finish appropriations for fiscal year 2019, which began October 1. USDA, HUD, and several other federal agencies are funded under a continuing resolution through December 7, so full-year funding or another short-term CR will be needed.

November is National Native American Heritage Month.
President Trump’s proclamation also recognizes November 23 as Native American Heritage Day.

National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is November 10-18.
Participating groups around the country will hold educational, service, fundraising and advocacy events during the week, sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness.

HUD offers funds for public and private entities doing fair housing work.
Fair Housing Initiatives Program grants are available from three programs, each with a December 19 application deadline: the Education and Outreach Initiative, the Fair Housing Organization Initiative, and the Private Enforcement Initiative. For more information, contact Myron Newry, HUD.

Revisions proposed to Federal Home Loan Bank housing goals regulation.
A proposed rule from the Federal Housing Finance Agency would replace four separate goals for single-family affordable housing with one, set a separate housing goal for small lenders, and make other changes. Comments are due January 31, 2019. For more information, contact Ted Wartell, FHFA, 202-649-3157.

Labor Department proposes online ads for U.S. farmworkers.
Before receiving permission to hire farmworkers from outside the U.S. with H-2A temporary visas, an employer must show it has attempted to recruit U.S. farmworkers. The Department of Labor is proposing to require employers to recruit through online advertisements instead of the newspaper ads that are currently required. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue described the change as “one way to modernize H-2A.” Comments are due December 10. For more information, contact William W. Thompson, II, DOL, 202-513-7350.

Online tool refined for rural mortgage eligibility.
USDA Rural Development’s website now allows potential borrowers to enter information online in order to make a preliminary determination of eligibility for the Section 502 direct mortgage program. Anyone can enter general household composition, monthly income, other debts and credit, estimated property taxes, hazard insurance and location, and receive a preliminary eligibility determination. Potential borrowers can submit applications for official USDA determinations regardless of their eligibility assessment results.

Creative placemaking webinar series announced.
The six monthly webinars will offer practical advice for meeting the challenges of collaborative creative placemaking work in all communities. The first webinar, on November 14, will feature a Native community leader, Julie Garreau, discussing her work with the Cheyenne River Youth Project in South Dakota. The series is offered by LISC, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Kresge Foundation.

New HUD database lists fair housing organizations.
HUD has launched a new database of fair housing organizations, providing contact information for organizations that receive HUD funding to help ensure fair housing opportunities around the U.S.

Report describes use of state housing trust funds in rural areas.
In State Housing Trust Funds: A Rural Housing Lifeline, the Center for Community Change explains how states are using housing trust funds to meet the unique needs of their rural communities. These funds are flexible in addressing a wide range of housing needs and are being used for homeownership, rental housing, and homeless prevention.

HUD report looks at who uses homebuyer education and housing counseling.
A study of low-, moderate- and middle-income prospective first-time homebuyers in 28 metro areas found that 55% of those who were offered one-on-one or remote counseling used it, and about one-third of them completed their curriculum. Who Participates in Homebuyer Education and Counseling Services and Why? reports that both initiation and completion rates were much lower for in-person services rather than remote services. Participation did not vary by race, ethnicity, age, marital status, or household size, but women and people with college educations were more likely to participate than others. Later research will consider the effectiveness of education and counseling, and whether in-person or remote services are more effective.

New resource guide offered to help address rural opioid epidemic.
USDA and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy have released a Rural Resource Guide to Help Communities Address Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Misuse, a listing of federal programs intended to serve as a one-stop-shop to support local groups attempting to address the opioid crisis. The Rural Resource Guide is the second tool announced in USDA’s opioid Community Toolbox. The first was a Community Assessment Tool, an interactive data map.

HAC offers Section 502 packaging training in December.
This three-day advanced course trains experienced participants to assist potential borrowers and work with RD staff, other nonprofits, and regional intermediaries to deliver successful Section 502 loan packages. The training will be held December 5-7 in Washington, DC (simultaneously with HAC’s conference). For more information, contact HAC staff , 404-892-4824.

