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Today, the housing crisis is defined by different factors

July 10, 2014/in Is the Housing Crisis Over? Persistent Poverty

For more on this topic, read the July 2014 issue of

chuck-wehrwein-web Chuck Wehrwein, Acting President & CEO, NeighborWorks America

Do you believe that the housing crisis is over?

While it is true that there are a lot of signs of recovery for the nation as a whole, the housing crisis is not over in many communities around the country. Many of the communities that we work in are still dealing with a backlog of vacant and abandoned properties.

For more on this topic, read the July 2014 issue of .

In 2008 the U.S. economy fell off a cliff. Depending on your perspective it either slipped or was pushed from that precipice by the housing markets. But after six years where are we? How were rural Americans impacted, and are there lingering effects from the crisis? Rural Voices assembled four of the most knowledgeable experts in the affordable housing world to help answer these complex questions and provide insights on how to improve rural housing conditions in the wake of the housing crisis.

chuck-wehrwein-web Chuck Wehrwein, Acting President & CEO, NeighborWorks America

Do you believe that the housing crisis is over?

Particularly feeling the brunt are families who are still under water on their mortgages and younger people who are unable to buy their first home because that can’t qualify for a loan or can’t find an affordable house – often due to crushing student debt.

To put it in perspective, in April there were 46,000 completed foreclosures, according to CoreLogic. That represents a significant decline year over year, and foreclosures have been falling for two and a half years. But, it is also important to note that the monthly number of completed foreclosures is still almost double what it was in the average pre-crisis month between 2000 and 2006. The Urban Institute estimates that, mostly because of tight credit, as many as 1.2 million loans that would have been made in 2001 are “missing” from today’s market.

And let’s not forget the families who can’t even afford to think about buying, yet are paying more than 50 percent of their incomes on rent or are homeless.

All of that points to a housing crisis that is not over yet.

What factors defined the “housing crisis?”

Five or six years ago, the “housing crisis” that was in the news every day was defined by foreclosures. People were losing their homes to foreclosure at a truly alarming pace.

Today, the housing crisis is defined by different factors. One is the lack of affordable rental housing, another is housing affordability, a third is tight lending standards, and a fourth is home values that is still leaving many borrowers underwater.

Of course, there other severe housing challenges that are much more long-standing, particularly in rural areas. These include a general lack of affordable housing and, historically, widespread poor housing conditions.

How, was the housing crisis different for rural areas than the nation as a whole?

Most rural areas didn’t see the wild price fluctuations that we saw in urban and suburban areas during the boom and bust years. So, while families lost value in their homes, they probably didn’t lose as much equity as urban and suburban residents.

But that is not to say that the housing crisis—and the foreclosure crisis—didn’t impact rural areas. There certainly was—and is—a housing crisis in rural areas – although it hasn’t been as well covered by the media. NeighborWorks has seen firsthand through our administration of the Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) program the impact of foreclosures in rural areas and the need for education and counseling. Through July 2013, almost 180,000 families in rural areas had received foreclosure counseling through NFMC.

Five or six years ago, the “housing crisis” that was in the news every day was defined by foreclosures. People were losing their homes to foreclosure at a truly alarming pace. Today, the housing crisis is defined by different factors.

What are some of the indirect or secondary impacts of the housing crisis?

At NeighborWorks America, we definitely see some of the impacts of the housing crisis on NeighborWorks organizations and the residents they serve, including those in rural areas. The decrease in government funding for housing—both from UDSA and HUD—has meant they are able to develop fewer new rental housing units, and that they are concerned about finding the resources to preserve existing units.
Homeownership has also been impacted. NeighborWorks organizations tell us anecdotally that it is harder for their customers to get mortgage loans due to tightened lending standards.
The Center on American Progress reported recently that nearly half of all mortgages made today go to borrowers with credit scores of more than 750, compared to 2001, when more than two-thirds of mortgages went to borrowers with scores lower than 750. That means more customers are looking to FHA and USDA loans for help. In addition, some of our organizations say the consolidation of USDA offices are leading to longer processing times for mortgage loans issued by the agency – a mainstay in rural communities. NeighborWorks organizations who have CDFIs are working hard to fill in the gaps in the mortgage market.

Photo: Empty – Ruin Raider – Creative Commons

What are the long term ramifications for affordable housing?

Let me start by saying that it is our experience at NeighborWorks that nonprofit community development organizations serving rural areas are some of the most creative groups out there. I am very confident they will continue to go a long way toward serving the housing needs of their rural communities.

However, there still are many people in rural areas who are in need decent, affordable housing. Additional resources are needed to expand opportunities on a broader scale, and given the current funding environment, that will be very challenging.

But there is always a silver lining. The quality and energy efficiency of new manufactured housing have improved greatly and this type of construction could help serve some of the unmet needs if ramped up. Some states and organizations are working to improve the energy efficiency by doing replacements of older manufactured homes as well. And we have seen in the NeighborWorks network and through ROC USA, the value that resident-owned manufactured housing communities bring to residents and to communities. It is my hope that the challenging funding environment will lead local policy makers to, for example, reconsider their ownership laws for manufactured housing, and lenders to find new ways to finance them.

Is the Housing Crisis Over? And how did it impact rural America?

July 10, 2014/in Is the Housing Crisis Over? Persistent Poverty

Download a pdf version of Rural Voices

The July 2014 issue of Rural Voices takes another look at the housing crisis and asks some important questions. Knowledgeable experts in the affordable housing field share their expertise, insights, and strategies to improve housing conditions in light of the Great Recession.

VIEW FROM WASHINGTON

Discussing Community Reinvestment in Rural America
by Thomas J. Curry, Comptroller of the Currency

How banks and federal savings associations can more effectively serve the credit needs of rural communities

SPECIAL FEATURE

Is the Housing Crisis Over? And how did it impact rural America?
An interview with:

Eric Belsky, Director, Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University
Sheila Crowley, Executive Director, National Low Income Housing Coalition
Gail Burks, President & CEO, Nevada Fair Housing, Center, Inc.
Chuck Wehrwein, Acting President & CEO, NeighborWorks America

Four national leaders discuss the housing crisis and its impact on rural America

FEATURES

Repurposing Foreclosed Properties in Rural America
by Noel Poyo, Executive Director, and Christopher W. Sanchez, Program Director, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB)

A consortium of nonprofits works at the local level to reverse the devastating effects of the foreclosure crisis

Housing Counseling Services Offer More Than Just Counseling
by Keith L. Morris, President, Elder Law of Michigan

While housing counselors are instrumental in helping people avoid foreclosure, they also provide invaluable resources to help families improve their lives

Making a Difference in Rural America
by Tony Hernandez, Administrator, USDA Rural Housing Service

Newly appointed Rural Housing Service administrator shares his thoughts and priorities for USDA’s housing initiatives

MAPS

The housing crisis and its wake in rural America– (Interactive Prezi)

Add your Response

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.

