Information Products Archives

HAC News: February 3, 2016

February 3, 2016/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

February 3, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 2

• February is National African American History Month • House approves bill with new fee for Section 502 guaranteed loans • Farmworker housing loans and grants available • Deadline extended for Section 533 HPG • HUD offers elderly supportive services demo • Capital Magnet Fund competition opens • FEMA considers disaster deductible from state and tribal governments • Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grants program implemented • HUD requests input on over-income tenants • Nearly half of American households live paycheck to paycheck, report says • Investing in housing can save on health care • Save the date for the HAC’s third annual symposium on veterans • “Duty to Serve and What it Means for Rural America” HAC webinar planned

HAC News Formats. pdf

February 3, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 2

February is National African American History Month.

House approves bill with new fee for Section 502 guaranteed loans. On February 2 the House of Repre-sentatives unanimously passed H.R. 3700, the Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act of 2015 (see HAC News, 12/16/15). The bill as passed included an amendment, offered by Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), that adds a fee of up to $50 to each Section 502 guarantee, to be used to enhance RD’s single-family IT and automated underwriting. The bill has not yet been considered in the Senate.

Farmworker housing loans and grants available. Preapplications are due April 12 for off-farm Section 514/ 516 funds for the construction of new off-farm FLH units and related facilities or the purchase and substantial rehabili-tation of existing non-FLH properties. Extra points will be given to projects based in or serving census tracts with poverty rates greater than or equal to 20% over the last 30 years. Request application packages from USDA RD state offices. Contact Mirna Reyes-Bible, RD, 202-720-1753.

Deadline extended for Section 533 HPG. Applications are now due March 15 rather than February 12 (see HAC News, 1/13/16). Contact a USDA RD State Office or Jeaneane Shelton, USDA, 202-720-5443.

HUD offers elderly supportive services demo. Owners of existing elderly-only HUD-assisted multifamily housing with at least 50 units, including Section 515 properties with Section 8, can apply for the Supportive Services Demonstration for Elderly Households by April 18. Contact HUD staff, mfsc@hud.gov.

Capital Magnet Fund competition opens. CDFIs and housing nonprofits are eligible for grants to provide loan loss reserves, capitalize loan funds, make risk-sharing loans, or provide loan guarantees for affordable housing or economic development. Deadline is March 30. Contact CDFI Fund staff, 202-653-0421.

FEMA considers disaster deductible from state and tribal governments. Comments are due March 21 on a proposal to require financial or other commitment from a state, tribal, or territorial government before FEMA will provide disaster assistance. For example, FEMA’s notice says recipients could potentially receive credit toward their deductible requirement through adopting enhanced building codes, or establishing and maintaining a disaster relief fund or self-insurance plan. Contact Jotham Allen, FEMA, 202-646-1957.

Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grants program implemented. Send comments to USDA by March 14 on the final rule for a new program created by the 2014 Farm Bill. State and local governments, tribes, and nonprofits are eligible for grants to prepare reports and surveys necessary to request financial assistance to develop community facilities, or to provide an array of technical assistance services to others. Contact Nathan Chitwood, RD, 573-876-0965.

HUD requests input on over-income tenants. HUD is considering requiring PHAs to evict over-income public housing residents in some circumstances, following an inspector general’s report saying more than 25,000 families are over income (see HAC News, 8/5/15). Comments will be due 30 days after the request is published in the Federal Register on February 3. Contact Todd Thomas, HUD, 678-732-2056.

Nearly half of American households live paycheck to paycheck, report says. CFED’s annual Assets & Opportunity Scorecard also reports more than half of the nation’s credit users lack the credit scores needed (720+) to borrow money at prime rates. The 2016 Scorecard disaggregates the data for 18 of its 61 outcome measures by race, revealing that, for example, while unemployment rates have dropped nationally, workers of color are still nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as white workers. The report’s interactive website shows data for states and counties.

Investing in housing can save on health care. A research review by the National Housing Conference summarizes and evaluates recent research on the effectiveness of housing interventions to result in health care cost savings. A number of studies that have demonstrated that providing permanent supportive housing to homeless individuals can result in significant savings on public health care expenditures, usually more than enough to offset the cost of providing housing and services.

Save the date for the HAC’s third annual symposium on veterans. This year’s theme is the housing, health, services, and other needs faced by the rapidly expanding population of older veterans. To be held on May 18 in Washington DC, the symposium will showcase model programs that are providing vital assistance to these veterans. Contact Janice Clark, 202-842-8600, or Shonterria Charleston, HAC, 404-892-4824.

“Duty to Serve and What it Means for Rural America” HAC webinar planned. The session, to be held February 18 at 2:00 pm EST, will cover the proposed rule implementing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s “Duty to Serve” (see HAC News, 12/16/15), focusing on the rural housing component of the rule, and is intended to help inform comments. To register click here or contact Lance George, HAC.

HAC News: January 13, 2016

January 13, 2016/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

January 13, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 1

• Next federal funding cycle begins in February • USDA offers Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants • Funding notice revised for HOPWA Project Demonstration and Violence Against Women Act Grants • Transitional housing funds for domestic violence victims offered by Department of Justice • CDFI Bond Guarantee Program opens FY16 funding round • VA will fund housing assistive technology development • HUD releases fair housing Assessment Tool • Promise Zones competition opens • USDA extends temporary authorizations to help spend Section 502 direct funds in FY16 • USDA RD offers guidance on Section 504 and Section 538 • Most veterans in demonstration program avoided homelessness, report says • HAC offers trainings on 502 packaging and financial management

HAC News Formats. pdf

January 13, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 1

Next federal funding cycle begins in February. The Administration’s budget request for fiscal year 2017 will be released February 9. The budget deal reached in October (see HAC News, 10/28/15) requires federal discretionary spending, including housing, to remain essentially the same as in FY16.