HAC News: October 25, 2018

October 25, 2018/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

October 25, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 22

EARLY BIRD RATE ENDS OCTOBER 31 FOR 2018 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE• Comments on USDA income banding proposal due October 30, HAC posts draft response • Proposed regulations released for Opportunity Zones • HUD reports homelessness fell in cities over past ten years, increased in suburban and rural areas • Indian Community Development Block Grant funds available • Information from HAC’s Community Reinvestment Act webinar posted • USDA used all Section 502 direct funding in FY 2018, Section 504 fell short • Water infrastructure bill becomes law • Census data guide the targeting of over $30 billion in federal funds per year for rural areas • New poll shows rural optimism, mixed with concern for jobs and the opioid epidemic • Changes proposed for H-2A temporary farmworker visa forms • Economic growth is uneven within rural and urban places, not just between rural and urban, researcher notes •Framing the conversation helps build support for affordable housing • Interactive maps show who’s most impacted by Hurricane Florence • Almost one-quarter of housing tax credit units may lose affordability by 2030, says new report • Housing tax credit target area designations released

HAC News Formats. pdf

October 25, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 22

EARLY BIRD RATE ENDS OCTOBER 31 FOR 2018 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE.
Register now for the conference, to be held December 4-7 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. HUD Secretary Ben Carson is confirmed as one of the keynote speakers.

Comments on USDA income banding proposal due October 30, HAC posts draft response.
On August 31 USDA published a proposed rule for its single-family housing direct loan and grant programs that would adopt a two-tier income limit structure, revise the methodology to determine area loan limits and make other changes. The proposed change to the income limit structure is intended to minimize the observed disconnect between minimum wages and the low median income in many areas. The proposed change to the methodology is intended to streamline the process and improve the reliability of the data set used to establish the area loan limits. HAC agrees that these are desirable goals, but HAC’s draft comment letter expresses concern that the proposed solutions will divert limited program resources to applicants with much higher incomes. HAC strongly urges USDA to take positive steps to assure the program continues to serve those who are most in need.

Proposed regulations released for Opportunity Zones.
The IRS’s proposed regulations and other guidance were released on October 19, explaining how individuals, corporations and others can delay or eliminate capital gains taxes by investing in Qualified Opportunity Funds that undertake development in designated Opportunity Zones. Comments will be due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, which has not yet been scheduled. The IRS will hold a public hearing on the proposal on January 10, 2019. For more information, contact Erika C. Reigle, IRS, 202-317-7006.

HUD reports homelessness fell in cities over past ten years, increased in suburban and rural areas.
The first part of HUD’s 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, released in December, focused on people who were homeless on a single night in January 2017. The just-released second part presents nationwide data on those who were homeless at any time during fiscal year 2017. It includes figures for rural (nonmetropolitan) areas, usually combining them with numbers for suburbs. From 2007 to 2017, the share of people experiencing homelessness decreased in principal cities from 76.9% to 72.5% and increased in suburban and rural areas from 23.1% to 27.5%, while the shares of population and poverty population did not change.

Indian Community Development Block Grant funds available.
Tribal governments and tribal organizations can apply by January 7, 2019 for HUD ICDBG grants to provide housing, living environments, or economic opportunities primarily for low- and moderate-income people. For more information, contact HUD staff.

Information from HAC’s Community Reinvestment Act webinar posted.
A recording and slides from HAC’s October 24 webinar on “Proposed Changes to CRA – What Does it Mean for Rural America?” is posted online. Comments on the proposed CRA changes are due to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency by November 19.

USDA used all Section 502 direct funding in FY 2018, Section 504 fell short.
USDA obligated about $1.1 billion for 7,199 Section 502 direct loans, up from $999.99 million (7,187 loans) last year. Obligations to very low-income borrowers accounted for 33% of that total, less than last year’s 38%. Only 71% of the $28 million available for Section 504 homeowner repair loans was used, along with 94% of the $30 million for Section 504 grants; there were 206 fewer loans than in FY17 and 178 fewer grants. On the multifamily side, USDA obligated the entire $1.35 billion available for 268,514 Section 521 Rental Assistance units. Last year, it funded 302,451 units ($1.37 billion). There were also 6,353 rural housing vouchers totaling $26.7 million in FY18, compared to last year’s 5,609 vouchers representing $22.0 million. More information is provided in HAC’s obligation report, and a more detailed HAC report on FY18 performance is forthcoming.

