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October 13, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 21

• Government funded through November 18 • HUD offers two grant programs for Indian Country • AmeriCorps support available • HAC announces grant funding for rural senior housing • RD to conduct rent comparability studies for vouchers • Income calculations changed for Section 502 direct loans • Final 2012 Fair Market Rents published • HUD requests comments on environmental justice strategy • Comments invited on new interim PHAS scoring • Federal homelessness update published • Utility-funded energy efficiency programs can help multifamily housing • Affordability issues for seniors increasing, AARP reports

October 13, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 21

GOVERNMENT FUNDED THROUGH NOVEMBER 18. A continuing resolution keeps USDA and HUD housing programs at FY11 levels with a 1.5% across the board cut. The Senate may begin considering the USDA and Transportation-HUD FY12 appropriations bills this week. The full House has passed a USDA spending bill, but HUD’s bill has not moved beyond the subcommittee level there. See HAC News, 9/28/11 and 9/14/11. Bills are available at https://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app12.html.

HUD OFFERS TWO GRANT PROGRAMS FOR INDIAN COUNTRY.Tribes and tribal organizations can apply by January 4, 2012 for FY12 Indian Community Development Block Grants. Contact Roberta Youmans, HUD, 202-402-3316. A variety of entities can apply by November 15 for FY10 Sustainable Construction in Indian Country Small Grants to collect and disseminate information. Contact Mike Blanford, 202-402-5728. Visit https://www.grants.gov or https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm.

AMERICORPS SUPPORT AVAILABLE.Nonprofits, institutions of higher education, sub-state government entities, tribes, labor organizations, partnerships, and intermediaries may apply and are encouraged to submit letters of intent by December 15; deadline is January 18. Visit https://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/funding. Contact agency staff at americorpsgrants@cns.gov or 202-606-7508.

HAC ANNOUNCES GRANT FUNDING FOR RURAL SENIOR HOUSING.With support from The Atlantic Philanthropies, Rural Senior Housing Fund grants are available to build, preserve, or advocate for housing for low-income seniors (62 and older) living in rural areas. Deadline is December 15. A webinar for applicants will be held October 20. Visit https://ruralhome.org. Contact Janice Clark, HAC, janice@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600 ext. 131.

RD TO CONDUCT RENT COMPARABILITY STUDIES FOR VOUCHERS. RD appraisers, rather than a contractor, will determine current market rents, which are used to calculate the value of vouchers offered to tenants in Section 515 properties when loans are prepaid or foreclosed. See Unnumbered Letter dated September 9, https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/ulseptember11.pdf. Contact Joan Atkinson, RD, 202-720-1609.

INCOME CALCULATIONS CHANGED FOR SECTION 502 DIRECT LOANS.A new RD notice makes numerous changes. Find Procedure Notice 415 at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/pn/pn451.html. Contact an RD office.

FINAL 2012 FAIR MARKET RENTS PUBLISHED. See Federal Register, 9/30/11, or https://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html.

HUD REQUESTS COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE STRATEGY. A draft four-year plan is intended to address environmental justice concerns and increase access to environmental benefits through HUD activities, as part of a larger executive branch effort (see HAC News, 8/18/11). Comments are due November 14. Visit https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/sustainable_housing_communities/HUD_Draft_Environmental_Justice_Strategy. Contact Kathryn Dykgraaf, HUD, 202-402-6731. Stakeholder listening sessions are scheduled in several places between October 24 and December 2. Visit https://www.epa.gov/compliance/ej/interagency/schedule.html. Contact Sherri White, EPA, white.sherri@epa.gov.

COMMENTS INVITED ON NEW INTERIM PHAS SCORING.A February interim rule (see HAC News, 3/2/11) for HUD’s Public Housing Assessment System is superseded by a notice implementing a point loss cap, changing some definitions, and describing inspection software. See Federal Register, 10/13/11, or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Claudia Yarus, HUD, 202-475-8830.

FEDERAL HOMELESSNESS UPDATE PUBLISHED.The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness’s 2011 Annual Update to Opening Doors: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness reports that progress has been made in the first year of the Opening Doors effort. Visit https://www.usich.gov.

UTILITY-FUNDED ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS CAN HELP MULTIFAMILY HOUSING.Noting that most states require such programs but the focus is typically on large commercial facilities or single-family homes, a National Housing Trust factsheet encourages their use for energy retrofits of multifamily properties. Visit https://www.nhtinc.org. Contact NHT, 202-333-8931.

