https://appropriations.house.gov (go to the Agriculture Subcommittee page and click “Related Documents”). Written testimony from others will be accepted until April 14. Submission instructions are at https://appropriations.house.gov, or call staff, 202-225-2638.

GAO SUGGESTS IMPROVEMENTS IN FARM LABOR HOUSING PROGRAM. The Government Accountability Office examined demand for the Section 514/516 program, RD’s oversight processes, and existing properties’ financial status. Rural Housing Service: Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Farm Labor Housing Program Management and Oversight (GAO-11-329) is available free at https://www.gao.gov or for a fee from GAO, 866-801-7077.

DONATED MANUFACTURED HOMES FOR NATIVE AMERICANS ELIGIBLE FOR SECTION 502 LOANS. HUD is transferring free homes, donated by FEMA, to tribes. Section 502 loans can be used to cover transportation and set-up costs. An Unnumbered Letter dated March 14, 2011 reminds RD offices of requirements for manufactured homes and is available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/ulmarch11.pdf or from RD offices.

RD ENCOURAGES LOCAL OFFICES TO PARTNER FOR REPLACEMENT OF OLD MOBILE HOMES. Local offices are urged to support efforts by nonprofits and government entities to provide new manufactured housing to replace mobile homes built before the HUD Code came into effect in 1976. See Unnumbered Letter (March 15, 2011), available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/ulmarch11.pdf or from RD offices. Contact Christopher Ketner, RD, 202-690-1530, christopher.ketner@wdc.usda.gov.

USDA SECRETARY APPOINTS MINORITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The Minority Farmer Advisory Committee will help implement outreach and assistance efforts to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, promote their participation in USDA programs, and support civil rights activities within the department. USDA’s press release is at https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDAOC-52d34.

OMB REQUESTS COMMENTS ON COSTS AND BENEFITS OF REGULATIONS. Draft 2011 Report to Congress on the Benefits and Costs of Federal Regulations and Unfunded Mandates on State, Local, and Tribal Entities is available for review at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg_regpol_reports_congress/. Comments are particularly requested on how to improve retrospective analysis of existing rules, and are due May 16. See Federal Register, 4/1/11. Contact OMB, 202-395-3741.

RENTAL HOUSING DATA PROFILES FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS UPDATED. The National Low Income Housing Coalition has added new data to provide snapshots of housing needs in each congressional district and state. The profiles include renter cost burden levels, overcrowding and incomplete plumbing rates, and more. Visit https://www.nlihc.org/detail/article.cfm?article_id=3810&id=61.

RURAL VOICES FEATURES SELF-HELP SUCCESSES. A special edition of HAC’s quarterly magazine describes the benefits of USDA’s Section 523 self-help housing program coupled with Section 502 direct mortgages. Current and past issues of Rural Voices are free at https://ruralhome.org. One print subscription per organization is free from Dan Stern, HAC, 202-842-8600, dan@ruralhome.org.

GET THE HAC NEWS SOONER – GET IT BY EMAIL. To subscribe, visit https://lists.ruralhome.org/lists/info/hac_news. To be removed from the postal mailing list, send a request to dan@ruralhome.org.

https://rules.house.gov. HAC will post updates at https://ruralhome.org.

HOUSE VOTES TO TERMINATE MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND NSP. The FHA Refinance Program Termination Act (H.R. 830) passed the House on March 10. At press time on March 16 the House was considering the NSP Termination Act (H.R. 861), which would rescind the third round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding and terminate the program, and the HAMP Termination Act (H.R. 839), which would end the Home Affordable Modification Program although assistance would continue to be available for homeowners with commitments. The bills’ texts are available at https://thomas.loc.gov.

SECTION 202 FUNDS OFFERED. Apply by June 1 for capital advances and rental assistance to develop supportive housing for very low-income seniors age 62 and higher. Visit www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm or www.grants.gov. Contact a local HUD Office or Alicia Anderson, HUD, 202-708-3000.

USDA RD ENDS SETASIDES OF SECTION 502 LOANS FOR SELF-HELP. An Unnumbered Letter dated February 28, 2011 notifies field staff that “only those purposes specifically authorized in the Housing or Appropriation Acts will be set aside for Fiscal Year 2011. The past practice of maintaining National Office set asides for Self Help and other purposes will not be continued in FY 2011.” The UL is available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments /ulfebruary11.pdf or from RD offices.

HUD REACTIVATES EMERGENCY HOMEOWNERS’ LOAN PROGRAM, HOUSE VOTES TO ELIMINATE IT. Originally created in the 1970s, the program received $1 billion in funding from the Dodd-Frank Act to provide emergency mortgage relief to unemployed or underemployed homeowners at risk of foreclosure. The program will be administered by states that have substantially equivalent programs and by NeighborWorks® America in other states. Comments are due May 3 on the EHLP interim rule. See Federal Register, 3/4/11, or https://www.regulations.gov. Potential applicants should contact a HUD-approved housing counseling agency or a NeighborWorks National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program site. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/ehlp/ehlphome.cfm or call HUD’s housing counseling office, 1-800-569-4287. On March 11 the House approved H.R. 836, which would rescind the program’s funding and terminate the program. Visit https://thomas.loc.gov.