Water infrastructure bill becomes law.
On October 23, President Trump signed into law the bipartisan Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. Intended to provide safe drinking water for communities across the country, the act includes new programs with specific priorities benefiting rural Americans.

Census data guide the targeting of over $30 billion in federal funds per year for rural areas.
The annual total for all 320 census-guided federal assistance programs – including those that are not specifically rural – was $850 billion in FY16, according to George Washington University’s Institute of Public Policy, which presented findings and other details to the Congressional Rural Caucus on October 11. For more information, contact Prof. Andrew Reamer, GWU, 202-994-7866.

New poll shows rural optimism, mixed with concern for jobs and the opioid epidemic.
According to a new poll from National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, rural Americans are largely concerned about opioids and economic conditions in their communities, but are optimistic overall. Eight in 10 said they feel their lives are turning out either as expected, or better. Nationally 25% of rural residents cited drug addiction/abuse as the biggest problem facing their community, compared to 21% who cited economic concerns.

Changes proposed for H-2A temporary farmworker visa forms.
The Department of Labor has suggested revisions to the forms and information employers submit to DOL for its determination whether U.S. farmworkers are available and whether conditions for U.S. workers would be affected by hiring workers from other countries through the temporary H-2A visa program. Comments are due in mid-December. For more information, contact William W. Thompson II, DOL, 202-513-7350.

Economic growth is uneven within rural and urban places, not just between rural and urban, researcher notes.
Rural America is not a monolithic entity mired in economic depression while urban/suburban areas are thriving, writes scholar Richard Florida in the first of a series of articles for CityLab. Other pieces in the series cover jobs, economic mobility, and wages, with future items on the urban-rural divide expected to cover population growth, college grads, and the knowledge-based creative class.

Framing the conversation helps build support for affordable housing.
Finding a Frame for Affordable Housing, by the FrameWorks Institute and Enterprise Community Partners, presents research findings and a companion piece, Piecing it Together: A Framing Playbook for Affordable Housing Advocates, illustrates ways for advocates to use these techniques in their communications. The authors recommend describing housing and development issues in terms of fairness.

Interactive maps show who’s most impacted by Hurricane Florence.
Maps for North and South Carolina, posted along with information about the need for civil legal aid after disasters, show where vulnerable groups such as children, people with disabilities, farmworkers and more live in the storm-affected parts of the states.

Almost one-quarter of housing tax credit units may lose affordability by 2030, says new report.
Balancing Priorities: Preservation and Neighborhood Opportunity in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program Beyond Year 30, published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation, reports that the Low Income Housing Tax Credit has financed about 3 million affordable rental housing units nationwide. Federal law requires most of them to remain affordable for at least 30 years, with some states extending the affordability period beyond that. Eleven percent of these properties, and 5.6% of the units, also have loans from USDA’s Section 515 program. Nationwide, almost 500,000 LIHTC units will reach the 30-year mark by 2030. Around the same time, unless preventive action is taken, rural places will also experience significant annual loss of Section 515 properties, as detailed in HAC’s recent report, Rental Housing for a 21st Century Rural America: A Platform for Preservation.

Housing tax credit target area designations released.
HUD has published its annual designations of Difficult Development Areas and Qualified Census Tracts for purposes of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. For more information, contact Michael K. Hollar , HUD, 202-402-5878.

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).

USDA Rural Development Obligations FY 18 – September

October 16, 2018/in RD Recent Obligations, USDA Information and Data Rental Housing, Rental Housing Development and Preservation, U.S. Department of Agriculture

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE REPORT (THROUGH SEPTEMBER FY 2018)

The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) presents this month’s report on Fiscal Year 2018 USDA Rural Housing program obligations.

As of the end of September, USDA obligated 131,485 loans, loan guarantees, and grants totaling about $18.4 billion. This is about $2.2 million less than obligation levels from the same time last year when there were 149,860 loans, loan guarantees, and grants obligated totaling about $20.7 billion.

Single Family Housing Program Highlights

The Section 502 Guaranteed loan program, the largest of the Single Family Housing programs, obligated $16.8 billion (115,864 loan guarantees) down from $19.3 billion (134,071) at the same time last year.

For the Section 502 Direct program, there have been about $1.1 billion (7,199 loans), up from $999.99 million (7,187 loans) in loan obligations this time last year. Very low-income (VLI) loan obligations as a percentage of the total Section 502 Direct loan dollars was 32.8 percent, down from 38.1 percent this time last year.

The Section 504 Repair and Rehabilitation programs obligated 3,225 loans representing $19.8 million. There were fewer loans than this time last year (3,431 loans) but more dollars obligated ($19.6 million.) There were also $28.2 million (4,585 grants) obligated in the Section 504 grant program compared to $28.9 million (4,763 grants) at the same time last year.

USDA’s Section 523 Self Help Housing Grant program funded 45 grants and contracts totaling $34.8 million less than this time last year at this time when funding totaled $36.6 million.

USDA has also funded 14 credit sales representing $1,591,104.

Multifamily Housing Program Highlights

USDA’s Section 538 Multifamily Housing obligated 132 loan guarantees totaling $185.7 million, up from 106 loan guarantees ($177.0 million.) In the Section 515 Rural Rental Housing program, there were 35 loans totaling $42.6 million obligated compared to 31 loans totaling $35.0 million this time last year. There were also 186 MPR loans and 2 grants totaling $116.0 million and $251,260 respectively, compared to 33 loans ($26.8 million) and 3 grants ($102,561) this time last year.

USDA obligated funds for 268,514 rental assistance units under the Section 521 Rental Assistance program totaling $1.35 billion. This compares to about 302,451 units ($1.37 billion) obligated same time last year. There were also 6,353 Rural Housing Vouchers totaling $26.7 million compared to 5,609 vouchers representing $22.0 million this time last year.

In the Farm Labor Housing programs, 19 loans and 12 grants have been funded totaling $35.5 million and $17.2 million, respectively. Last year, there were 21 loans and 6 grants funded representing $34.9 million and $8.2 million.

There were also 143 Section 533 Housing Preservation grants totaling $10.8 million compared to 107 grants last year totaling $4.9 million.

Download the combined document.

* The Rural Housing Service (RHS) monthly obligation reports are produced by the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) 1025 Vermont Ave., NW, Suite 606, Washington, DC 20005. The monthly figures derive from HAC tabulations of USDA –RHS 205c, d, and f report data. For questions or comments about the obligation reports, please contact Michael Feinberg at 202-842-8600 or michael@ruralhome.org.

HAC News: October 12, 2018

October 12, 2018/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

October 12, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 21

HUD SECRETARY TO SPEAK AT THE 2018 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE • USDA will reallocate rental assistance that was held in reserve • New report on rural rental housing production released • HAC updates disaster guide and issues supplement for recent hurricanes • Public charge proposal would limit admission to U.S. for immigrants who have used assistance or may need it in the future • AmeriCorps grant competition open • Fannie Mae offers funds for innovative health and housing ideas • Data map shows social mobility for every census tract • USDA launches interactive data tool to help address opioid epidemic • Bi-partisan opioid response bill to become law • USDA moves to modernize homeownership programs’ field staff functions as staffing levels decline • Public input sought for modifications to Fannie Mae’s Duty to Serve plan • Research indicates rural families benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credit • USDA manufactured housing pilots expanding further • HAC webinar to cover proposed changes to Community Reinvestment Act

HAC News Formats. pdf

October 12, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 21

HUD SECRETARY TO SPEAK AT THE 2018 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE.
Register now for the conference, to be held December 4-7 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. HUD Secretary Ben Carson is confirmed as one of the keynote speakers.