AFFORDABILITY ISSUES FOR SENIORS INCREASING, AARP REPORTS.State Housing Profiles 2011 describes housing and demographic conditions for homeowners and renters age 50 and older. All data is for entire states, with no urban/rural breakdown. Nationally, among those age 50+ with incomes under $23,000, 96% of homeowners with mortgages pay more than 30% of their incomes for housing, as do 49% of homeowners without mortgages and 78% of renters. Visit https://www.aarp.org/statehousingprofiles. Contact Rodney Harrell, rharrell@aarp.org.

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September 28, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 20

• September 15-October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month • House to consider continuing resolution options on Sept. 29 • Senate committee acts on HUD spending • Budget Control Act’s impact on HUD predicted • HUD posts general section for FY12 NOFAs • HUD offers multifamily energy innovation funds • HUD seeks feedback on healthy homes designation • Housing GSE regulations under review • Information available on Section 502 guarantee program fees • 500 places may lose eligibility for USDA housing programs, HAC estimates • Register for HAC’s senior housing symposium, Nov. 9-10, Seattle

September 28, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 20

SEPTEMBER 15-OCTOBER 15 IS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. President Obama’s declaration is posted at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/proclamations.

HOUSE TO CONSIDER CONTINUING RESOLUTION OPTIONS ON SEPT. 29. The House will choose between two bills passed by the Senate to provide federal funding for the beginning of FY12. H.R. 2017 would fund the government through October 4 and H.R. 2608 through November 18. Both would fund USDA and HUD housing programs at FY11 levels with a 1.5% across the board cut. The bills are at https://thomas.loc.gov (search by bill number).

SENATE COMMITTEE ACTS ON HUD SPENDING. On September 21 the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a FY12 Transportation-HUD spending bill with substantial differences from the House subcommittee bill (see HAC News, 9/14/11). The Senate funded and the House did not fund housing counseling, Sustainable Communities, and Choice Neighborhoods. The Senate provided less funding for CDBG, HOME, Section 202, Section 811, fair housing, and HOPWA – but more for rental assistance vouchers, public housing capital and operating funds, and SHOP. The Rural Innovation Fund did not receive any funding in either bill. Further action on this and other appropriations bills is unclear. An omnibus package combining most of the bills is a likely possibility, with no further action taken on individual measures. The Senate report on S. 1596 is at https://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=112_cong_bills&docid=f:s1596pcs.txt.pdf.

HUD Program (dollars in millions)	FY10 Approp.	FY11 Approp.b	FY12 Admin. Bdgt.	FY12 House Bill	FY12 Senate Bill
Cmty. Devel. Block Grants Sustainable Commun. Initiative Rural Innovation Fund	$4,450 (150) (25)	3,508 (100) 0	3,781 150 (25)	3,500 0 0	3,001 (90) 0
HOME	1,825	1,610	1,650	1,200	1,000
Tenant-Based Rental Asstnce. Vets. Affairs Spptve Hsg. Vchrs	18,184 (75)	18,408 (50)	19,223 (75)	18,467.9 (75)	18,872.4 (75)
Project-Based Rental Asstnce.	8,551.5	8,882	9,429	9,028.7	9,018.7
Transforming Rental Asstnce. a	–	0	200	0	0
Public Hsg. Capital Fund	2,500	2,044	2,405	1,532.1	1,875
Public Hsg. Operating Fund	4,775	4,626	3,962	3,861.9	3,961.9
Public Hsg. Revtlztn. (HOPE VI)	135	100	0	0	0
Choice Neighbrhd. Initiative	65	0	250	0	120
Housing Trust Fund	–	0	1,000	0	0
Native Amer. Hsg. Block Grant	700	650	700	648.7	650
Homeless Assistance Grants	1,865	1,905	2,372	1,901.2	1,901.2
Hsg. Opps. for Persons w/ AIDS	335	335	335	334.3	330
202 Hsg. for Elderly	825	400	757	600	369.7
811 Hsg. for Disabled	300	150	196	196	150
Fair Housing	72	72	72	71.9	64.3
Healthy Homes & Lead Haz. Cntl.	140	120	140	119.8	120
Self-Help Homeownshp. (SHOP)	27	27	0	15.9	17
Housing Counseling	87.5	0	88	0	60

a. New program proposed by the Administration. b. Figures shown do not include 0.2% across the board reduction.

BUDGET CONTROL ACT’S IMPACT ON HUD PREDICTED. Materials from a September 27 webinar by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities show future funding reductions for discretionary federal programs, including HUD housing, likely to occur under the recent deficit reduction legislation; visit https://www.cbpp.org/research/index.cfm?fa=topic&id=143. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (“Super Committee”; see HAC News 8/18/11) now has a website at https://deficitreduction.senate.gov.