Housing Counseling Services Offer More than Just Counseling

July 10, 2014/in Is the Housing Crisis Over? Persistent Poverty

While housing counselors are instrumental in helping people avoid foreclosure, they also provide invaluable resources to help families improve their lives

When someone is facing foreclosure, there is usually a credit card collector calling constantly, a family member struggling with an illness, or a heavy stress over where the next meal might be coming from. The problem that the client comes to us about is often caused by another bigger issue that they may be dealing with. This is why a housing counselor does so much more than just housing counseling.

While we have always provided assistance with housing issues through our Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors, Elder Law of Michigan has been a HUD-approved housing counseling agency since 2011. We decided to expand our programs to become a housing counseling agency so that we could do a better job of helping clients deal with the issues that may be preventing them from owning or renting a home or apartment.

The goal of the housing counseling program is to help clients achieve their goals. In regards to helping with homeownership, these goals could be to downsize to a smaller, more accessible home; own a home for the first time; or become a home owner again after going through challenges that resulted in a foreclosure of a previous home.

A housing counselor works with the client to figure out the alternatives and then allows the client to make an educated decision on how to proceed. This process is customized to each client but includes budget discussions, information on what resources are available, credit repair counseling, education on fair housing rights, and assistance with finding other housing if that is necessary. Housing counselors provide these services in an understanding, non-judgmental way.

We recognize that there are additional challenges faced by our rural clients: limited access to services and fewer housing alternatives.

These services are invaluable to someone struggling with the constant phone calls from the creditor, the overwhelming amount of incorrect information on the internet, and the fear of what to do if the family loses their home.

As a nonprofit that serves clients in suburban cities and rural counties, we recognize that there are additional challenges faced by our rural clients: limited access to services and fewer housing alternatives.

Many rural residents are perfectly fine with the fact that there aren’t many businesses nearby. In fact, that may be one of the reasons why they choose to live in the rural area. With the tight economy, nonprofits have to strategically locate where they can serve the most clients in a cost-effective manner. A large, mostly rural county in our service area has only one housing counseling agency actually located in the county. For residents on the other side of the county, that means almost an hour of travel each way to get assistance with their housing problems.

Another barrier is access to high-speed internet. Out of efficiency, many of the programs that help with foreclosure issues use a website or an online portal. While this works for those who are computer savvy and have a reliable computer with a good internet connection, several of our clients could only access these services with our help.

Making our services available by telephone means that we can try to provide as much assistance as possible without having the client drive a long distance to meet with us. There are still some issues using this method because there is not a nearby place to make copies or fax documents.

For those clients who commute into the larger cities for work, these issues can be addressed with the services available there. However, for our older, retired clients, that is not always so easy. We also discovered that some clients were not able to contact us because our office hours were the same hours that they worked. We had to make evening appointments available.
There are fewer housing options for some rural clients. In an ideal situation, our housing counselors would be able to work with the client and resolve the mortgage issue, allowing the client and their family to remain in the home. However, that is not always the case. In some cases, we have to work with the client to find alternate, affordable housing. Purchasing another home to live in is not an option at that moment due to credit issues. For many clients in this situation, we help them find an apartment that they can afford. For rural clients, rentals are not very plentiful, so relocating to another community is a reality that they must face on top of dealing with the foreclosure.

Because it is hard enough dealing with the housing issue, rural clients should definitely seek out a housing counseling agency to help. Recently, we had a client from a rural county who lost his job and was faced with foreclosure. Our housing counselor worked with him to go over his budget and determined that if he could get caught up, he would be able to afford to make future payments. They worked together by phone and through the mail to get all of his paperwork together. The client came to our office and worked with the counselor to complete an application for assistance through the Hardest Hit Fund program. After waiting several weeks, the client received notice that he was going to receive assistance and could save his home. Now, several months later, he just emailed us to say how thankful he is for the help.

Unfortunately, this is not always the outcome for our clients. Another client, a widow from a very small town in another rural county, contacted one of our other programs because she needed help buying food. After speaking with her, our benefits counselor realized that the client was also facing foreclosure. She gladly agreed to be helped by our housing counseling program. She was the victim of a fraudulent refinance scheme that took her money but never worked with her mortgage lender. Because she was not going to be able to afford the home any longer, our housing counselor worked with the client to find another place to live. After five months, the client was able to move into a subsidized housing complex in a nearby city and even recovered some of her money thanks to the legal help she received from the legal hotline.

After five months, the client was able to move into a subsidized housing complex in a nearby city and even recovered some of her money thanks to the legal help she received from the legal hotline.

Even for clients who are not able to stay in their home, the dream of homeownership is still possible. Housing counseling programs will work with the client who wants to own a home again in the future. Participating in a structured program to help with saving money and possibly rebuild credit is a good way to return to homeownership faster.

Housing counseling programs also can provide information on fair housing laws and discrimination. Whether you are looking to buy a home, take out a mortgage, or rent an apartment, you should know your rights.

Our housing counseling program, along with our other programs, does so much more than just answer questions and give referrals. Like many other housing counseling agencies, we seek to address the problems that led to the housing issue. It is this assistance that our clients find the most helpful. To find a housing counseling agency in your area, visit www.hud.gov or call 800-569-4287.

Keith L. Morris, J.D., M.P.A. is the President of Elder Law of Michigan, a private nonprofit that assists clients with legal counseling, pension counseling, benefits counseling, and housing counseling. Its new Housing Rights Center of Michigan assists clients of all ages and incomes in counties surrounding Lansing, Michigan.

Repurposing Foreclosed Properties in Rural America

July 10, 2014/in Is the Housing Crisis Over?