REVISIONS PROPOSED FOR ADDRESSING MANUFACTURED HOME PROBLEM REPORTS. HUD is considering changes to regulations concerning how manufacturers and others address reports of problems with manufactured homes, including imminent safety hazards and violations of the HUD Code, but not normal wear and aging, unforeseeable consumer abuse, or unreasonable neglect of maintenance. Comments are due April 18. See Federal Register, 2/15/11, or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact HUD’s Office of Manufactured Housing Programs, 202-708-6401.

TELECONFERENCES SET ON SECTION 538 GUARANTEE PROGRAM. USDA RD will hold stakeholder calls in June and October. See Federal Register, 2/15/11. To register, contact Monica Cole, RD, phone 202-720-1251, fax 202-205-5066, monica.cole@wdc.usda.gov.

COMMENTS SOUGHT ON FAIR MARKET RENTS TREND FACTOR. Comment by April 8 on HUD’s proposed alternatives to the current factor used to trend FMRs to current rental rates. See Federal Register, 3/9/11 or https://www.regulations.gov or https://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html. Call HUD USER, 1-800-245-2691.

NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND FAQ REVISED. The National Housing Trust Fund campaign’s updated answers to frequently asked questions include HUD’s proposed regulations and other new developments, available at https://www.nlihc.org/doc/NHTF-FAQ.pdf.

HAC PUBLISHES NEW FAIR HOUSING ANALYSIS. HAC analyzed over 91,000 fair housing complaints in a HUD dataset that includes violations filed with HUD and FHAP agencies from FY98 to FY08. The reasons for complaints are generally similar in urban and rural areas, with disability replacing race during the past five years as the most common basis for complaint. The report includes advice from experienced rural fair housing providers. Rural Fair Housing Complaints and Enforcement is free at https://ruralhome.org or $5 from Janice Clark, HAC, janice@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

FY11 SPENDING CONTINUES UNTIL MARCH 18. President Obama is expected to sign H.J. Res. 44, approved by the House on March 1 and by the Senate on March 2. This latest in a series of Continuing Resolutions will extend most FY11 spending at FY10 levels through March 18. It provides no funding for earmarks and for some programs that were targeted for elimination in the Administration’s budget, including HUD’s Economic Development Initiative and Neighborhood Initiatives. HAC will post updates at https://ruralhome.org.

IDA FUNDING AVAILABLE. The Assets for Independence Program run by the Department of Health and Human Services offers grants to nonprofits, state and local governments, community development credit unions, and CDFIs to provide Individual Development Accounts and supportive services. Deadlines are March 31 and May 25. For details and to register for applicant webinars, visit https://www.IDAresources.org. Contact the AFI Resource Center, HHS, info@IDAresources.org, 1-866-778-6037 (toll free).

USDA SEEKS COMMENTS ON DRAFT ACTION PLAN FOR TRIBAL CONSULTATION AND COLLABORATION. The final policy will guide all USDA agencies as they work with tribes. Comments are due March 25. Visit https://www.tinyurl.com/usdatribal. Contact USDA’s Office of Tribal Relations, tribalconsultation@usda.gov, 202-205-2249.

HUD REQUESTS INPUT ON REVIEWING REGULATIONS. Comments are due May 2 regarding HUD’s development of a plan for periodically analyzing significant HUD regulations and identifying specific regulations that may be outdated, ineffective, or excessively burdensome. See Federal Register, 3/2/11 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Camille E. Acevedo, HUD, 202-708-1793.

INTERIM RULE REVISES PHAS. Changes are intended to enhance the efficiency and utility of HUD’s Public Housing Assessment System. Comments are due April 25. See https://www.regulations.govor https://www.hud.gov/offices/reac/. Contact Claudia Yarus, HUD, 202-475-8830.

USDA OFFERS CLAIMS PROCESS FOR HISPANIC AND WOMEN FARMERS AND RANCHERS. Those who believe they were unjustifiably denied farm loan program benefits between 1981 and 2000 because of their ethnic background or gender may file claims with USDA. Call 1-888-508-4429 (toll free) or visit https://farmerclaims.gov.