HUD POSTS GENERAL SECTION FOR FY12 NOFAs. NOFAs for individual funding programs will be published later. The general section applies to all. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm or https://www.grants.gov. Contact HUD’s grants management office, 202-708-0667.

HUD OFFERS MULTIFAMILY ENERGY INNOVATION FUNDS. Applications are due October 20 for Multifamily Energy Pilot grants from an FY10 Energy Innovation Fund, intended to stimulate innovative, replicable approaches for increasing the energy efficiency of existing multifamily properties. Both categories – financing and applied research – require matching funds. Eligible applicants include nonprofits and for-profits with portfolios over 1,000 units, special purpose financing entities like housing trust funds, and CDFIs. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/grpeif.cfm. Contact Theodore Toon, HUD, 202-708-0001.

HUD SEEKS FEEDBACK ON HEALTHY HOMES DESIGNATION. Comments are due October 14 on a proposal to designate communities as Safe and Healthy Homes Investment Partnerships providing multiple housing-based interventions and leveraging non-federal resources. These places would not receive direct funding, but might receive bonus points in future HUD NOFAs. See Federal Register, 9/14/11 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Jon L. Gant, HUD, 202-708-0310.

HOUSING GSE REGULATIONS UNDER REVIEW. The Federal Housing Finance Agency requests comments by November 22 on its plan to review regulations promulgated by its predecessors (HUD’s Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, HUD’s GSE oversight team, and the Federal Housing Finance Board). Individual regulations will be published for comment as well. Visit https://www.fhfa.gov or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Alfred M. Pollard, FHFA, alfred.pollard@fhfa.gov, 202-414-3788.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON SECTION 502 GUARANTEE PROGRAM FEES. New fees for the program begin October 1. Visit https://www.rdlist.sc.egov.usda.gov to sign up for emails and https://usdalinc.sc.egov.usda.gov/USDALincTrainingResourceLib.do to access documents, including frequently asked questions. Contact the national office guarantee division, 202-720-1452.

500 PLACES MAY LOSE ELIGIBILITY FOR USDA HOUSING PROGRAMS, HAC ESTIMATES. Analyzing recently released 2010 Census data, HAC calculated that 500 cities, towns, and villages could be reclassified as ineligible because their populations have grown. Future research will identify places that have lost population and could become newly eligible. Over 9 million people live in the potentially ineligible places (the report notes that not all would be eligible for housing aid, based on income or other program requirements). After the 1990 and 2000 censuses, legislation “grandfathered in” such places so they remained eligible; it is not known whether Congress will pass such a measure this year. The report, titled Estimating Potential Changes to USDA-RD’s Eligible Area Designations, lists of places, and an archived webinar presentation are available at https://ruralhome.org. Contact Lance George, HAC, lance@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

REGISTER FOR HAC’S SENIOR HOUSING SYMPOSIUM, NOV. 9-10, SEATTLE. Housing Seniors in Rural America: Aging in Place in a Shifting Landscape will feature discussions on aging in place; resources for repairing, developing, and preserving rental and homeownership units; and examples of successful practices in the field of affordable senior rural housing. Register online at https://ruralhome.org or contact Dan Stern, HAC, registration@ruralhome.org.

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August 31, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 18

• OMB asks agencies to suggest spending cuts • Section 514/516 deadline extended • USDA reissues Preservation Revolving Loan Fund NOFA • HUD offers Energy Innovation Fund Multifamily Pilot Program Grants • Continuum of Care NOFA published • Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program reopens in some states • HUD proposes to open FHA mortgage insurance to Farm Credit System direct lenders • HUD announces FY10 Rural Innovation Fund grantees • Proposed FMRs released • Handbook explains clean-up after flooding • HAC launches senior housing initiative • HAC offers training on senior housing and 502 packaging, Nov. 8-10, Seattle

August 31, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 18

OMB ASKS AGENCIES TO SUGGEST SPENDING CUTS. The Office of Management and Budget told federal agencies to prepare 2013 budget proposals based on 5% and 10% cuts from FY11 appropriations. An OMB blog post says the Administration will not make across-the-board cuts but will cut spending that is “wasteful or not essential.” Visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/08/18/2013-budget-guidance. There will be further communications between agencies and OMB as the Administration’s official budget is developed; these are not usually made public.