A consortium of nonprofits works at the local level to reverse the devastating effects of the foreclosure crisis

by Noel Poyo and Chrisopher W. Sanchez

NALCAB, the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, represents and serves a geographically and ethnically diverse group of more than 100 non-profit community development and asset-building organizations that are anchor institutions in our nation’s Latino communities. NALCAB members are experts in implementing responsible, market-based strategies for developing neighborhood assets, investing in small businesses and building family wealth.

More than 35 percent of NALCAB’s members serve rural communities. The dramatic dispersion of Latinos outside of traditional urban centers into small towns has been among the most striking population shifts in the U.S. over the past 50 years. This demographic trend has brought much needed labor and entrepreneurial vigor to many rural communities, just as it has presented new social and economic challenges. Among the strongest impulses of the NALCAB founders was to provide access to capital and culturally relevant asset building services for Latinos living and working in rural and colonia communities.

NALCAB members immediately observed the market-depressing effects of foreclosures in small towns

The foreclosure crisis that sparked the Great Recession was particularly brutal in many rural counties. Adam Wodka’s 2009 study (Landscapes of Foreclosure: The Foreclosure Crisis in Rural America) estimated that 15 of the 20 counties with the highest rates of foreclosure were rural or mixed rural. While the sheer number of foreclosures was certainly higher and more concentrated in urban areas, NALCAB members immediately observed the market-depressing effects of foreclosures in small towns. Once impacted, however, rural communities were at a disadvantage when competing with large cities for resources. NALCAB connected urban and rural-serving non-profit organizations in a consortium strategy that leveraged substantial federal funding to address the impacts of foreclosure. The strategic assembly of select NALCAB member organizations into a national collaborative effort enabled the consortium to tackle important economic issues to reverse the devastating effects brought forth by the foreclosure crisis.

In February 2010, a consortium of 13 nonprofits organized by NALCAB received $137 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to stabilize communities impacted by home foreclosures and abandonment in 8 states and the District of Columbia. This HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) grant is the single largest federal award ever targeted to predominantly Latino communities.

The consortium included markets in California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Maryland and our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. Many of the consortium partners were already doing housing development in rural communities. They had an existing housing delivery infrastructure, but they lacked resources to stabilize these rural communities. It was understood that a balanced approach of urban and rural strategy was essential. While a strategy targeting only rural communities may not have been competitive, mixing urban and rural target areas made it possible for rural communities to access funding. Combining urban and rural strategy into our NSP2 application made us a stronger applicant and paved the way for the NSP2 award of $137 Million.

The CPLC/NALCAB NSP2 Consortium has now deployed the entire grant, and has used the proceeds from the sales of rehabilitated properties, to surpass $200 million in direct investment. In other words, the consortium partners not only deployed the entire NSP2 award, but it was done in an economically prudent manner that allowed the consortium to generate over $70 Million in program income to date. This amount of program income will continue to increase as existing housing inventory is rehabilitated and sold. The following impacts have been accomplished to date:

968 affordable single family units created
986 affordable rental units created
42 blighted properties demolished
54 properties land banked for future development
1,614 jobs created or retained

The following CPLC/NALCAB NSP2 Consortium Partners made a conscious decision to carve out funding to serve rural and colonia communities in their respective markets. Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) of Arizona; Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (CRHDC) of Colorado; Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association, Inc. (CHISPA) of Salinas, California; and Tierra Del Sol Housing Development Corporation (TDS) of Southern New Mexico and West Texas were committed to serving the needs of their most vulnerable rural neighbors. The following are short summaries of the rural neighborhood investment strategies that the CPLC/NALCAB NSP2 Consortium implemented:

Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) Arizona

CPLC invested over $3.2 million of its NSP2 funds in the rural markets of Rio Rico & Nogales, AZ. Both communities are located in Santa Cruz County, adjacent to the border with Mexico. CPLC has produced over 50 housing opportunities for rural families. Most of the activity has been focused on acquisition and rehabilitation; however, they also acquired a five acre tract of land that they will land bank. The tract of land is in close proximity to an existing CPLC multi-family apartment complex. The newly acquired land will allow CPLC to construct much needed affordable rentals in Santa Cruz County. The NSP2 award has allowed CPLC to expand and complement efforts that it had already begun in the area. CPLC’s NSP2 program has created an undeniable economic boost to the real estate market in Santa Cruz County.

Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (CRHDC) Colorado

CRHDC had a broader program design that covered many rural markets. It acquired and rehabilitated 15 homes in rural Colorado; Alamosa, Del Norte, Walsenberg, and Monte Vista. These efforts led to increased home values, helped boost homebuyer confidence, recharged the local construction industry and revitalized homes that had become an eyesore in these neighborhoods.

CRHDC also produced 14 new units of site built and modular housing in Monte Vista and San Luis. Local residents welcomed this new development and it enhanced the appearance and vitality of these communities.

CRHDC engaged in multi-family housing; it acquired a 48 unit property in Sterling, CO with their NSP2 funds. It successfully leveraged additional funds from the State Division of Housing to cover the rehabilitation costs, plus it received a low cost loan from the State, to complete the project.

Additionally, CRHDC acquired land in Fort Morgan, CO, which will be the future site of a 50 unit farmworker housing community, to be named Sol Naciente.

Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association, Inc. (CHISPA) California

CHISPA demonstrated how a highly targeted approach could renew a specific neighborhood. CHISPA has made a significant impact in Greenfield, CA, a rural community in Southern Monterey County. CHISPA used NSP 2 funds to acquire four homes in a single cul-de-sac, which is located adjacent to an existing CHISPA rental property. The homes were rehabilitated and either sold or rented. CHISPA’s total real estate portfolio was an anchor for this neighborhood. CHISPA also acquired a single family home and a duplex in Greenfield that are being rented to households with incomes at or below 50 percent of area median income.

CHISPA continues its revitalization efforts in Greenfield. CHISPA is now building three brand new homes using HUD NSP funding. The homes will be sold in order to generate additional program income and create more new homes in the City of Greenfield. The city leaders have been vested partners and have expressed particular excitement that new construction has started again in Greenfield.

Tierra Del Sol Housing Corporation (TDS) Southern New Mexico & West Texas

TDS launched its NSP2 program by acquiring four U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) foreclosures in Horizon City, TX. These units were in rough shape. Because of the isolation of this rural community, vacant properties were prime targets for theft and vandalism. TDS stepped in and ultimately acquired 16 homes in this rural market, revitalizing the homes and filling them with responsible and proud homeowners. The investment in this market definitely improved market conditions and helped put contractors and small business owners back in business.

