HAC News Formats. pdf

April 18, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 8

• April is Fair Housing Month • Senate subcommittee marks up FY13 THUD bill • USDA appropriations to be considered in subcommittees soon • HUD offers Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency funding • RD tells states to centralize delivery of Section 502 guarantee program • Final HUD environmental justice strategy posted • Section 8 Annual Adjustment Factors published • Aging population will face housing cost burdens and other challenges • Report examines criminalization of homelessness • Research correlates income inequality and racial segregation • ERS suggests framework for creating rural wealth

April 18, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 8

APRIL IS FAIR HOUSING MONTH. HUD is celebrating with a “Live Free” theme. Numerous states and localities, as well as civil liberties organizations, have also recognized the occasion.

SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE MARKS UP FY13 THUD BILL. Complete details on HUD funding levels have not been released, but a Senate Appropriations Committee press release reports increases from FY12 levels for CDBG, Section 8 vouchers, public housing, homeless assistance grants. Funding for HOME, Native American housing, and HUD housing counseling would remain at FY12 levels. The full Appropriations Committee is scheduled to review the bill on April 19. The House THUD appropriations subcommittee has not yet scheduled a mark-up. Updates will be posted on HAC’s website when available.

USDA APPROPRIATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED IN SUBCOMMITTEES SOON. The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to mark up a bill next week, and its House counterpart to do so by mid-May.

HUD OFFERS PUBLIC HOUSING FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY FUNDING. Public housing agencies and tribes or Tribally Designated Housing Entities can apply by May 30 for funds to hire FSS coordinators. Details are posted on HUD’s site and at grants.gov. Contact Dina Lehmann-Kim, HUD, 202-402-2430.

RD TELLS STATES TO CENTRALIZE DELIVERY OF SECTION 502 GUARANTEE PROGRAM. A March 1 Unnumbered Letter asks state offices to submit plans by May 1 that maximize efficiency and reduce staff time spent on program delivery. The UL also reminds state offices that other centralization efforts will be forthcoming. Read the UL online or contact an RD office.

FINAL HUD ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE STRATEGY POSTED. The strategy is intended “to improve and expand HUD’s commitment to avoiding disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations, as well as creating geographies of opportunity.” See Federal Register, 4/16/12, or HUD’s site. Contact Sunaree Marshall, HUD, 202-402-6011.

SECTION 8 ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT FACTORS PUBLISHED. FY12 AAFs will be used to adjust contract rents on Section 8 contract anniversaries and are posted at HUDuser.org. Contact Catherine Brennan, HUD, 202-708-3000.

AGING POPULATION WILL FACE HOUSING COST BURDENS AND OTHER CHALLENGES. In Housing an Aging Population: Are We Prepared?, the Center for Housing Policy reports that older adults are more likely than younger adults to have housing affordability challenges. Many older adults lack access to affordable services that could help them age in place, and to meaningful housing choices. The study considers other trends as well, and offers policy recommendations.

REPORT EXAMINES CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS. In Searching out Solutions: Constructive Alternatives to the Criminalization of Homelessness, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Justice Department suggest that, instead of prohibiting sleeping in public spaces or panhandling, localities could offer comprehensive systems of care, collaboration between law enforcement and service providers, and alternative justice system strategies such as specialty courts and reentry programs.

RESEARCH CORRELATES INCOME INEQUALITY AND RACIAL SEGREGATION. HUD reports that a geographic information system (GIS) analysis of data on white and African-American residents shows that while income inequality exists throughout the U.S., it is more likely in the South to be associated with racial segregation. When a map of the U.S. highway system is added it can be seen that many of the areas with high income inequality and high proportions of Black population are located relatively far from regional transportation systems. Two articles in HUD’s Cityscape journal describe the research and its policy implications.

ERS SUGGESTS FRAMEWORK FOR CREATING RURAL WEALTH. USDA’s Economic Research Service notes that economic growth requires physical, financial, social, political, and other types of assets, and that creating wealth is highly context-dependent. Rural Wealth Creation: Concepts, Strategies, and Measures discusses the role of wealth creation in the rural development process, how wealth can be created in rural communities, and how its accumulation and effects can be measured.