GAO SAYS DUPLICATION CAN BE REDUCED IN FEDERAL HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS AND OTHERS. A new Government Accountability Office report identifies 81 areas where federal efforts are duplicated or fragmented, or where costs could be reduced or revenues increased, including homelessness: seven agencies administer over 20 housing or shelter programs, and others fund supportive services for people experiencing homelessness. Past GAO research addressing this overlap included a July 2010 study of rural homelessness (see HAC News, 8/18/10). No other housing programs are mentioned. The report also notes efforts in multiple depart-ments to meet water needs in the U.S.-Mexico border region and to enhance economic development (including HUD and USDA RD programs), and problems with FEMA’s coordination of disaster preparedness grants. Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue (GAO-11-318SP) is available free at https://www.gao.gov or at cost from GAO, 1-866-801-7077 (toll free).

USDA MAPS RURAL COUNTY CHARACTERISTICS. An online, interactive Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America maps unemployment, population data, homeownership, and many other characteristics. Specific data are shown by clicks on the map. Visit https://ers.usda.gov/data/ruralatlas/.

HUD LAUNCHES NEW HOME TA WEBSITE, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON CONFERENCE. HOME funding recipients can find information about training and technical assistance resources, including the program’s 20th anniversary conference, May 2-4 in Washington, DC, at https://www.hometa.info/.

EVIDENCE SUMMARIZED ON ECONOMIC IMPACT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. The Role of Affordable Housing in Creating Jobs and Stimulating Economic Development is free from the Center for Housing Policy, https://www.nhc.org/The-Role-of-Affordable-Housing-in-Creating-Jobs-and-Fostering-Economic-Growth.html.

HAC UPDATES FORECLOSURE RESEARCH. New Neighborhood Stabilization Program data provide information about delinquency and foreclosure rates in each census tract. HAC’s research note entitled Foreclosure in Rural America: An Update includes recommendations for rural homeowners with conventional loans, manufactured home loans, and USDA loans, and is free at https://ruralhome.org or $2.00 from Janice Clark, HAC, 202-842-8600.

HAC EXAMINES MANUFACTURED HOME COMMUNITY CONVERSION TO RESIDENT OWNERSHIP. Preserving Affordable Manufactured Home Communities in Rural America: A Case Study is free at https://ruralhome.org or $2.00 from Janice Clark, HAC, 202-842-8600.

https://ruralhome.org. Budget documents are posted at https://www.omb.gov, https://www.hud.gov, and https://www.usda.gov.

USDA rural housing: H.R. 1 would keep most USDA rural housing programs at or near FY10 funding levels, although it would eliminate rental preservation funds except for vouchers. The Administration’s budget would slash Section 502 direct loans from $1.1 billion to $211 million, eliminate the Section 523 self-help technical assistance program, and double the Section 502 guarantee program. Like H.R. 1, it proposes to eliminate rental preservation programs, but it would increase Section 515 funding, which can be used for some preservation activities.

HUD housing: H.R. 1 would cut large proportions of the funding for CDBG, Section 202, and Section 811, eliminate housing counselling, and reduce funds for other programs including HOME and Native American housing. It would continue funding for the Rural Innovation Fund and SHOP. The Administration’s budget would cut CDBG, HOME, and Sections 202 and 811, while increasing homelessness funding and adding a full $1 billion for the never-funded National Housing Trust Fund. The Rural Innovation Fund would be fully funded and the Self-Help Home-ownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) would be eliminated.

a. The Rural Innovation Fund replaced RHED. b. Funded as part of CDBG in 2010 and separately in the FY12 budget.

MORTGAGE ORIGINATORS AT FEDERALLY REGULATED LENDERS MUST REGISTER BY JULY 29. The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) for Mortgage Licensing Act requires registration. See Federal Register, 2/3/11. Visit https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org. Contact the mortgage registry, 240-386-4444.

HUD PROPOSES COMBINING PUBLIC HOUSING MODERNIZATION PROGRAMS.Comments are due April 8. See Federal Register, 2/7/11 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Jeffrey Riddel, HUD, 202-708-1640.

INDIAN HOUSING BLOCK GRANT ADVANCES OFFERED FOR FY11. HUD Notice PIH 2011-06 tells tribes and tribally designated housing entities how to request IHBG advances pending a final FY11 HUD appropriations bill. Visit https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/hudclips/notices/pih. Contact an Area Office of Native American Programs, listed at https://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/ih/index.cfm.

ADMINISTRATION ISSUES HOUSING FINANCE REFORM REPORT. The report suggests reliance on the private sector. It says both homeownership and rental housing are needed. It states that USDA, HUD, and VA will establish a task force “to explore ways in which their housing finance programs can be better coordinated, or even consolidated . . .” Reforming America’s Housing Finance Market is at https://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/Pages/housing.aspx.

RURAL VOICES MAGAZINE OFFERS REFLECTIONS ON CHANGE. “Rural Housing Leaders Reflect: Where Do We Go from Here?” is the winter issue of HAC’s quarterly magazine, free at https://ruralhome.org. One print subscription per organization is free from Dan Stern, HAC, 202-842-8600, dan@ruralhome.org.