USDA offers Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants. Public agencies, nonprofits, tribes, and consortia are eligible to apply by February 12 for these funds, which are then used to fund repairs and rehab for low- and very low-income homeowners or owners of rental property or coops who agree to make their units available to low- and very low-income persons. Contact a USDA RD State Office or Jeaneane Shelton, USDA, 202-720-5443.

Funding notice revised for HOPWA Project Demonstration and Violence Against Women Act Grants. States, local governments, and nonprofits can apply by March 8 to receive both a Housing Opportunities for Persons Living With AIDS grant for housing, and a Transitional Housing Assistance Program grant for supportive services. HUD encourages potential applicants to register for the HOPWA mailing list to receive details about a January 22 webcast. Contact Amy Palilonis, HUD, 202-402-5916.

Transitional housing funds for domestic violence victims offered by Department of Justice. Nonprofits, local and state governments, PHAs, and tribal entities are eligible for grants to provide transitional housing, short-term housing assistance, and related support services for survivors. Apply by February 24. Contact DOJ staff, 202-307-6026.

CDFI Bond Guarantee Program opens FY16 funding round. CDFIs can apply by March 4 to become Qualified Issuers of bonds, or can apply by March 18 for credit through the Bond Guarantee Program, which finances community and economic development, including housing. Contact CDFI Fund staff, 202-653-0421, option 5.

VA will fund housing assistive technology development. To encourage development of new technologies such as voice commands, VA offers grants of up to $200,000. Individuals, for-profits, nonprofits, and others can apply by February 29. Contact Robert Mims, VA, 202-632-8816.

HUD releases fair housing Assessment Tool. This tool, along with other resources, is for local jurisdictions that are required to conduct and submit Assessments of Fair Housing. HUD will issue separate Assessment Tools for use by states – which administer programs including HOME and CDBG for many rural areas – as well as for insular areas and for PHAs collaborating with other PHAs. Contact George D. Williams, Sr., HUD, 1-866-234-2689 (toll-free).

Promise Zones competition opens. HUD intends to designate five urban Promise Zones and USDA intends to designate one rural and one tribal community. Eligible lead applicants for rural and tribal PZ designations are local governments; federally recognized tribes; and nonprofits, housing authorities, tribally designated housing entities, local education agencies, or community colleges partnering with local or tribal government. The deadline is February 23. Contact Bryan Herdliska, HUD, 202-402-6758.

USDA extends temporary authorizations to help spend Section 502 direct funds in FY16. An Unnumbered Letter dated January 4, 2016 permits obligations subject to appraisals, removes some restrictions on use of 502 direct loans to refinance non-USDA loans, and allows new rates and terms assumptions to be processed as initial loans. The provisions are effective until September 30, 2016. Contact a USDA RD office.

USDA RD offers guidance on Section 504 and Section 538. Separate Administrative Notices address management control review findings for Section 504 repair loans (AN 4793) and Section 538 multifamily loan guarantees (AN 4792). Contact William Downs, USDA, 202-720-1499.

Most veterans in demonstration program avoided homelessness, report says. The Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration was conducted by the Departments of Labor, HUD, and VA at five urban sites. At program entry, 74% of the participating veteran households were at risk of homelessness, and about 26% were homeless. They received financial assistance and case management for periods from 39 to 146 days; 10.5% reported experiencing homelessness during the six months after exiting the program. Employment levels and incomes increased. It is not clear how much of the improvement would have occurred even without this program.

HAC offers trainings on 502 packaging and financial management. Section 502 Packaging Training for Non-profit Developers, for those with affordable mortgage experience, will be March 8-10. Advanced Financial Management Training for Rural Nonprofits will be March 8-9. Both are in North Charleston, SC. They are concurrent; register for only one. Advance registration is required. Contact Shonterria Charleston, HAC, 404-892-4824.

HAC News: December 16, 2015

December 16, 2015/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

December 16, 2015
Vol. 44, No. 25

• FY16 funding bill increases Rental Assistance and HOME • Tax extenders bill would make 9% LIHTC and EITC permanent • Highway law includes HUD housing provisions • House committee approves housing bill • FHFA proposes new duty to serve rule for Fannie and Freddie • HUD final rule defines chronic homelessness • FY16 Fair Market Rents set • Comments on manufactured home code requested • Rental housing study finds growing demand • KEEP YOUR HAC NEWS COMING – BY EMAIL!