Special 40th Anniversary Edition of the HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf, mobi, epub

HOUSING ASSISTANCE COUNCIL

NEWS

April 4, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 7

• First HAC News published 40 years ago • House approves veterans housing bill • VA offers Homeless Providers Per Diem funds • HUD proposes changes for voucher portability • Streamlining suggested for mixed-finance Section 202 and 811 developments • HUD clarifies Rental Assistance Demo, extends comment deadline • Revisions for Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program possible • Rural housing leader Rose Garcia recognized at White House ceremony • Annual advocate’s guide published by NLIHC • REGISTER NOW for Housing Seniors in Rural America: Resources, Advocacy, and Practice

HOUSING ASSISTANCE COUNCIL

NEWS

April 4, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 7

FIRST HAC NEWS PUBLISHED 40 YEARS AGO. Since the first issue on April 10, 1972, the Housing Assistance Council has produced over 850 editions of the HAC News, the publication of note for those who wish to stay informed on rural housing matters. Please enjoy the “throwback” appearance of this issue as a celebration of the last 40 years. Thank you for all your efforts in building rural communities.

HOUSE APPROVES VETERANS HOUSING BILL. The Homes for Heroes Act, H.R. 3298, would create a Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs in HUD to coordinate services to homeless veterans and would require an annual report to Congress. The bill passed the House on March 27 by a 414-5 vote and was sent to the Senate. The bill’s text and status updates are at https://thomas.loc.gov.

VA OFFERS HOMELESS PROVIDERS PER DIEM FUNDS. These Per Diem Only funds are available to nonprofits, state and local governments, and tribes providing transitional housing and services, and cannot be used for buildings. Priorities include rural sites, tribal sites, and a new “Transition in Place” housing model in which support services – rather than the resident – transition out of the residence over time, and then the resident occupies the unit as permanent housing without supportive services. Apply by May 30. See Federal Register, 3/1/12 or https://www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp or https://www.grants.gov. Contact Chelsea Watson, VA, 877-332-0334 (toll free).

HUD PROPOSES CHANGES FOR VOUCHER PORTABILITY. Comments are due May 29 on changes intended to clarify requirements and processing of portability requests. See Federal Register, 3/28/12, or www.regulations.gov. Contact Laure Rawson, HUD, 202-708-0477.

STREAMLINING SUGGESTED FOR MIXED-FINANCE SECTION 202 AND 811 DEVELOPMENTS. Comment by May 29 on removing restrictions on the portions of projects not funded through capital advances. Additional changes are expected later in 2012. See Federal Register, 3/28/12 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Aretha Williams, HUD, 202-708-3000.

HUD CLARIFIES RENTAL ASSISTANCE DEMO, EXTENDS COMMENT DEADLINE. Comments are now due April 23 on the notice published March 8 (see HAC News, 3/7/12). See Federal Register, 4/4/12 and 3/8/12 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact HUD, rad@hud.gov.

REVISIONS FOR HOMELESS PROVIDERS GRANT AND PER DIEM PROGRAM POSSIBLE. VA proposes to update the program’s current regulations and to implement and authorize new policies. Comments are due April 30. See Federal Register, 3/1/12, or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Guy Liedke, VA, 877-332-0334 (toll-free).

RURAL HOUSING LEADER ROSE GARCIA RECOGNIZED AT WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY. Among ten Champions of Change honored on March 27 for exemplifying farmworker advocate César Chávez’s values was Ms. Garcia, executive director of Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation in New Mexico, who “has worked for over 30 years to improve the quality of life for the rural poor, minorities, farmworkers and the elderly individuals . . . along the United States–Mexico border.” Visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/champions.

ANNUAL ADVOCATE’S GUIDE PUBLISHED BY NLIHC. The 2012 Advocates’ Guide to Housing and Community Development Policy offers articles on federal programs and issues, and is free at https://www.nlihc.org or can be ordered for a fee from Shannon Faulk, National Low Income Housing Coalition, shannon@nlihc.org, 202-662-1530 x224.

REGISTER NOW for Housing Seniors in Rural America: Resources, Advocacy, and Practice,to be heldin Burlington, Vermont on June 5-6, 2012. This symposium will provide intensive training and information on housing for an aging population in rural America. Visit https://ruralhome.org or contact Janice Clark, HAC, janice@ruralhome.org.