USDA will reallocate rental assistance that was held in reserve.
Over 2,900 units of Section 521 Rental Assistance, which had been used in properties that left USDA’s portfolio during FY 2017 and 2018 and have been held in the Rural Housing Service Administrator’s reserve, are now being reallocated to the states where they were formerly used. USDA’s Unnumbered Letter (dated September 19, 2018) lists the number of units for each state. These units cannot be used as incentives for owners who want to prepay their USDA mortgages. For more information, contact a USDA RD State Office.

New report on rural rental housing production released.
HAC, in conjunction with the Urban Institute, published Rental Housing for a 21st Century Rural America: A Platform for Production. The report analyzes the demand for new affordable rental housing in rural places and suggests ways to increase funding and capacity to deliver new units. It acts as a companion piece to HAC’s Rental Housing for a 21st Century Rural America: A Platform for Preservation.

HAC updates disaster guide and issues supplement for recent hurricanes.
The full disaster guide provides updated contact lists and information on relevant organizations to contact after a disaster including FEMA, HUD and USDA, while a Florence-specific supplement provides more detailed information on short- and long-term resources to residents and communities affected by Florence in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia and a supplement for Hurricane Michael covers Florida and other states. A recent GAO blog post and report explain how decisions about disaster declarations and individual assistance are made, along with recommendations.

Public charge proposal would limit admission to U.S. for immigrants who have used assistance or may need it in the future.
The Department of Homeland Security proposes to revise the standards used to determine whether noncitizens may become “public charges” who need government assistance and to require them “to demonstrate that they have not received, are not currently receiving, nor are likely to receive, public benefits.” Housing Choice Vouchers, project-based Section 8 and public housing are specifically mentioned. The changes would apply to those who are in the U.S. and want to adjust their status (for example, to obtain a green card), as well as to those wanting to enter the U.S. as nonimmigrants or immigrants. Comments are due December 10. For more information, contact Mark Phillips, DHS, 202-272-8377.

AmeriCorps grant competition open.
Nonprofits, tribes, local and state governments and institutions of higher education can compete for grants that will be used to engage AmeriCorps community service members. FY19 funding priorities are economic opportunity, education, prescription drug and opioid abuse, veterans and military families, rural intermediaries, public safety and faith-based organizations. Deadlines vary by state. For more information, contact Corporation for National and Community Service staff.

Fannie Mae offers funds for innovative health and housing ideas.
Applications are due November 1 for a new round of Fannie Mae’s Innovation Challenge, seeking innovative technologies, policies, practices and/or programs at the intersection of affordable housing and health and wellness. Public, private and nonprofit organizations, as well as individuals and teams, are eligible, with cross-sector teams encouraged.

Data map shows social mobility for every census tract.
A Harvard University team worked with the Census Bureau and Brown University to create a new tool, the Opportunity Atlas. Using data from Census and IRS, it shows average outcomes in adulthood of people who grew up in each census tract, including data on income, graduation, incarceration, and employment rates. It is the first dataset that provides such longitudinal information at a detailed neighborhood level.

USDA launches interactive data tool to help address opioid epidemic.
USDA Assistance Secretary Anne Hazlett has announced the creation of an opioid misuse Community Assessment Tool. It combines substance misuse data with socioeconomic, census and other public information to provide community leaders and policymakers with a more complete understanding of how to address the opioid epidemic on a local level. This tool was launched following President Trump’s declaration of October as National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.

Bi-partisan opioid response bill to become law.
Passed overwhelmingly by the Senate on October 3 and the House on September 28, H.R. 6 addresses the opioid crisis, which has hit hard in rural areas. Among the legislation’s many provisions are amendments to Medicare regulations and authorization of federal funding, to be distributed through states, to provide temporary housing for people in recovery. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.

USDA moves to modernize homeownership programs’ field staff functions as staffing levels decline.
Recognizing that RD’s overall staffing has been declining, an Unnumbered Letter (August 31, 2018) explains agency plans to standardize state staffing for the single-family housing programs. The letter also says that, because vacant positions cannot be filled, “core SFH functions in some states will be impacted, in some cases severely,” and promises more information about that impact soon. For more information, contact an RD State Office.