HAC News Formats. pdf

December 16, 2015
Vol. 44, No. 25

FY16 funding bill increases Rental Assistance and HOME. The omnibus appropriations bill, which is expected to become law, raises some of USDA’s rental housing programs above the levels previously considered by House and Senate committees. Increases were possible because the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act raised the spending cap for FY16 (see HAC News, 10/28/15); caps will be lower for FY17. Section 521 Rental Assistance, which did not have enough funding in FY15 (see HAC News 11/11/15), gets almost $1.39 billion, $75 million of which is set aside for renewing RA contracts that use up their funds before the end of their 12-month contract periods. USDA is required to provide quarterly reports on Rental Assistance use. Section 542 vouchers – for tenants in properties whose Section 515 loans have been prepaid – are allocated $15 million. The MPR rental preservation program receives $22 million. [tdborder][/tdborder]

USDA Rural Dev. Prog. (dollars in millions)	FY14 Approp.	FY15 Approp.	FY16 Budget Proposal	FY16 House Cmte. Bill (H.R. 3049)	FY16 Senate Cmte. Bill (S. 1800)	FY16 Omnibus Approps. Bill
502 Single Fam. Direct Self-Help setaside	$900 5	$900 5	$900 0	$900 5	$900 5	$900 5
502 Single Family Guar.	24,000	24,000	24,000	24,000	24,000	24,000
504 VLI Repair Loans	26.3	26.3	26.3	26.3	26.3	26.3
504 VLI Repair Grants	28.7	28.7	26	28.7	28.7	28.7
515 Rental Hsg. Direct Lns.	28.4	28.4	42.3	28.4	28.4	28.4
514 Farm Labor Hsg. Lns.	23.9	23.6	23.9	23.9	23.6	23.9
516 Farm Labor Hsg. Grts.	8.3	8.3	8.3	8.3	8.3	8.3
521 Rental Assistance	1,110	1,089	1,172	1,167	1,167	1,390
523 Self-Help TA	25	27.5	10	27.5	27.5	27.5
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants	3.5	3.5	0	3.5	3.5	3.5
538 Rental Hsg. Guar.	150	150	200	150	200	150
Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR)	20	17	19	17	17	22
542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers	12.6	7	15	7	7	15
Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init.	6	4	4	4	4	4

Despite previously proposed cuts in the House and Senate funding bills, the omnibus raises HOME program funding above its FY15 level to $950 million. CDBG remains at $3 billion, and SHOP continues at $10 million.

HUD Program (dollars in millions)	FY14 Approp.	FY15 Approp.	FY16 Budget Proposal	FY16 House Bill H.R. 2577	FY16 Sen. Apps. Cmte. Bill (H.R. 2577)	FY16 Omnibus Approps. Bill
Cmty. Devel. Fund CDBG	3,100 3,030	3,066 3,000	2,880 2,800	3,060 3,000	2,900 2,900	3,060 3,000
HOME	1,000	900	1,060	767	66	950
Self-Help Homeownshp. (SHOP)	10	10	10^a	10	10	10
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance VASH setaside	19,177.2 75	19,304 75	21,123 b	19,919 –	19,934 75	19,628 60
Project-Based Rental Asstnce.	9,516.6	9,330	10,360	10,254	10,426	10,622
Public Hsg. Capital Fund	1,875	1,875	1,970	1,681	1,743	1,900
Public Hsg. Operating Fund	4,400	4,440	4,600	4,440	4,500	4,500
Choice Neighbrhd. Initiative	90	80	250	20	65	125
Native Amer. Hsg. Block Grant	650	650	660	650	650	650
Homeless Assistance Grants^c	2,105	2,135	2,480	2,185	2,235	2,250
Hsg. Opps. for Persons w/ AIDS	330	330	332	332	330	335
202 Hsg. for Elderly	385.3	436	455	416.5	420	432.7
811 Hsg. for Disabled	126	135	177	152	137	150.6
Fair Housing	66	65.3	71	65.3	69.5	65.3
Healthy Homes & Lead Haz. Cntl.	110	110	120	75	110	110
Housing Counseling	45	47	60	47	47	47
Local Housing Policy Grants	–	–	300	–	–	–
a. The FY16 Administration budget, like past budget requests, would have made SHOP a setaside in HOME. Congress has consistently rejected that proposal. b. The budget would have made VASH vouchers for homeless veterans part of a new $177.5 million account covering others as well. c. Includes the Rural Housing Stability Program, which is not yet operational.

Tax extenders bill would make 9% LIHTC and EITC permanent. Congressional leaders negotiated a tax bill that would make the 9% minimum Low Income Housing Tax Credit floor permanent and retroactive to January 1, 2015. It would extend the New Markets Tax Credit for five years at $3.5 million per year. It also makes permanent the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. The House may vote on December 17, and the Senate after that.

Highway law includes HUD housing provisions. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (H.R. 22), signed into law on December 4, included four housing measures that passed the House earlier in 2015. One lets public and assisted housing administrators verify income once every three years instead of annually for tenants with fixed incomes. One allows private nonprofits to administer permanent housing rental assistance provided through the Continuum of Care Program. Another permits owners (including nonprofits) of HUD multifamily housing to use property income. The fourth authorizes a HUD demonstration program for energy- and water-saving agreements.

House committee approves housing bill. On December 10, the House Committee on Financial Services approved H.R. 3700, the Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act of 2015. The bill makes some changes in HUD rental programs, including altering tenants’ income calculations.

FHFA proposes new duty to serve rule for Fannie and Freddie. The Federal Housing Finance Agency regulation will implement a statutory requirement for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to serve the rural, manufactured housing, and affordable housing preservation markets. An FHFA webinar on December 22 will explain the rule and address questions submitted in advance. Comments will be due 90 days after publication in the Federal Register. Contact Jim Gray, FHFA, 202-649-3124. HAC will hold a webinar focusing on the rural component of the rule, probably in January, and will post its comments at ruralhome.org before the deadline. Contact Lance George, HAC, 202-842-8600.

HUD final rule defines chronic homelessness. The definition will be used in HUD’s Continuum of Care Program and in jurisdictions’ ConPlans. Contact Norm Suchar, HUD, 202-708-4300.

FY16 Fair Market Rents set. HUD’s final FMRs took effect Dec. 11. Contact a local HUD program office.

Comments on manufactured home code requested. HUD invites the public to propose changes to update and revise its Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. Comments are due March 31 and will be submitted to the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee for review and consideration. Contact Pamela Beck Danner, HUD, 202-708-6423.

Rental housing study finds growing demand. America’s Rental Housing:Expanding Options for Diverse and Growing Demand, by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, documents increases in households renting their homes, resulting in increased cost burden rates at all income levels from 2001 to 2014. The lowest-income households far outnumber the rental units affordable to them.

KEEP YOUR HAC NEWS COMING – BY EMAIL! Beginning in 2016, the print version of the HAC News will no longer be available. The News will still be published every two weeks, will still provide the same concise updates on issues important to rural housers, and will still be free. Back issues will continue to be available online at https://ruralhome.org. Sign up now to receive the News by email: https://oi.vresp.com/?fid=d6efb14510.

USDA Rural Development Obligations FY 16 – October

December 1, 2015/in RD Recent Obligations

Download complete report (Through October FY 2016)

The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) presents this month’s report on Fiscal Year 2016 USDA Rural Housing program obligations.

USDA is operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) which provides funding through December 11, 2015 based on last year’s appropriation levels. Congress will need to pass a final appropriations bill or another CR to keep the government operating after December 11.

As of the end of October, USDA obligated 9,350 loans, loan guarantees, and grants totaling about $1.27 billion. This is somewhat less than obligation levels from the same time last year when there were 13,763 loans, loan guarantees, and grants obligated totaling about $1.85 billion.

Single Family Housing Program Highlights

The Section 502 Guaranteed loan program, the largest of the Single Family Housing programs, obligated $1.2 billion (9,084) in loan guarantees. Obligations for October FY 2015 were about $1.85 billion (13,339 loan guarantees).

For the Section 502 Direct program, there have been over $28.7 million (214 loans) in loan obligations so far in FY 2016; this about three times as many loans as this time last year. Very low-income (VLI) loan obligations as a percentage of the total Section 502 Direct loan dollars was 28.39 percent.

The Section 504 Repair and Rehabilitation programs obligated 50 loans representing $319,932. Loan volume was about half of what it was last October. No grants were obligated in October. This is likely because funds for grants had yet been apportioned to the agency.

Other than a couple of credit sales of USDA inventory homes, there were no other obligations for Single Family Housing programs in October.

Multi-Family Housing Programs

There were five (5) loan obligations in the Multi-Family Housing Preservation Demonstration program totaling $10.27 million. This program is not included in the summary table as there is limited information available.

The only other MFH obligations in October were in the Section 521 Rental Assistance program. Rental assistance obligations were higher than they were last October. There were about 78 thousand RA units funded at over about $383 million. This compares to about 46 thousand units at $207 million last year.

Download the combined document.

Individual Program Files

Summary Files

Summary of Rural Development Obligations
USDA Rural Development Eligible Areas

Single Family Housing Program Obligations

Section 502 Direct Homeownership Total Obligations
Section 502 Direct Homeownership Low and Very Low Obligations
Section 502 Guaranteed Homeownership Obligations
Section 504 Total Home Rehab Obligations
Section 523 Self-Help Technical Assistance Grant Obligations
Section 524 Site Loans Obligations

Multi-Family Housing Program Obligations

Section 514/516 Farm Labor Housing Obligations
Section 515 Rental Housing Obligations
Section 521 Rental Assistance Obligations
Section 533 Housing Preservation Obligations
Section 538 Guaranteed Rental Obligations
Multifamily Housing Tenant Voucher Obligations
Multifamily Housing Revitalization Demonstration Program

Unallocated Program Obligations

Section 306 Water/Wastewater Grant Obligations
Section 509 Compensation for Construction Defects
Multifamily and Single-family Housing Credit Sales

* 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: November 30, 2015

November 30, 2015/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

November 30, 2015
Vol. 44, No. 24

• HAC NEWS GOING FULLY DIGITAL • Congress working on FY16 funding measures • Tax extender negotiations include LIHTC and EITC • HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods NOFA introduces Planning and Action Grants • HUD offers equal access rule for transgender persons • New HAC resources offer data on veterans nationwide • Housing communications information available • RDLN auction online through December 13 • USDA updates Rural America at a Glance • DDAs and QCTs set for 2016

HAC News Formats. pdf

November 30, 2015
Vol. 44, No. 24

HAC NEWS GOING FULLY DIGITAL. Beginning in 2016, the print version of the HAC News will no longer be available. The News will still be published every two weeks, will still provide the same concise updates on issues important to rural housers, and will still be free. Back issues will continue to be available online at https://ruralhome.org.

Congress working on FY16 funding measures. Before the current continuing resolution expires on December 11 (see HAC News, 9/30/15), Congress is likely to pass an omnibus appropriation bill that includes most or all of the 12 federal spending bills for FY16. Passage may be stalled by attempts to add policy riders relating to refugees, health care, and other topics. If more negotiation time is needed, another CR may be used to extend spending to December 18 rather than shutting down the government. At press time, no details are available on the omnibus’s provisions related to USDA rural housing. In a Transportation-HUD bill brought to the Senate floor November 18, additional funds made available by the budget agreement (see HAC News, 10/28/15) were used to raise HOME funding to $900 million and CDBG to $3 billion, rather than the earlier $66 million and $2.9 billion (see HAC News, 6/25/15), though other HUD programs did not receive increases. The Senate did not vote on that bill because of disagreements on policy riders, but the higher numbers are likely to appear in a final bill.