In each case, these organizations were able to deploy funds rapidly and effectively because they had an existing track record of development in their target markets and well established relationships with local government and other partners. Furthermore, these organizations had already earned the trust of the community because of their past commitment to these rural communities. The NSP2 funds simply allowed them to complement their existing programs and services and allowed organizations of shared vision and mission to improve Latino communities – both urban and rural.

Noel Poyo is the Executive Director and Christopher W. Sanchez is the Program Director at the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders – NALCAB. For more information please call the NALCAB Office at (210) 227-1010 or go to their websites: https://www.nalcab.org or https://www.nsp2nationalconsortium.org.

Making a Difference in Rural America

July 9, 2014/in Is the Housing Crisis Over?

USDA Rural Housing Services Administrator Tony HernandezNewly appointed Rural Housing Service administrator shares his thoughts and priorities for USDA’s housing initiatives.

I am honored and pleased to be the new administrator at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS). For more than 60 years, USDA has helped millions of rural residents become part of the American Dream of homeownership. I look forward to the opportunity to continue and expand this agency’s historic accomplishments.

I have now been on the job for some time and have been impressed by the vital work that we do to provide housing and community facilities in Rural America. In my 26 years in community development, I have strongly believed that housing is a conduit to family, neighborhood and community. I see RHS as a community development agency. The multiple roles we play—catalyst, partner, advocate, regulator and investor—improve people’s lives and create better communities.

With its wide open spaces filled with lush, natural beauty, combined with its small-town charms, rural America is a great place to live and raise a family. And, although rural America is changing due to the rise of new technologies like the Internet and the advent of globalism, one thing still holds true: homeownership remains one of the single-most important factors that help our rural communities thrive and prosper economically.

The resources in our community development toolkit include homeownership programs for rural families. USDA has two primary Single-Family Housing Programs that are a major provider of homeownership opportunities in rural communities. The direct homeownership loan program helps very low- to low-income families. It is designed to open the door to homeownership to those who do not qualify for mortgage credit from conventional lenders. These loans are available to families and individuals with reasonable credit history and dependable income. This is not a government handout. Direct loans are repaid and subsidized to lower the monthly loan payment at a relatively small cost to the government.

My major priority is to focus on enhancing customer service through improved business processes.

For moderate-income families, we offer a guaranteed homeownership loan program and partner with participating private-sector lenders to provide home loans in rural areas at reasonable rates and terms.

For many Americans, especially those in rural areas, a home is the largest asset they will buy in their lifetime. Homeownership provides multiple, long-term benefits. It leads to greater economic security for families, who often can use the equity in their homes to build their credit, finance their children’s educations, improve the value of their property, or finance other necessities such as health care. Homeownership also helps families to plant long-term roots in their community.

Many rural residents who buy homes through USDA programs are first-time homebuyers. We also help current homeowners improve their homes through USDA rehabilitation loans or grants. Very low-income homeowners who are age 62 or older can qualify for grants to make health and safety improvements – such as accessibility accommodations – in addition to repairs. We are proud that USDA helps families start on the path of economic stability and a more secure future through homeownership.

The benefits of our housing programs extend beyond the homeowners themselves. USDA home loans also create economic opportunities for home builders, providers of durable goods such as lumber or appliances, and Realtors. USDA home loans often represent the majority of the business volume for many Realtors. Finally, local governments also benefit from increased revenue through property taxes. In fact, in many jurisdictions, property taxes from homeowners are the largest source of revenue. This is particularly true in rural communities where there are relatively fewer businesses compared to homeowners.

Homeownership is essential to the fabric of life in rural America, for our families, and for the communities in which they live.

Creating viable communities also means providing opportunities for families and seniors to have good rental housing as well as good housing for farm workers. In partnership with multi-family property owners and their property managers the USDA Multi-Family Housing programs assist in creating rental homes that support and encourage families to be part of their communities. USDA also provides rental assistance to help very low-income families and senior citizens find safe, decent housing at an affordable cost. USDA provides these rental assistance subsidies to these families to offset the difference between market rents and a monthly amount they can afford.

I would be remiss if I failed to note that USDA offers several other forms of assistance to rural communities to complement our strong housing programs. In addition to housing, successful communities need community facilities that help them to be and remain a viable community. Our RHS Community Facilities program helps communities finance the development of essential services and buildings such as hospitals, child care centers, libraries, mental health clinics, first responder vehicles and equipment, and other community assets that help make communities strong and self-sufficient.

Our successes are our families. Here are some numbers:

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, USDA guaranteed loans created approximately 63,000 homebuyers. By FY 2013 (which ended September 30, 2013), annual loan volume had climbed by more than 100,000 loans – an increase of more than 158%.
From the start of FY 2009 through the end of FY 2013, the program financed more than 700,000 homeowners. Rural Development financed about 3.6 times the number of loans the agency had financed during the previous five years.
Loans are only part of the story. The full story is about the people. My major priority is to focus on enhancing customer service through improved business processes. With the reduction of staff that RHS has experienced over the last few years doing more with less requires the team to implement new business processes to better serve our customers, improve the predictability of the process, and enhance productivity of our great staff. Many of the RHS processes have not had dedicated budget dollars to automate. This year’s technology budget has created the opportunity for RHS to implement automation solutions that will improve the quality, standardize processes, improve staff productivity, and provide better customer service.

And to better serve the people, one of my first priorities is to help improve processes and service at our Customer Center in St. Louis. Our success there will enhance customer service, reduce financial and regulatory risks, improve staff productivity, improve staff morale, and create employee development opportunities.

We recently assembled a Single-Family Housing Rapid Improvement Team of experienced staff from St. Louis and Washington, D.C. The team also included lenders, a representative from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a USDA Rural Development State Director, and a USDA Rural Development Program Director.

Johnston Family, USDA Rural Development Home – Creative Commons photo

I have implemented various business improvement techniques to identify other business processes for improvement. The following are some of the areas of focus:

For our Single Family Housing loan guarantee program, we are working to improve our processes for loan loss mitigation to help borrowers who are in danger of default. We are improving our front-end image processing for loan documents. And we are implementing an automated process for loan closing. We are also working towards implementing delegated loan underwriting to reduce workloads for both lenders and RD staff. In addition, we’re working on a single close, construction to permanent loan to streamline processes and reduce costs.