Public input sought for modifications to Fannie Mae’s Duty to Serve plan.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency asks for comments on four of 22 requests from Fannie Mae (none from Freddie Mac) tomodify its Underserved Markets Plan under the Duty to Serve program. The proposed changes relate to distressed properties, manufactured housing chattel loans, rural LIHTC properties and small financial institutions in rural areas. Comments are due November 2. For more information, contact FHFA staff.

Research indicates rural families benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credit.
A new research brief from the Carsey School of Public Policy highlights the Earned Income Tax Credit’s impact on families with children. EITC Continues to Reach Families in Poor Places shows that the share of people who file for the EITC who are also families with children is especially high in the poorest counties, many of which are nonmetropolitan. The researchers argue this data suggests that EITC can provide additional support for families in places where other services may not be readily available or accessible.

USDA manufactured housing pilots expanding further.
One pilot allows the Section 502 direct and guarantee programs to finance existing manufactured homes that are not already financed by USDA. The second reduces the required land lease term for energy-efficient homes in nonprofit communities. RD State Directors can ask for their states to be added to either pilot. For more information, contact an RD State Office.

HAC webinar to cover proposed changes to Community Reinvestment Act.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency recently issued a call for input on a proposed new framework to transform and modernize its Community Reinvestment Act rules. Join HAC on October 24 at 2:00 pm Eastern for an overview of the proposed changes and a discussion on how rural communities can weigh in. Registration is free.

HAC offers Section 502 packaging training courses in Nebraska and DC.
This three-day advanced course trains experienced participants to assist potential borrowers and work with RD staff, other nonprofits, and regional intermediaries to deliver successful Section 502 loan packages. The training will be held October 30-November 1 in Lincoln, NE and again December 5-7 in Washington, DC (simultaneously with HAC’s conference). For more information, contact HAC staff, 404-892-4824.

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).

Rental Housing for a 21st Century Rural America: A Platform for Production

October 2, 2018/in Rental Housing Preservation

In their new report, Rental Housing for a 21st Century Rural America: A Platform for Production, The Urban Institute examines the issue of maturing mortgages in USDA’s Section 515 rental housing portfolio. This report is a companion piece to HAC’s Platform for Preservation report, the report analyzes the demand for new affordable rental housing in rural places and suggests ways to increase funding and capacity to deliver new units.

HAC News: September 28, 2018

September 28, 2018/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

September 28, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 20

HAC publishes rental housing preservation study • Housing programs funded to December 7 • Farm Bill may expire September 30 • Legislation would increase affordable housing, including rural and tribal housing • USDA extends some deadlines for rental preservation funding • Researchers look at connection between housing and health • Homeland Security to propose rule limiting admission to U.S. for noncitizens expected to use benefits • Rural Voices reviews “What Broadband Means for Rural America” • USDA offers new web resource for mortgage packagers and intermediaries • CFPB requests comments on data collection • September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month

HAC News Formats. pdf

September 28, 2018
Vol. 47, No. 20

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2018 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE!
The conference will be held December 4-7 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.

HAC publishes rental housing preservation study.
Rental Housing for a 21st Century Rural America: A Platform for Preservation presents HAC’s comprehensive assessment of USDA’s multifamily housing investments. This multifaceted review considers not only the property characteristics, but also the tenant and market dynamics in which these properties exist. The ultimate goal of this project is to inform strategies that help preserve this integral housing resource for rural communities and residents. For more information, contact Lance George, HAC.

Housing programs funded to December 7.
Senate and House negotiators have not yet agreed on some non-housing aspects of the “minibus” bill that combines the USDA and Transportation-HUD appropriations measures with Interior-Environment and Financial Services. As a result, those departments will be funded through December 7 by a continuing resolution included in the appropriations bill for the Labor-HHS-Education and Defense departments.