Tax extender negotiations include LIHTC and EITC. This month Congress is expected to renew some tax-related programs that expired last December, including the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, New Markets Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and others. This retroactive renewal is needed to make these provisions effective for 2015.

HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods NOFA introduces Planning and Action Grants. The deadline is February 16, 2016 for PHAs, local governments, tribal entities, and nonprofits to request FY15 and FY16 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants or Planning and Action Grants. The program is intended to help communities with severely distressed public or HUD-assisted housing in developing successful neighborhood transformation plans and building the support necessary for plans to be successfully implemented. Contact HUD staff, ChoiceNeighborhoods@hud.gov.

HUD offers equal access rule for transgender persons. A proposed regulation would require entities receiving funds from many HUD programs (but not public or Indian housing) and owners and managers of facilities and services to assist transgender persons in accordance with their gender identities. Providers could ask about sexual orientation or gender identity, but could not discriminate on those bases. Comments are due January 19, 2016. Contact Norm Suchar, HUD, 202-708-4300.

New HAC resources offer data on veterans nationwide. Information about veterans’ economic and housing characteristics for every state and county is available at www.veteransdata.info. The site, developed by the Housing Assistance Council with support from JPMorgan Chase & Co., provides approximately 420 veteran-specific data indicators and over 650,000 data points. Also available on the site are fact sheets for each state, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. providing details on the veterans’ population including proportion, prevalence by county, median income, poverty levels, unemployment rate, disability, median home value, housing problems, homelessness, and other factors.

Housing communications information available. A recent brief from the National Housing Conference offers “seven effective strategies for countering community opposition” to affordable housing development. NHC has also published a Veteran’s Housing Communications Toolkit offering ways of communicating about veterans’ housing needs and solutions with three audiences: community members, policy makers, and veterans themselves.

RDLN auction online through December 13. Proceeds from the Rural Development Leadership Network’s annual fundraising auction support the organization’s work for social justice, community development, and leadership development in low-income rural communities in the U.S. Items include jewelry, books, vacations, and more.

USDA updates Rural America at a Glance. The 2015 version of this data summary reports that the pace of rural employment growth increased in 2014, although rural employment remains below pre-recession levels. Rural areas continue to experience population loss, higher poverty rates, and lower educational attainment than urban areas.

DDAs and QCTs set for 2016. The newly designated Difficult Development Areas and Qualified Census Tracts for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program are effective July 1, 2016, rather than January 1 as in the past. For the first time the metro area DDA designations use Small Area Fair Market Rents, rather than metro-area FMRs. Contact Michael K. Hollar, HUD, 202-402-5878.

HAC News: November 11, 2015

November 11, 2015/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

November 11, 2015
Vol. 44, No. 23

• HAC NEWS GOING FULLY DIGITAL • November is National Native American Heritage Month • Congress and USDA agree to fund Rental Assistance shortages • Two rural housing supporters resigning from Congress • USDA issues new standards for underwriting MPR preservation deals • BIA amends Housing Improvement Program rule • Public housing smoking ban proposed • Interim rule requires new tracking for CDBG grantees • Clean Power Plan can help fund energy efficiency in affordable housing • Unnumbered Letter on TRID now available • HUD reports on homelessness • A few spaces still available for HAC’s November 19-20 trainings

HAC News Formats. pdf

October 11, 2015
Vol. 44, No. 23

November is National Native American Heritage Month. Read President Obama’s proclamation here.

Congress and USDA agree to fund Rental Assistance shortages. On November 5 the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees – Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and Sam Farr (D-CA), and Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) – met with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. The parties agreed to provide Section 521 Rental Assistance funds for properties that were short funded in FY15, either because they used up RA funds before their one-year contracts expired or because their contracts expired near the end of the fiscal year and USDA had run out of contract renewal monies (see HAC News, 10/28/15). At least some property owners have been told they are about to receive back payments. Congress will need to increase the $1.167 billion for RA provided in the FY16 funding bills that passed both Appropriations Committees in July 2015 (see HAC News, 6/25/15).

Two rural housing supporters resigning from Congress. Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) has served as chair and ranking member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) co-founded the Congressional Rural Housing Caucus.

USDA issues new standards for underwriting MPR preservation deals. An Unnumbered Letter dated October 26, 2015 replaces a UL dated September 30, 2013 that emphasized reducing costs to the government. The new policy stresses long-term property viability, meeting tenants’ needs for affordable housing, and completing transactions in a timely and efficient manner. Contact multifamily housing staff in an RD State Office.

BIA amends Housing Improvement Program rule. A final rule issued by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs is intended to align HIP with other federal requirements, allow leveraging of funds, and give tribes more flexibility. Contact Les Jensen, BIA, 907-586-7397.

Public housing smoking ban proposed. HUD suggests requiring PHAs to ban smoking in all indoor areas, including living units, and in outdoor areas within 25 feet of buildings. HUD’s press release says more than 228,000 public housing units are already smoke-free, and this proposal would cover another 940,000 homes. Comments will be due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Contact Leroy Ferguson, HUD, 202-402-2411.