For the Single Family Housing Direct loan program, we are working to improve our processes for acquired properties (Real Estate Owned) to better manage these properties. We are streamlining our loan origination system and implementing a program to work with loan packagers for outreach and loan application submission.

In our Multi-Family programs, we are working on an electronic loan application, we are streamlining the processes for transfers of properties when an owner wishes to sell. To streamline property inspections, we are investing in hand-held devices. We are also working on an electronic loan/grant application for our Community Facilities program.

One of the critical success factors to better customer service is implementing program processes that are understandable, easy to go through, predictable, transparent, and done in partnership with our customers and stakeholders. As part of RHS’s business process improvement, I welcome the wisdom and input of all our great partners on how we can better serve the needs of rural America. Please do not hesitate to contact RHS with your ideas.

As the Administrator of USDA’s Rural Housing Service, I can assure you that I and everyone on our team are committed to improving the lives of rural Americans and creating ladders of opportunity. Using all of our community development tools and through our strategic partnerships we make a huge difference in the lives of millions of rural Americans every day.

I look forward to working with all our stakeholder groups to make a difference through partnership, collaboration, investment, and advocacy for rural America.

Tony Hernandez is Administrator of USDA’s Rural Housing Service.

HAC News: July 9, 2014

July 9, 2014/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

July 9, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 14

• Castro confirmed as HUD secretary • Civil rights anniversary noted • Section 514/516 preapplications due September 2 • HUD offers FY14 and FY15 HOPE VI Main Street funds • Treasury and HUD announce rental housing initiative • CRA regulators update list of distressed or underserved nonmetro middle-income geographies • New report examines rural rental housing • New York Times piece on rural poverty draws criticism • HAC calculates 8,000 USDA properties will pay off loans by 2020 • Concentration of poverty has increased, Census Bureau reports • HAC’s website redesigned

July 9, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 14 [tdborder][/tdborder]

CASTRO CONFIRMED AS HUD SECRETARY. On July 9 by a 71-26 vote the full Senate confirmed Julián Castro to replace Shaun Donovan as Secretary of HUD. The Senate has not yet voted on Donovan’s nomination as the new OMB director. (See HAC News, 5/28/14.)

CIVIL RIGHTS ANNIVERSARY NOTED. President Obama proclaimed July 2, 2014, as the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964.

SECTION 514/516 PREAPPLICATIONS DUE SEPTEMBER 2. Section 514 loans and Section 516 grants can be used for new construction or purchase and substantial rehabilitation of rental housing for farmworkers. Section 521 Rental Assistance is available. The maximum award is $3 million. Contact a USDA RD state office.

HUD OFFERS FY14 AND FY15 HOPE VI MAIN STREET FUNDS. Governments of counties, cities, and townships with populations under 50,000 are eligible for grants to replace unused commercial space with affordable housing in historic or traditional central business districts. Deadline is August 18. Contact Lawrence Gnessin, HUD, lawrence .gnessin@hud.gov.

TREASURY AND HUD ANNOUNCE RENTAL HOUSING INITIATIVE. The Treasury Department’s Federal Financing Bank will finance mortgages made by Housing Finance Agencies and insured by FHA under its risk-sharing programs. Treasury is also extending the Making Home Affordable homeowner assistance program for at least one year and requesting public input by August 8 on ways to improve the private label securities market for housing finance.

CRA REGULATORS UPDATE LIST OF DISTRESSED OR UNDERSERVED NONMETRO MIDDLE-INCOME GEOGRAPHIES. The annual list identifies census tracts where bank activities will be considered as “community development” under the Community Reinvestment Act. There are slightly fewer tracts on the list in 2014 than in 2013, presumably reflecting some improvement in the economy.

NEW REPORT EXAMINES RURAL RENTAL HOUSING. Rural America’s Rental Housing Crisis: Federal Strategies to Preserve Access to Affordable Rental Housing in Rural Communities, published by the National Rural Housing Coalition, documents the successes of USDA’s rental housing programs and the challenges facing them now, including preservation and Section 521 Rental Assistance funding.

NEW YORK TIMES PIECE ON RURAL POVERTY DRAWS CRITICISM. “What’s the Matter with Eastern Kentucky?” by Annie Lowrey describes economic decline in Clay County, KY and wonders whether moving away might be residents’ best option. Tim Marema and Betsy Taylor respond with critical posts on the Daily Yonder.

HAC CALCULATES 8,000 USDA PROPERTIES WILL PAY OFF LOANS BY 2020. The oldest Section 515 and 514 loans are reaching the end of their 50-year mortgage terms. “Maturating USDA Multi-Family Housing Loans will Impact Ten-ants” explains that when a Section 515 or 514 loan is paid off, some tenant benefits (such as Section 521 Rental Assistance) are terminated. Tenant protection rules apply to prepayments but not to payoffs of mature loans. HAC’s Rural Policy Note recommends that USDA ask project owners to notify tenants well in advance of payoff.

CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY HAS INCREASED, CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS. The proportion of U.S. residents living in census tracts with poverty rates of 20% or higher fell from 1990 to 2000, then increased from 18.1% in 2000 to 25.7% in 2010. While the overall U.S. population grew by 10% over the decade, the number of people in these high poverty areas increased by about 56%. Of the people living in high poverty tracts in 2010, 51.1% lived in cities at the center of metropolitan areas, 28.6% in suburbs, and 20.4% in nonmetro areas. Census’s report, Changes in Areas with Concentrated Poverty: 2000 to 2010, includes maps and tables with data by state, race, age, and more.

HAC’S WEBSITE REDESIGNED. There’s a new look to the same great information at www.ruralhome.org.