Farm Bill may expire September 30.
The House and Senate have not yet worked out their differences on H.R. 2, the 2014 Farm Bill expiring September 30. Negotiations will continue, with or without a short-term reauthorization measure. Without one, Farm Bill programs such as SNAP (Food Stamps) and crop insurance can continue so long as they are funded in appropriations measures, but a number of smaller programs cannot. USDA’s rural housing programs are not impacted because they are not generally covered in Farm Bills. The 2014 Farm Bill did allow growing places to remain eligible for the rural housing programs until their populations reach 35,000; that provision made a permanent change in the statutory definition and does not expire if the Farm Bill expires.

Legislation would increase affordable housing, including rural and tribal housing.
The American Housing and Economic Mobility Act, introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on September 26, would add funding to several existing housing programs. It would provide FY 2019 funding of $140 million for direct Section 502 loans, $28 million for Section 514 loans and $100 million for Section 516 grants, $180 million for Section 515 loans, $75 million for the Section 523 self-help program, and $2.5 billion for Indian Housing Block Grants, as well as $45 billion annually for ten years for the national Housing Trust Fund. Among its other provisions, the bill would also expand the Fair Housing Act to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, and source of income; strengthen the Community Reinvestment Act; incentivize local governments to remove regulatory and zoning barriers that impact the private sector’s ability to develop rental housing for middle-income people; and create some new housing assistance efforts. The bill’s costs would be covered by reforms to the federal estate tax.

USDA extends some deadlines for rental preservation funding.
A funding notice for USDA’s Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization (MPR) program was published September 5, 2017, establishing deadlines in 2017 and 2018. A new notice extends them into 2019. It also makes the payment deferral-only option available to all owners, not just those with USDA mortgages maturing by 2023. For more information, contact Dean Greenwalt, USDA, 314-457-5933.

Researchers look at connection between housing and health.
Articles in the latest issue of HUD’s Cityscape periodical examine the health impact of interventions targeting specific aspects of housing, state and local efforts to bridge the divide between health and housing, and new evidence on the link.

Homeland Security to propose rule limiting admission to U.S. for noncitizens expected to use benefits.
The “public charge” rule has not yet been officially published in the Federal Register. When it is, the Department of Homeland Security announced, the public will have 60 days to submit comments.

Rural Voices reviews “What Broadband Means for Rural America.”
A new issue of HAC’s Rural Voices magazine explores how local rural housing organizations and local governments can help bring broadband to rural America, increasing the potential for innovation, educational opportunity, and economic growth.

USDA offers new web resource for mortgage packagers and intermediaries.
The new page includes resources for packaging Section 502 direct applications, handouts from past packaging trainings, information on upcoming training sessions, and USDA’s Loan Packaging Express newsletter.

CFPB requests comments on data collection.
A new report, Sources and Uses of Data at the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, describes the CFPB’s data governance program as well as what data it collects, where the data come from, and how data are used and reused. The CFPB requests input on several subjects including the overall effectiveness and efficiency of its data collections, suggestions for change, ways to reduce reporting burden and ways to make data collections from financial institutions more effective and efficient. Comments are due in late December.

September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month.

NEW! HAC offers Section 502 packaging training courses in Nebraska and DC.
This three-day advanced course trains experienced participants to assist potential borrowers and work with RD staff, other nonprofits, and regional intermediaries to deliver successful Section 502 loan packages. The training will be held October 30-November 1 in Lincoln, NE and again December 5-7 in Washington, DC (simultaneously with HAC’s conference). For more information, contact HAC staff, 404-892-4824.

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: December 14, 2018

USDA RD's Unnumbered Letters – Archive

Rural Voices: Building Capacity for Rural America

VIEW FROM WASHINGTON

FEATURES

HAC News: November 30, 2018

HAC News: November 9, 2018

HAC News: October 25, 2018

USDA Rural Development Obligations FY 18 – September

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE REPORT (THROUGH SEPTEMBER FY 2018)

HAC News: October 12, 2018

Rental Housing for a 21st Century Rural America: A Platform for Production

HAC News: September 28, 2018

GET THE HAC NEWS!

50 Years for Rural America