Interim rule requires new tracking for CDBG grantees. Community Development Block Grant grantees will have to track their obligations and expenditures of CDBG funds by specific fiscal years. HUD also makes some technical corrections in CDBG regulations. The new rule takes effect December 14 and comments are due January 11, 2016. Contact Stanley Gimont, HUD, 202-708-3587.

Clean Power Plan can help fund energy efficiency in affordable housing. A proposed federal plan published by EPA offers opportunities to fund energy efficiency in affordable housing as part of state implementation plans. Several organizations joined to offer a primer for affordable housing advocates, as well as other resources and more information at https://energyefficiencyforall.org/. Comments on the proposed federal plan are due January 21.

Unnumbered Letter on TRID now available. The UL (dated October 6, 2015) offers guidance on compliance with new mortgage disclosure requirements for direct Section 502 and 504 loans (see HAC News, 10/14/15).

HUD reports on homelessness. The 2014 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) Part 2 says homelessness declined by 6.3% since 2007, then increased by 4.6% from 2013 to 2014 although homeless people without shelter fell by 10% during that year. 70% of those who used shelter in 2014 were in major cities. Between 2007 and 2014, the number of people in families with children using shelters increased by 48.1% in suburban and rural areas from 2007 to 2014 and decreased by 5% in cities. Part 1 was released in October 2014 (see HAC News, 11/12/14).

A few spaces still available for HAC’s November 19-20 trainings. The cost is $75 each for these courses in North Charleston, SC. Register online for either Sharpening Your Skills: Financial Management for Rural Nonprofits or Utilizing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program: Creating and Preserving Affordable Housing. These are concurrent sessions; register for only one. Contact Shonterria Charleston, HAC, 404-892-4824.

20 Years of Rural Voices

October 30, 2015/in About HAC, About HAC - Annual Reports, Rural Voices

What a Difference 20 Years Makes

This edition, “20 Years of Rural Voices,” highlights and revisits a selection of articles published over the past two decades.

View from Washington

Let’s Recommit to Rural America
by Congressman Bennie Thompson

Rep. Bennie Thompson challenges his colleagues in Congress to re-engage in the fight to keep successful federal rural housing programs alive.s

FEATURES

Self-Help Housing on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation: Alive and Well
by Leslie Newman

There is more than one way to design a self-help housing program, and collaboration between community organizations helps.

Still Ticking After All These Years: Low-Income Housing Tax Credits in Washington State
by Kim Herman

Tax credits have remained important in rural Washington, financing the production of thousands of homes.

Rural Midwest Housing Remains Complex and Diverse
by Ann Ziebarth and Jeff Crump

Whether growing, stable, or declining, rural communities in the Midwest face challenges in providing housing for lowincome residents.

The Housing Trust Fund Movement Spans the Country
by Mary Brooks

State and local housing trust funds continue to offer flexible funding for affordable housing across the country, and a national fund has been created as well.

Where You Live Matters: Fair Housing is Still the Law and Even Stronger
by Shanna Smith

The Fair Housing Act has been law since 1968, and new developments in 2015 have strengthened it.

Reflections on Cushing Dolbeare and Eleven Years of Housing Change
by Sheila Crowley

Cushing Dolbeare founded the National Low Income Housing Coalition; her legacy guides the organization years after her death.

20 Years Do Make a Difference
by Joe Belden

Many things have changed since 1995, says a veteran rural houser, but rural housing needs and solutions have never been partisan issues, and should not be now.

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

HAC News: October 28, 2015

October 28, 2015/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

October 28, 2015
Vol. 44, No. 22

• Budget deal raises spending caps • USDA has funds to renew expired Rental Assistance contracts • Senate subcommittee questions USDA on Rental Assistance funds • House panels hold hearings on new legislation and HUD • HUD launches Tribal HUD-VASH program • New Markets Tax Credits allocations available • CFPB updates lists of rural counties • Additional fair housing regulations proposed • HMDA regulations revised • HUD offers training to qualify manufactured housing installers • New report supports HOME program • Rural Voices celebrates 20 years • Two HAC trainings offered November 19-20

HAC News Formats. pdf

October 28, 2015
Vol. 44, No. 22

Budget deal raises spending caps. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 will add $25 billion to the Budget Control Act’s cap for non-defense discretionary spending in FY16 and $15 billion in FY17. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees will divide the $25 billion among agencies, so it is not yet clear how the increases will impact specific programs.

USDA has funds to renew expired Rental Assistance contracts. Using funds from the Continuing Resolution (see HAC News, 9/30/15), USDA is renewing RA contracts that have expired (not contracts that used up funds before their expiration dates). Renewals are for a full year, not just the term of the CR. Priority goes to those that expired after FY15 RA funds ran out in August. The agency is using a new RA Obligation Tool, which it expects will improve accuracy and reduce the number of RA contracts using up their funds before the end of their terms; each contract’s funding will be based on that property’s spending rather than a statewide average.

Senate subcommittee questions USDA on Rental Assistance funds. An October 21 hearing, “Review of Rural Development in the 21st Century,” covered many topics, including the FY15 shortfall in Section 521 Rental Assistance funding. Subcommittee chair Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and ranking member Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) were particularly surprised to hear RHS Administrator Tony Hernandez say the CR does not give it the authority to use FY16 funds to cover amounts not paid in FY15 to “re-renew” RA contracts that used up their dollars before they expired. (See HAC News, 9/2/15 and 9/30/15.)