Nonprofit Board Membership: From Basics to Beyond, July 16
Canal Street Housing: Housing Homeless Veterans, July 23
Nonprofit Strategic Planning, July 30

and place-based trainings:

Sharpening Your Skills: Financial Management for Rural Nonprofits, Aug. 12-13, New Orleans
Acquisition Rehabilitation for Rural Nonprofit Affordable Housing Development, Aug. 12-14, New Orleans

USDA Multi-Family Fair Housing Occupancy Report FY 2013

June 27, 2014/in Multi-Family Fair Housing Occupancy Reports

USDA’s yearly occupancy survey shows the total number of properties in USDA’s rural rental portfolio fell by 2.48% from April 2012 to September 2013, a decrease of 346 Section 515 properties and 34 Section 514 properties. The reduction covers 5,092 apartments (1.14% of total units). The 2013 report is the first to include demographic data on Section 521 Rental Assistance (RA) households, and they appear generally similar to tenants in Section 515 properties. The average annual income of Section 515 residents has increased slightly to $11,747. For Section 515 tenants with RA, average income is $9,828.

HAC News: June 25, 2014

June 25, 2014/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

June 25, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 13

• USDA and HUD funding stalls in Senate • HUD and OMB nominations proceed • Obama visits Standing Rock Reservation, HUD offers ICDBG funds • USDA will make rural broadband grants • ROSS funds and Choice Neighborhood Planning Grants available • Final changes made to project-based and tenant-based voucher programs • HUD implements FY14 appropriations law provisions • USDA RD to monitor Section 502 direct delinquencies more closely • Travel scholarships available for HUD CHDO workshops on new HOME rule • Rural housing obligations lag, NRHC expresses concern about 502 direct • Elders in HUD-subsidized housing have greater health needs than peers • State of the Nation’s Housing report to be released June 26

June 25, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 13

USDA AND HUD FUNDING STALLS IN SENATE. On June 19 the Senate halted progress, at least temporarily, on FY15 spending bills after Republicans and Democrats were unable to agree on a process for offering and voting on amendments to a mini-omnibus package (H.R. 4660) that combined three funding bills, including USDA and Transportation-HUD. Negotiations continue but it now appears more likely that a continuing resolution will be needed to start the new fiscal year on October 1. Both Senate and House had been moving quickly on the 2015 spending bills. The House has passed its T-HUD bill and put discussion of its USDA bill on hold indefinitely (see HAC News, 6/11/14).

HUD AND OMB NOMINATIONS PROCEED. On June 25, Senate committees voted to support the nominations of Julian Castro for HUD Secretary and Shaun Donovan for OMB director (see HAC News, 5/28/14). On June 19, the Senate confirmed Gustavo Velasquez Aguilar as HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

OBAMA VISITS STANDING ROCK RESERVATION, HUD OFFERS ICDBG FUNDS. On June 13 President and Mrs. Obama spent time in Cannonball, ND, in only the third visit by a sitting president to Indian Country. The trip focused on education and jobs; neither Obama’s announcement of the visit nor his remarks that day mentioned housing. HUD did announce its NOFA for FY14 Indian Community Development Block Grants the same day. Applications are due July 29. The contact person for the NOFA is Roberta Youmans, HUD, 202-402-3316.

USDA WILL MAKE RURAL BROADBAND GRANTS. Nonprofits, for-profits, tribes, and state or local governments are eligible for Community Connect grants to provide broadband service to areas currently without it. Deadline is July 7. Contact Rural Utilities Service, community.connect@wdc.usda.gov, 202-690-4673.

ROSS FUNDS AND CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING GRANTS AVAILABLE. PHAs, tribes, tribal housing entities, resident associations, and nonprofits can apply by August 18 for the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency – Service Coordinators Program to coordinate supportive services and activities for public and Indian housing residents. Contact Dina Lehmann-Kim, HUD, 202-402-2430. PHAs, tribal entities, local governments, and nonprofits can apply by August 12 for Choice Neighborhood Planning Grants to develop revitalization plans. Contact ChoiceNeighborhoods@hud.gov.

FINAL CHANGES MADE TO PROJECT-BASED AND TENANT-BASED VOUCHER PROGRAMS. The final regulation follows a proposed rule published in May 2012 (see HAC News, 5/16/12). Contact Michael Dennis, HUD, 202-402-3882.

HUD IMPLEMENTS FY14 APPROPRIATIONS LAW PROVISIONS. Changes include defining “extremely low-income families” as having incomes below the poverty level or 30% of Area Median Income, authorizing housing inspections every two years instead of annually, and capping some utility allowances. Contact Michael Dennis, HUD, 202-402-4059.

USDA RD TO MONITOR SECTION 502 DIRECT DELINQUENCIES MORE CLOSELY. An Unnumbered Letter dated June 12, 2014 requires states (not identified in the UL) with first and second year delinquency rates higher than the national average to use an Underwriting, Pre-Closing and Compliance Tool. RD will provide state offices with reports showing performance at the county level. Contact Migdaliz Bernier or Brooke Baumann, RD, 202-720-1474.

TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR HUD CHDO WORKSHOPS ON NEW HOME RULE. “CHDO Workshop: Understanding the 2013 HOME Final Rule” will be offered in many locations in July and August. Registration is free for CHDO staff. HUD has some travel scholarships available, funded partly by HAC. Contact Rachael Ballard, rballard@tdainc.org, 203-241-2410.

RURAL HOUSING OBLIGATIONS LAG, NRHC EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT 502 DIRECT. HAC’s latest USDA RD Program Obligation Reportshows that, as of the end of May, USDA had obligated nearly $2.9 billion less than at the same time last year. The National Rural Housing Coalition has written to RHS Administrator Tony Hernandez expressing concern about the lag in Section 502 direct commitments and supporting increased attention and improved technology for processing direct loans. Subscribe at HAC’s website to receive email notices when HAC’s obligations reports are released monthly. Contact Michael Feinberg, HAC, 202-842-8600.

ELDERS IN HUD-SUBSIDIZED HOUSING HAVE GREATER HEALTH NEEDS THAN PEERS. Picture of Housing and Health: Medicare and Medicaid Use Among Older Adults in HUD-Assisted Housing, a report financed by HUD and HHS, reviewed data for 11 metro areas and the state of Vermont. HUD-assisted residents in the study areas were more likely to be dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and were also sicker and more costly to both programs than their non-subsidized peers in the community.

STATE OF THE NATION’S HOUSING REPORT TO BE RELEASED JUNE 26. The annual study, supported in part by HAC, will be released by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies on a live webcast.

HAC News: June 11, 2014

June 11, 2014/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

June 11, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 12

• June is National Homeownership Month • HUD funding bills move forward, differences remain • House considers FY15 USDA bill, White House veto looms • House and Senate differ on requiring ACS responses • Section 533 HPG funds offered • USDA amends IRP regulations • Upcoming Trainings from HAC

June 11, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 12

June is National Homeownership Month. HUD and USDA press releases are online.