SECTION 514/516 DEADLINE EXTENDED (see HAC News, 7/6/11 and 8/18/11). Preapplications are now due September 6 rather than August 22, and the points for energy conservation are revised. See Federal Register, 8/30/11, https://www.grants.gov/, or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_NOFAs.html. Contact an RD state office.

USDA REISSUES PRESERVATION REVOLVING LOAN FUND NOFA. USDA will make loans to intermediaries that will lend for Section 515 and 514/516 preservation. Deadline is September 21. See Federal Register, 8/22/11, or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_NOFAs.html. Contact Sherry Engel, sherry.engel@wdc.usda.gov, 715-345-7677.

HUD OFFERS ENERGY INNOVATION FUND MULTIFAMILY PILOT PROGRAM GRANTS. CDFIs, for-profits, nonprofits, and special purpose financing entities are eligible for grants to demonstrate financing or applied research showing innovative and replicable approaches to increase energy efficiency at existing multifamily properties. Matching funds are required. Deadline is October 20. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm. Contact Theodore K. Toon, HUD, 202-708-0001.

CONTINUUM OF CARE NOFA PUBLISHED. Continuums of Care with approved registrations can apply by October 28 through HUD’s e-snaps system. Visit https://www.hudhre.info/.

EMERGENCY HOMEOWNERS’ LOAN PROGRAM REOPENS IN SOME STATES. Applications for interest-free loans are now due September 15 from homeowners in AK, AR, CO, HI, IA, KS, LA, ME, MA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NH, NM, NY, ND, OK, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, and PR who are at risk of foreclosure due to involuntary unemployment or underemployment, economic conditions, or medical conditions. Visit https://www.findehlp.org/ or call 855-FIND-EHLP (855-346-3345).

HUD PROPOSES TO OPEN FHA MORTGAGE INSURANCE TO FARM CREDIT SYSTEM DIRECT LENDERS. To make more housing credit available in rural areas, a proposed regulation would enable these lenders to seek FHA approval. Comments are due October 25. See Federal Register, 8/26/11, or https://www.regulations.gov/. Contact HUD’s Office of Lender Activities and Program Compliance, 202-708-1515.

HUD ANNOUNCES FY10 RURAL INNOVATION FUND GRANTEES. More than half the 46 awardees serve Native American/Native Alaskan populations. HUD says grantees will create 789 housing units and 655 jobs. Visit the Press Room at https://www.hud.gov/.

PROPOSED FMRS RELEASED. Comments are due September 19 on FY 2012 Fair Market Rents listed in the Federal Register, 8/19/11. Visit https://www.regulations.gov or https://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html. Contact HUD User, 800-245-2691 or HUD program staff.

HANDBOOK EXPLAINS CLEAN-UP AFTER FLOODING. Intended to help residents and contractors remove mold and other contamination, Creating a Healthy Home: A Field Guide for Clean-up of Flooded Homes is free at https://www.nchh.org/. Agencies working directly with individuals impacted by floods can order printed booklets for distribution from the National Center for Healthy Housing, 877-312-3046.

HAC LAUNCHES SENIOR HOUSING INITIATIVE. Support from The Atlantic Philanthropies will be used to increase the capacity of organizations providing affordable housing for low-income rural seniors and to advocate for better and better-funded programs. To receive announcements about events and resources, contact Janice Clark, HAC, janice@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600 ext. 131.

HAC OFFERS TRAINING ON SENIOR HOUSING AND 502 PACKAGING, NOV. 8-10, SEATTLE Section 502 Packaging Certification Training for Nonprofit Organizations, Nov. 8-10, is for those who are familiar with the 502 direct loan program and anticipate seeking certification as loan packagers. Participants in this track are expected to attend the complete course and to take the online certification exam afterwards. Housing Seniors in Rural America: Aging in Place in a Shifting Landscape, Nov. 9-10, is a symposium featuring discussions, resources, and examples of successful practices. For more, check https://ruralhome.org/ later this week or contact Dan Stern, HAC, dan@ruralhome.org.

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August 3, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 16

• Extent of debt ceiling deal’s impact on housing programs unclear • House subcommittee postpones second hearing on moving USDA rural housing to HUD • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau opens • HUD offers grants to develop regional plans integrating housing and other development • RD withdraws SAVE immigration verification requirement • Pilots to coordinate federal housing programs • HUD launches rental preservation website • Newsletter addresses low-income renters • Rental unit supply increased while affordable stock fell, HUD reports • Metro areas grew more than twice as fast as nonmetro during 2000’s • AT&T merger with T-Mobile may not help rural connectivity, analysis concludes • Follow HAC on Twitter

August 3, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 16

EXTENT OF DEBT CEILING DEAL’S IMPACT ON HOUSING PROGRAMS UNCLEAR. The Budget Control Act signed into law on August 2 will cut appropriations, but does not require all cuts to be proportionate across the board. One provision exempts some programs for low-income people from additional funding cuts that would be triggered if the new Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction does not cut enough, but housing aid is not exempted.