House panels hold hearings on new legislation and HUD. A subcommittee and the full Financial Services Committee considered “The Future of Housing in America: Federal Housing Reforms that Create Housing Opportunity” and “The Future of Housing in America: 50 Years of HUD and its Impact on Federal Housing Policy” on October 21 and 22. The subcommittee focused on H.R. 3700, which would make changes in many programs (see HAC News, 10/14/15), while the committee examined HUD’s history and accomplishments.

HUD launches Tribal HUD-VASH program. The program will fund Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities to provide rental assistance and supportive services to Native American veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness living on or near reservations or other Indian areas. Contact Randall Akers, HUD, 202-402-7914.

New Markets Tax Credits allocations available. Applications for Calendar Year 2015 NMTCs are due December 16. Applicants not yet certified as Community Development Entities must submit apply for CDE status by November 6. Contact the CDFI Fund’s NMTC Program Manager, cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov, 202-653-0421.

CFPB updates lists of rural counties. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s listsof “rural counties” and “rural or underserved counties” identify areas where some mortgage activity regulations are waived.

Additional fair housing regulations proposed. Comments are due December 21 on HUD’s suggested standards for evaluating complaints of quid pro quo harassment and hostile environment harassment. The proposed rule also clarifies the operation of traditional principles of direct and vicarious liability under the Fair Housing Act. Contact Lynn Grosso, HUD, 202-402-5361.

HMDA regulations revised. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued a final rule adding some new reporting requirements for Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. There are other changes as well, and the rule also provides compliance guidance. Contact CFPB’s Office of Regulations, 202-435-7700.

HUD offers training to qualify manufactured housing installers. HUD training and licenses are available in 13 states that do not operate their own installation programs. Contact Pamela Beck Danner, HUD, 202-708-6423.

New report supports HOME program. On October 28 the HOME Coalition released “Building HOME: The HOME Investment Partnerships Programs Impact on America’s Families and Communities,” analyzing HOME’s economic impact at the national level and in all 50 states.

Rural Voices celebrates 20 years. The Fall issue of HAC’s quarterly magazine updates some of the more than 500 articles published since 1995. Sign up online for email notices when new issues are published.

Two HAC trainings offered November 19-20. The cost is $75 each for these courses in North Charleston, SC. Register online for either Sharpening Your Skills: Financial Management for Rural Nonprofits or Utilizing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program: Creating and Preserving Affordable Housing. These are concurrent sessions; register for only one. Advance registration is required. Contact Shonterria Charleston, HAC, 404-892-4824.

HAC News: October 14, 2015

October 14, 2015/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

October 14, 2015
Vol. 44, No. 21

• Deadline approaches for rural veteran housing projects • Celebration of Service supports rural veterans through November 11 • Hensarling request for suggestions includes USDA housing programs • FY15 USDA housing spending went mostly to guarantees, rental assistance • USDA implements integrated mortgage disclosure for direct Section 502 and 504 loans • Bill would authorize preservation program, allow some lenders to approve Section 502 guarantees • Section 8 OCAFs set • HUD issues guidance on determining homeless status of youth • Child poverty fell in 2014 but remains higher than in 2009 • Profiles show housing affordability for renters by state and locality

HAC News Formats. pdf

October 14, 2015
Vol. 44, No. 21

Deadline approaches for rural veteran housing projects. The Home Depot Foundation will make grants to nonprofits, tribally designated housing entities, and housing authorities serving veterans at or below 80% of area median income in rural areas. Projects may be new construction or rehab, temporary or permanent housing, in progress or beginning within 12 months. Concept papers are due October 30. Contact Shonterria Charleston, HAC, 404-892-4824.

Celebration of Service supports rural veterans through November 11. Each Monday until November 11, the Home Depot Foundation’s Team Depot Facebook page will highlight one of its nonprofit partners (HAC was featured September 21). For each like, comment, and share of these spotlight posts the foundation will donate $1 (up to $1 million total), which will be split between HAC and eight other nonprofits serving veterans. Dollars will also be donated for #ServiceSelfie posts on Twitter or Instagram.

Hensarling request for suggestions includes USDA housing programs. The September 30, 2015 HAC News reported that House Financial Services Committee Chair Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) seeks proposals for improvements to HUD and its programs. HAC has learned that the committee is also interested in ideas on USDA rural housing. The request includes specific topics for comment. Contact transformhousing@mail.house.gov.

FY15 USDA housing spending went mostly to guarantees, rental assistance. HAC’s analysis of USDA data shows that as of the end of September – the end of FY15 – USDA obligated 149,108 loans, loan guarantees, and grants totaling about $19.9 billion. This is $312 million less and 4,743 fewer (in number) obligations than at the same time last year. About 94% of the total loan and grant dollars obligated represent Section 502 guaranteed loans. USDA also obligated 249,468 units of tenant assistance representing over $1.1 billion through the Section 521 Rental Assistance and Section 542 Rural Housing Voucher programs. This represents about $19.96 million or 7,051 fewer units than this time last year. Watch the HAC News and ruralhome.org for a more detailed analysis of FY15 spending. Contact Michael Feinberg, HAC, 202-842-8600.

USDA implements integrated mortgage disclosure for direct Section 502 and 504 loans. A Section 502 or 504 loan is now subject to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s new Truth in Lending Act and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act Integrated Mortgage Disclosures (TRID) rule if a security interest will be taken on the property. In an email to stakeholders, USDA RD explains this regulation is expected to impact almost every aspect of mortgage transactions. RD has developed training materials and conducted webinars for its staff, and will issue an Unnumbered Letter. Sign up online to receive emails with information about RD’s single-family housing programs.

Bill would authorize preservation program, allow some lenders to approve Section 502 guarantees. The Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act, H.R. 3700, was recently introduced by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO). It includes two provisions for USDA rural housing programs: it would authorize the Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization demonstration that has been funded for several years, and would allow USDA to delegate its Section 502 loan guarantee authority to preferred lenders. It would make a number of changes to HUD programs, some relating to income calculations and limits; it would also allow public housing agencies to create replacement reserves, extend the Family Unification Program, create inspection policies for PHAs’ units, and change utility reimbursements.

Section 8 OCAFs set. HUD’s new operating cost adjustment factors will apply to Section 8 project-based assistance contracts with anniversary dates on or after February 11, 2016. Contact Stan Houle, HUD, 202-402-2572.

HUD issues guidance on determining homeless status of youth. The document uses hypothetical scenarios to help providers understand how youth meet HUD’s definition of homelessness to receive Continuum of Care or Emergency Solutions Grants housing and services. An October 28 webinar will review the guidance and provide over-views of resources available to serve youth who meet and do not meet HUD’s definition of homeless.

Child poverty fell in 2014 but remains higher than in 2009. Research from the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire analyzing American Community Survey data found that child poverty declined in rural places, suburbs, and cities, with the largest declines in rural America. Overall poverty rates are 38.4% for African-American children, 13.0% for non-Hispanic white children, and 32.1% for Hispanic children. Half (51.1%) of all rural African-American children live in poverty.

Profiles show housing affordability for renters by state and locality. The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Housing Profiles, updated with Out of Reach 2015 data (see HAC News, 5/27/15), give one-page snapshots of affordable rental housing stock and affordability in each state and congressional district.

USDA Rural Development Obligations FY 15 – September

October 13, 2015/in RD Recent Obligations

Download complete report (Through September FY 2015)

The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) presents this month’s report on Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 USDA Rural Housing program obligations.

As of the end of September, USDA obligated 149,108 loans, loan guarantees, and grants totaling about $19.9 billion. This is $312 million less and 4,743 fewer (in number) obligations than the same time last year. About 94 percent of the total loan and grant dollars obligated represent Section 502 Guaranteed loans.

USDA also obligated 249,468 units of tenant assistance representing over $1.1 billion through the combined total of the Section 521 Rental Assistance and the Section 542 Rural Housing Voucher programs. This represents about $19.96 million or 7,051 fewer units than this time last year.

Single Family Housing Program Highlights

The Section 502 Guaranteed loan program, the largest of the Single Family Housing programs, obligated $18.6 billion (134,255) in loan guarantees. Obligations increased by over $1.8 billion (13,280 loans) over last month but overall volume was about $428 million (about 2.2 percent) less than last year.

For the Section 502 Direct program, obligations increased to about $899.8 million (7,064 loans). This represents an increase over last month of about $202 million (1,504 loans). Funds in the Section 502 direct program were fully obligated for the first time in three years. Very low-income loans as a percentage of the total dollars obligated for the program remained at 31.8 percent. When viewed as a percentage of the number of loans obligated, very low-income loans comprise 35.7 percent of the total number of loans obligated.

The Section 504 Repair and Rehabilitation programs obligated 2,510 loans representing $15.1 million and 4,728 grants representing $29 million.

Multi-Family Housing Programs

The Section 538 loan guarantee program increased to 89 obligations totaling $113.9 million. Obligations in the Section 515 Rural Rental Housing program increased to 26 loans and $28.3 million. Section 514/516 Farm Labor Housing loans and grants increased to $19 million for loans and $6.4 million for grants.

Section 521 Rental Assistance obligations total 244,999 units representing $1.09 billion. Section 542 vouchers totaled 4,469 units representing $15.6 million.

Not included in the summary tables is the MFH Preservation Demonstration program. There were five this year totaling $10,271,711. Over the previous two fiscal years, the agency made one loan each year for about $1 million. Data on where the loans were made is not available.

Download the combined document.

Individual Program Files

Summary Files

Summary of Rural Development Obligations
Summary Data of Rural Development Obligations Compared to Previous Year
Summary Data of Rural Development Obligations Compared to Previous Month
Summary Chart of Rural Development Obligations
USDA Rural Development Eligible Areas

Single Family Housing Program Obligations

Multi-Family Housing Program Obligations

Unallocated Program Obligations

Section 306 Water/Wastewater Grant Obligations
Section 509 Compensation for Construction Defects
Multifamily and Single-family Housing Credit Sales

HAC News: February 3, 2016

HAC News: January 13, 2016

HAC News: December 16, 2015

USDA Rural Development Obligations FY 16 – October

Download complete report (Through October FY 2016)

Single Family Housing Program Highlights

Multi-Family Housing Programs

Individual Program Files

HAC News: November 30, 2015

HAC News: November 11, 2015

20 Years of Rural Voices

What a Difference 20 Years Makes

View from Washington

FEATURES

HAC News: October 28, 2015

HAC News: October 14, 2015

USDA Rural Development Obligations FY 15 – September

Download complete report (Through September FY 2015)

Single Family Housing Program Highlights

Multi-Family Housing Programs

Individual Program Files

GET THE HAC NEWS!

50 Years for Rural America