HUD funding bills move forward, differences remain. The full House on June 10 and the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 5 approved FY15 funding for HUD. The Senate, with many programs at 2014 levels or at the Obama budget’s level, provides higher amounts than the House for most HUD programs. Amendments adopted on the House floor prohibit funding from this bill being used for the Housing Trust Fund, forbid HUD implementation of a new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule (see HAC News, 7/17/13), shift $10 million within the Homeless Assist-ance Grants account to the Rural Housing Stability Program, and move $10 million from HUD’s information technology account to the Fair Housing Initiatives Program.[tdborder][/tdborder]

HUD Program (dollars in millions)	FY13 Approp.^a	FY14 Approp.	FY15 Admin. Budget	FY15 House Bill H.R. 4745	FY15 Senate Bill S. 2438
Cmty. Devel. Fund CDBG	3,308 2,948	3,100 3,030	2,870 2,800	3,060 3,000	3,090 3,020
HOME SHOP setaside	1,000 b	1,000 b	950 10	700 10	950 0
Self-Help Homeownshp. (SHOP)	13.5	10	c	c	10
Tenant-Based Rental Asstnce. VASH setaside	18,939.4 75	19,177.2 75	20,100 75	19,356 75	19,562 75
Project-Based Rental Asstnce.	9,339.7	9,516.6	9,346	9,346	9,346
Public Hsg. Capital Fund	1,886	1,875	1,925	1,775	1,900
Public Hsg. Operating Fund	4,262	4,400	4,600	4,400	4,475
Choice Neighbrhd. Initiative	120	90	120	0	90
Housing Trust Fund	d	d	1,000	0	0
Native Amer. Hsg. Block Grant	650	650	650	650	650
Homeless Assistance Grantse	2,033	2,105	2,406.4	2,105	2,145
Hsg. Opps. for Persons w/ AIDS	334	330	332	303	330
202 Hsg. for Elderly	377	385.3	440	420	420
811 Hsg. for Disabled	165	126	160	135	135
Fair Housing	70.8	66	71	56	66
Healthy Homes & Lead Haz. Cntl.	120	110	120	70	110
Housing Counseling	45	45	60	45	49
a. Figures shown do not include 5% sequester. b. Funded under separate Self-Help & Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program. c. Funded as a setaside in HOME. d. National Housing Trust Fund is “mandatory” funding, not discretionary, so does not need to be funded through appropriations legislation, although the Administration did include it in the budget request. e. Includes Rural Housing Stability Program.

House considers FY15 USDA bill, White House veto looms. The House begins floor debate June 11 on H.R. 4800, its USDA appropriations bill. The White House issued a veto threat, based primarily on the bill’s food and nutrition provisions, and encouraged adoption of all requested changes to the Section 521 Rental Assistance program.

House and Senate differ on requiring ACS responses. The FY15 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill passed by the House on May 30 would make responses to the American Community Survey voluntary. On June 5 the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its companion spending bill, retaining the current requirement that those who receive the survey must respond. The ACS provides data on many subjects including housing conditions and costs, and research shows that making responses voluntary would seriously reduce the reliability of data for small areas and Indian reservations.

Section 533 HPG funds offered. Nonprofits, state or local governments, and tribes can submit preapplications by July 28 for Housing Preservation Grants. Contact a USDA RD state office for details and a preapplication package.

USDA amends IRP regulations. Changes to the Rural Business-Cooperative Service’s Intermediary Relending Program are intended to address items based on an Office of Inspector General audit and the 2014 Farm Bill. They will become final unless adverse comments are filed by August 4. Contact Lori A. Washington, RBS, 202-720-9815.

VISIT RURALHOME.ORGTO LEARN ABOUT UPCOMING HAC TRAINING AND WEBINARS on rehab, financial management, board basics, veterans housing, and more!

HAC News: May 28, 2014

May 28, 2014/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

May 28, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 11

• USDA funding bills advance without major cuts • House committee approves FY15 T-HUD bill • Senate committee passes housing finance reform bill • Donovan nominated for OMB, Castro for HUD • Section 538 guarantees for rental housing loans are available • Lead hazard funding NOFA issued • USDA offers Intermediary Relending Program funds • HUD allows alternative accessibility standard • HUD allows alternative accessibility standard • Housing counseling pilot proposed by FHA • 2014 OMB Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement available • National Standard for Healthy Housing released • Research briefs link housing with education, employment, health, and other outcomes • Advocates’ Guide to Housing and Community Development Policy available online and in print • Draft handbook for Section 502 guaranteed loans posted • Homelessness decreased slightly from 2012 to 2013, research finds • Rural Data Portal updated with 2008-2012 ACS Data

May 28, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 11

USDA FUNDING BILLS ADVANCE WITHOUT MAJOR CUTS. The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee passed its FY15 agriculture appropriations bill on May 20, and the full House committee will consider the measure on May 29. The full Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version, S. 2389, on May 22. Both bills reject many of the Administration’s budget proposals and retain funding for Section 502 direct loans, Section 523 self-help, and the capacity-building Rural Community Development Initiative. Neither house adopted the Administration’s request for minimum rents. Both bills include language prohibiting renewal of Section 521 Rental Assistance contracts that use up their funding before their full 12-month terms. The House bill supports expansion of the demonstration packaging program for Section 502 direct loans, while the Senate bill is silent on the matter.[tdborder][/tdborder]

USDA Rural Dev. Prog. (dollars in millions)	FY13 Approp.^a	FY14 Approp.	FY15 Admin. Budget	FY15 House Subcmte. Bill	FY15 Senate Cmte. Bill S. 2389
502 Single Fam. Direct Self-Help setaside	$900 5	$900 5	$360 0	$1,042 5	$900 5
502 Single Family Guar.	24,000	24,000	24,000	24,000	24,000
504 VLI Repair Loans	28	26.3	26.3	26.4	26.3
504 VLI Repair Grants	29.5	28.7	25	27	28.7
515 Rental Hsg. Direct Lns.	31.3	28.4	28.4	28.3	28.4
514 Farm Labor Hsg. Lns.	20.8	23.9	23.9	23.6	23.8
516 Farm Labor Hsg. Grts.	7.1	8.3	8.3	8.3	8.3
521 Rental Assistance^b	907.1	1,110	1,089	1,089	1,094
523 Self-Help TA	30	25	10	30	25
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants	3.6	3.5	0	0	3.5
538 Rental Hsg. Guar.	150	150	150	150	150
Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR)	17.8	20	20	20	20
Rental Prsrv. Revlg. Lns.	0	0	0	0	0
542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers	10	12.6	8	8	8
Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init.	6.1	6	0	5	6
a. Figures shown do not include 5% sequester or 2.5% across the board cut. b. None of the FY15 documents propose RA setasides for preservation or for new Section 514/516 housing. The final FY13 appropriation included a $3 million 514/516 setaside, and the final FY14 appropriation has no setasides.

HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES FY15 T-HUD BILL. On May 21 the full House Appropriations Committee passed the Transportation-HUD spending bill as reported by its T-HUD subcommittee and summarized in the May 14 HAC News. The Senate subcommittee is expected to consider its bill on June 3.

SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES HOUSING FINANCE REFORM BILL. S. 1217, the Johnson-Crapo Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act, was approved by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on May 15. The full Senate is not expected to vote on the bill, however, and it has not been introduced in the House. It is likely to provide a starting point for finance reform efforts in the next Congress.

DONOVAN NOMINATED FOR OMB, CASTRO FOR HUD. President Obama has nominated HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan to head the Office of Management and Budget, and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro to replace Donovan at HUD. Both positions require Senate confirmation.

SECTION 538 GUARANTEES FOR RENTAL HOUSING LOANS ARE AVAILABLE. Funds can be used for new construction or acquisition with rehabilitation of affordable rural rental housing, including USDA-financed properties. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Contact Monica Cole, USDA, 202-720-1251.

LEAD HAZARD FUNDING NOFA ISSUED. States, local governments, and tribes can apply by June 27 for HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grants or Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grants. Contact Michelle Miller, HUD, 202-402-5769.

USDA OFFERS INTERMEDIARY RELENDING PROGRAM FUNDS. Intermediaries that relend funds for business facilities and community developments in rural areas can apply by June 30 for IRP loans. Contact a USDA RD state office.

HUD ALLOWS ALTERNATIVE ACCESSIBILITY STANDARD. HUD funding recipients may comply with accessibility requirements by using either the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design (with specific exceptions) or the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. This instruction is effective from May 23 until HUD completes an update of its accessibility regulations. Contact Cheryl Kent, HUD, 202-402-7058.

HOUSING COUNSELING PILOT PROPOSED BY FHA. The Federal Housing Administration requests comments by July 14 on a four-year housing counseling pilot to be called Homeowners Armed With Knowledge (HAWK) for New Homebuyers. In exchange for participating, first-time homebuyers will get “substantial reductions” in the pricing of their FHA insurance. Email questions to housing.counseling@hud.gov with “HAWK Notice Question” in the subject line. Contact Arlene Nunes, HUD, 202-402-2532.

2014 OMB CIRCULAR A-133 COMPLIANCE SUPPLEMENT AVAILABLE. Comments on this year’s supplement are due October 31. Contact a federal awarding agency.

NATIONAL STANDARD FOR HEALTHY HOUSING RELEASED. The National Center for Healthy Housing and the American Public Health Association have issued a standard intended to be used by property owners, elected officials, code agency staff, and others. Written in code language for easy adoption, the document covers existing owner-occupied and rental housing. Contact NCHH, info@nchh.org, 410-992-0712.

RESEARCH BRIEFS LINK HOUSING WITH EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH, AND OTHER OUTCOMES. Produced by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s “How Housing Matters to Families and Communities Initiative, “ the briefs present findings from longer research pieces and are intended to help inform policy discussions.

ADVOCATES’ GUIDE TO HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT POLICY AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN PRINT. The 2014 guide published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition provides brief overviews of housing programs and advocacy tools. To purchase a print copy, contact Christina Reyes, 202-662-1530 x224.

DRAFT HANDBOOK FOR SECTION 502 GUARANTEED LOANS POSTED. The handbook accompanies the program’s interim final rule, which was issued in December 2013 and will take effect on September 1, 2014. Contact USDA RD’s Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Division, 202-720-1452.

HOMELESSNESS DECREASED SLIGHTLY FROM 2012 TO 2013, RESEARCH FINDS. Nevertheless, nationally there are about 184,000 more homeless persons than beds available to assist them, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness’s State of Homelessness in America report for 2014.

HAC’s RURAL DATA PORTAL now features the most recent 2008-2012 American Community Survey (ACS) data. Visit www.ruraldataportal.org to start “taking stock” of your community today.

The RURAL DATA PORTAL is a simple, easy to use, on-line resource that provides essential information on the social, economic, and housing characteristics of communities in the United States.

The RURAL DATA PORTAL is targeted toward rural communities, but a wide range of information is presented for the nation, states, and counties for rural, suburban, and urban areas.

Today, the housing crisis is defined by different factors

Do you believe that the housing crisis is over?

Do you believe that the housing crisis is over?

What factors defined the “housing crisis?”

How, was the housing crisis different for rural areas than the nation as a whole?

What are some of the indirect or secondary impacts of the housing crisis?

What are the long term ramifications for affordable housing?

Is the Housing Crisis Over? And how did it impact rural America?

VIEW FROM WASHINGTON

SPECIAL FEATURE

MAPS

Housing Counseling Services Offer More than Just Counseling

While housing counselors are instrumental in helping people avoid foreclosure, they also provide invaluable resources to help families improve their lives

Repurposing Foreclosed Properties in Rural America

A consortium of nonprofits works at the local level to reverse the devastating effects of the foreclosure crisis

Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) Arizona

Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (CRHDC) Colorado

Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association, Inc. (CHISPA) California

Tierra Del Sol Housing Corporation (TDS) Southern New Mexico & West Texas

Making a Difference in Rural America

USDA Rural Housing Services Administrator Tony HernandezNewly appointed Rural Housing Service administrator shares his thoughts and priorities for USDA’s housing initiatives.

HAC News: July 9, 2014

USDA Multi-Family Fair Housing Occupancy Report FY 2013

HAC News: June 25, 2014

HAC News: June 11, 2014

HAC News: May 28, 2014

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50 Years for Rural America