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE POSTPONES SECOND HEARING ON MOVING USDA RURAL HOUSING TO HUD. The Financial Services Committee’s housing subcommittee scheduled a second hearing for August 3 but then postponed it indefinitely. The first hearing was held May 25 (see HAC News, 5/25/11).

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU OPENS. The new agency, which opened July 21, was created by the Dodd-Frank Act to protect consumers from abusive financial practices. It will oversee mortgage lending by all types of entities and will take over responsibility for enforcing related laws, some of which were listed in the Federal Register on 7/21/11, including HMDA, the SAFE mortgage licensing act, and RESPA. It will not have jurisdiction over the Community Reinvestment Act. Visit https://consumerfinance.gov.

HUD OFFERS GRANTS TO DEVELOP REGIONAL PLANS INTEGRATING HOUSING AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT. Regional Planning Grants are for consortia of local governments, planning agencies, tribes, and private entities; contact Dwayne S. Marsh, HUD, 202-402-6316, sustainablecommunities@hud.gov. Community Challenge Planning Grants will go to state and local governments, tribes, and consortia of those entities; contact Sunaree K. Marshall, HUD, 202-402-6011, sustainablecommunities@hud.gov. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm or https://www.grants.gov.

RD WITHDRAWS SAVE IMMIGRATION VERIFICATION REQUIREMENT. A July 18 Unnumbered Letter rescinds the June 9 UL requiring use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system to check the immigration status of Farm Labor Housing tenants (see HAC News, 7/6/11 and 7/20/11). Both ULs are available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_UnnumberedList.html or from RD offices.

PILOTS TO COORDINATE FEDERAL HOUSING PROGRAMS. Officials from HUD, USDA RD, and state housing finance agencies have been working to better align their programs. Pilot efforts addressing physical inspections and subsidy layering reviews will begin soon. A White House summary, with links to more details, is at https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/27/federal-rental-alignment. Send comments to harmonization@hud.gov.

HUD LAUNCHES RENTAL PRESERVATION WEBSITE. Resources related to HUD-financed multifamily properties are collected at https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/mfh/presrv/presmfh.

NEWSLETTER ADDRESSES LOW-INCOME RENTERS. Tenant Talk, published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, provides information on relevant federal government actions. Visit https://www.nlihc.org/template/page.cfm?id=275. To subscribe, email outreach@nlihc.org or call 202-662-1530 ext. 316.

RENTAL UNIT SUPPLY INCREASED WHILE AFFORDABLE STOCK FELL, HUD REPORTS. Two new studies using American Housing Survey data calculate that the national supply of rental units increased by an estimated 693,600 from 2007 to 2009. The stock affordable for residents with the lowest incomes fell by over 2 million units while significant shifts of units to higher rent categories occurred. The rate of unit loss was slightly higher in nonmetro areas than nationwide (2.1% compared to 1.6%). Components of Inventory Change and Rental Market Dynamics are posted at https://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/cinch/cinch09/cinch07-09.html. Contact HUD User, 1-800-245-2691.

METRO AREAS GREW MORE THAN TWICE AS FAST AS NONMETRO DURING 2000’S. First Results from the 2010 Census reports many rural areas lost population during the decade, either because people moved to metro areas or because metro areas expanded into previously rural territory. Metro areas grew by 11%, more than twice as fast as nonmetro places. Nationwide, 341 counties now have majority minority populations. Growth in the Hispanic population is particularly striking, says the report. The Population Reference Bureau study is free at https://www.prb.org/pdf11/reports-on-america-2010-census.pdf or $5.00 from PRB, 800-877-9881.

AT&T MERGER WITH T-MOBILE MAY NOT HELP RURAL CONNECTIVITY, ANALYSIS CONCLUDES. Despite AT&T statements regarding network development in rural America, the company’s past performance indicates disinterest in rural broadband investment, according to “If Phone Giants Merge: A Rural Take.” The July 18 Daily Yonder article is posted at https://www.dailyyonder.com/rural-outlook-phone-giants-merger/2011/07/04/3410.

FOLLOW HAC ON TWITTER. For rural housing updates between issues of the HAC News, follow @ruralhome at https://www.twitter.com.