Published by the

Housing Assistance Council 1025 Vermont Ave., N.W., Suite 606 Washington, DC 20005

www.ruralhome.org hac@ruralhome.org 202-842-8600

HAC News Formats. pdf,

March 7, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 5

House subcommittee hears testimony on FY13 USDA RD budget • HUD speaks on rural housing • Funds offered for CNI planning, SHOP, and HMIS TA • RD provides guidance on environmental due diligence • HUD seeks comments on Rental Assistance Demonstration • GAO suggests reducing duplication in federal housing programs • More working households spending over half their income on housing • Childhood poverty rates examined for counties and states • REGISTER NOW for Housing Seniors in Rural America: Resources, Advocacy, and Practice

March 7, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 5

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARS TESTIMONY ON FY13 USDA RD BUDGET. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture heard testimony March 1 from USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager and the RD program administrators, including Tammye Treviño of RHS. Her written testimony focused on the importance of the Section 502 guarantee program and multifamily preservation. Responding to a question, she said a regulation allowing nonprofits to help package Section 502 loans is expected by the end of the year. Written testimony is posted at the committee’s website.

HUD SPEAKS ON RURAL HOUSING. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan included rural housing in written testimony on his 2013 budget for a March 1 hearing of the Senate Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee. He wrote that HUD provides rural funding in CDBG, HOME, Indian housing programs, and the Rural Housing Stability Assistance Program for the homeless. He did not point out that HUD’s 2013 budget proposal zeroes out the Rural Innovation Fund and SHOP. The testimony (see p. 16) and a recording of the hearing are available at https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/ht-transportation.cfm.

FUNDS OFFERED FOR CNI PLANNING, SHOP, AND HMIS TA. For all NOFAs, visit https://www.grants.gov or https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm. • PHAs, tribal entities, local governments, nonprofits, and forprofits partnering with public entities can apply by May 1 for Choice Neighborhood Initiative Planning Grants to develop neighborhood transformation plans. Contact choiceneighborhoods@hud.gov. • Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program funds will go to national and regional nonprofit organizations and consortia to support self-help programs. Apply by April 30. Contact Ginger Macomber, 202-402-4605. • States, local governments, PHAs, nonprofits, and for-profits are eligible to apply by March 29 to assist Continuum of Care grantees with information management. Contact julie.d.hovden@hud.gov or Pat Felton, HUD, 202-402-2577.

RD PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE. Administrative Notice 4621 (Feb. 9, 2012) explains environmental due diligence requirements for loan making and servicing, including servicing actions that may lead to foreclosure. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd-an_list.html or contact an RD office.

HUD SEEKS COMMENTS ON RENTAL ASSISTANCE DEMONSTRATION. This new demo was included in HUD’s FY12 appropriations law to test the conversion of public housing and other HUD-assisted properties to long-term, project-based Section 8 rental assistance. A notice of “Partial Implementation and Request for Comments” will be posted at https://www.hud.gov/rad and https://www.regulations.gov on March 8, with comments due in early April. Contact HUD, rad@hud.gov.

GAO SUGGESTS REDUCING DUPLICATION IN FEDERAL HOUSING PROGRAMS. An annual report on Opportunities to Reduce Duplication, Overlap and Fragmentation, Achieve Savings, and Enhance Revenue (GAO-12-342SP) lists 160 federal housing programs. It emphasizes the similarities between the Section 502 guarantee program and FHA programs and between USDA’s and HUD’s multifamily portfolio management. Visit https://www.gao.gov.

MORE WORKING HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING OVER HALF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING. Nearly one in four working households spends more than 50% of its income on housing, according to the new Housing Landscape 2012 report from the Center for Housing Policy, using 2010 American Community Survey data. Visit https://www.nhc.org.

CHILDHOOD POVERTY RATES EXAMINED FOR COUNTIES AND STATES. Child poverty in the U.S. increased dramatically between 2000 and 2010, with the largest increase in counties containing small cities (10,000-50,000 people), where the rate is now 25.1%, as reported in the Daily Yonder. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count project examined American Community Survey data and found more children living in areas of concentrated poverty across the country in 2006-2010 than in 2000. State rates of children living in such areas ranged from 23% in Mississippi to 1% in Wyoming and Vermont. African-American, American Indian, and Latino children are between six and nine times more likely than white children to live in these communities. Visit https://datacenter.kidscount.org to read a summary and access data by state, county, city, or congressional district.

REGISTER NOW for Housing Seniors in Rural America: Resources, Advocacy, and Practice,to be held in Burlington, Vermont on June 5-6, 2012. This symposium will provide intensive training and information on housing for an aging population in rural America. Visit https://ruralhome.org or contact Janice Clark, HAC, janice@ruralhome.org.

HAC News Formats. pdf,

February 8, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 3

• Registration open for HAC’s federal budget webinar • House subcommittee moves housing bills forward • Refi plan for Section 502 borrowers announced • Section 538 rental housing guarantees offered • HUD issues equal access final rule • ESG recipients must amend action plans • USDA plans multifamily housing industry meetings • Official poverty guidelines for 2012 issued • Asset poverty increasing, says scorecard report • Toolkit offered for providing broadband to tenants • February is African American History Month • SAVE THE DATE! 2012 National Rural Housing Conference

February 8, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 3

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR HAC’S FEDERAL BUDGET WEBINAR. The February 21 presentation and Q&A will cover rural housing programs in the Administration’s budget. Visit https://ruralhome.org to register. HAC will also post budget information and analysis on its site when the budget is released February 13.

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE MOVES HOUSING BILLS FORWARD. On February 7 the House Financial Services Committee’s housing subcommittee approved the Affordable Housing and Self-Sufficiency Improvement Act, the most recent version of legislation to improve Section 8. Proposed amendments, including one to remove a $69.45 minimum rent for all tenants, were deferred for full committee consideration. Bills relating to FHA and to child homelessness were also passed. The bills and a recording of the markup are available at https://financialservices.house.gov/Calendar/?EventTypeID=311.

REFI PLAN FOR SECTION 502 BORROWERS ANNOUNCED. As part of the Obama Administration’s broader efforts to make refinancing possible for more homeowners, USDA is offering a pilot program in 19 states. Borrowers who are current on payments for their Section 502 direct or guaranteed loans may qualify for new guaranteed loans at lower interest rates without credit reports, appraisals, or property inspections. Upfront and annual fees apply. See Administrative Notice 4615 at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd-an_list.html and USDA’s February 1 press release at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov. Contact an RD office.

SECTION 538 RENTAL HOUSING GUARANTEES OFFERED. USDA RD will guarantee loans for new construction, acquisition with rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable rental housing. It will commit funds first to approved applications from prior years, then to new applicants. See Federal Register, 2/6/12. Contact an RD state office.

HUD ISSUES EQUAL ACCESS FINAL RULE. The regulation, effective March 5, prohibits discrimination in HUD-funded housing on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. Complaints will be handled in the same way as claims of violations of other program rules, and some may also be actionable under the Fair Housing Act. A separate rule will address this topic for HUD’s Native American housing programs. See Federal Register, 1/26/12. Contact Kenneth J. Carroll, HUD, 202-708-2333.

ESG RECIPIENTS MUST AMEND ACTION PLANS. A HUD notice explains that to receive a second allocation of funding under the Emergency Solutions Grants program (which replaces Emergency Shelter Grants), each ESG recipient must submit a substantial amendment to its FY11 Con Plan Annual Action Plan by May 15, 2012. Other requirements are also explained. See Federal Register, 1/27/12, or https://www.hudhre.info. Submit questions at https://www.hudhre.info/index.cfm?do=viewHelpdesk.

USDA PLANS MULTIFAMILY HOUSING INDUSTRY MEETINGS. Teleconferences or webinars will be held at least four times in 2012. See Federal Register, 1/26/12. To register for notices, contact Timothy James, USDA, 202-720-1094, timothy.james@wdc.usda.gov. Those who registered previously do not need to register again.

OFFICIAL POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR 2012 ISSUED. The poverty line for a family of four in the continental U.S. is $23,050. Visit https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty. Contact Kendall Swenson, HHS, 202-690-7507.

ASSET POVERTY INCREASING, SAYS SCORECARD REPORT. While the nationwide poverty rate for individuals was 15.1% in 2010, asset poverty – living without assets such as a home or car – was 27% and 43% were “liquid asset poor,” lacking savings that could pay living costs in an emergency. CFED’s Assets and Opportunity Scorecard includes data for each state and is free at https://assetsandopportunity.org/scorecard/. Contact scorecard@cfed.org.

TOOLKIT OFFERED FOR PROVIDING BROADBAND TO TENANTS. This online information from the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California assumes that broadband is available in an area and is intended to help those who maintain computers, equipment, and networks serving residents to address day-to-day challenges. Visit https://www.nonprofithousing.org/bbtoolkit/index.html.

FEBRUARY IS AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH. This year’s theme is “Black Women in American Culture and History,” says President Obama’s proclamation, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions.

SAVE THE DATE! 2012 National Rural Housing Conference! December 6-7 with pre-conference activities December 5 Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC