Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • HUD/DOT planning grants offered • RD extends eligibility for Section 538 continuous guarantee demo • HUD considers simplifying procedure for completing new manufactured homes on site • Rules set for new water/waste disposal program • Proposal would give CRA credit for NSP activities • Comments invited on CRA regulations • Comments sought on National Energy Rating Program for Homes • National homelessness plan released • State of the nation’s housing is mixed, says annual study • Green building symposium materials available online • Rural Voices magazine features green building • HAC seeks nominations for rural housing awards

June 23, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 13

HUD/DOT PLANNING GRANTS OFFERED. A joint NOFA offers HUD’s Community Challenge Planning Grants and Department of Transportation planning grants to state and local government entities. Visit https://www.grants.gov. Contact TIGERIIGrants@dot.gov or sustainablecommunities@hud.gov; Robert Mariner, DOT, 202-366-8914; or Zuleika K. Morales-Romero, HUD, 202-402-7683, zuleika.k.morales@hud.gov.

RD EXTENDS ELIGIBILITY FOR SECTION 538 CONTINUOUS GUARANTEE DEMO. Lenders with Section 538 guaranteed rural rental housing obligations issued after October 1, 2007 (rather than 2009) are now eligible to apply for guarantees that cover construction through permanent financing. (See HAC News, 5/12/10). See Federal Register, 5/14/10, or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_NOFAs.html. Contact Tammy Daniels, RD, 202-720-0021.

HUD CONSIDERS SIMPLIFYING PROCEDURE FOR COMPLETING NEW MANUFACTURED HOMES ON SITE. A proposed rule would establish uniform procedures for manufacturers to complete construction of homes at installation sites rather than in factories, without advance approval from HUD. Comments are due August 23. See Federal Register, 6/23/10, or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact William W. Matchneer III, HUD, 202-708-6409.

RULES SET FOR NEW WATER/WASTE DISPOSAL PROGRAM. RD will use up to 4% of its water and waste disposal funding for the new Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH) program to make predevelopment and planning grants to public agencies, nonprofits, and tribes for projects in financially distressed communities with populations under 2,500. See Federal Register, 6/24/10 or www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDU_Regulations.html. Contact Anita O’Brien, RD, 202-690-3789, anita.obrien@usda.gov.

PROPOSAL WOULD GIVE CRA CREDIT FOR NSP ACTIVITIES. Comments are due July 23 on a revised Community Reinvestment Act regulation covering loans, investments, and services that support activities eligible for Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding in target areas identified in NSP plans. Activities could be outside a financial institution’s assessment area. See Federal Register, 6/24/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Michael S. Bylsma, OCC, 202-874-5750.

COMMENTS INVITED ON CRA REGULATIONS. The agencies that regulate banks and thrifts request written or oral comments on whether and how they should revise their regulations to better serve the Community Reinvestment Act’s goals. Public hearings will be held in four cities between July 19 and August 17. Written comments may be submitted through August 31. Visit https://www.ffiec.gov/cra/hearings.htm or contact Barry Wides, OCC, Barry.Wides@occ.treas.gov, 202-874-4930.

COMMENTS SOUGHT ON NATIONAL ENERGY RATING PROGRAM FOR HOMES. Comment by July 10 on a Department of Energy proposed program to encourage consumers to invest in energy improvements in existing homes. Details are posted at https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/home_rating_rfi.html. Contact Joan Glickman, buildingratingRFI@ee.doe.gov.

NATIONAL HOMELESSNESS PLAN RELEASED. Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness is intended to serve as a roadmap for action by federal agencies along with local and state partners in the public and private sectors, to end veterans and chronic homelessness by 2015, and to end homelessness among children, family, and youth by 2020. Visit https://www.usich.gov.

STATE OF THE NATION’S HOUSING IS MIXED, SAYS ANNUAL STUDY. Harvard’s 2010 report notes numerous improvements and challenges in the U.S. housing situation as a whole, with continuing shortages of affordable housing for owners and renters. The State of the Nation’s Housing 2010 is free at https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/ or $15 from the Joint Center for Housing Studies, 617-495-7809.

GREEN BUILDING SYMPOSIUM MATERIALS AVAILABLE ONLINE. Materials from “Building Green in Rural America: A Symposium on Policy and Practice,” hosted by HAC and the Home Depot Foundation on June 9 in Washington, DC, are posted on HAC’s website at https://ruralhome.org.

RURAL VOICES MAGAZINE FEATURES GREEN BUILDING. The spring issue of HAC’s quarterly magazine describes nonprofits building green affordable housing. Rural Voices is free at https://ruralhome.org. One print subscription per organization is free from Lawrence Adams, HAC, 202-842-8600, lawrence@ruralhome.org.

HAC SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR RURAL HOUSING AWARDS. At the National Rural Housing Conference in December, HAC will present the Cochran/Collings Award for national rural housing service, the Skip Jason Community Service Award, and the Henry B. Gonzalez Award for local or tribal elected officials. Nominations are due September 15. Visit www.ruralhome.org or contact Lilla Sutton, HAC, 202-842-8600, lilla@ruralhome.org.

Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • Bill to provide 502 guarantee funds introduced in Senate • House passes manufactured housing replacement bill • Administration to hold rural summit on June 3 • Funds available for Section 514/516 farmworker housing • RD offers Section 538 continuous guarantee demo • EPA amends lead paint rule • USDA studies guaranteed and direct lending • Developing in rural towns mitigates transportation cost impacts • Websites warn homeowners about loan scams • Delinquency and foreclosure lower in community land trusts • NLIHC publishes 2010 Advocates’ Guide • USDA RD updates website

May 12, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 10

May 26, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 11

Many housing provisions pending in supplemental appropriations and jobs bills. H.R. 4899, the Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010, would add FY 2010

funds to the Section 502 guarantee program, with a 5% fee. It is available at >

href=”https://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app10.htmlhttps://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app10.html”>https://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app10.html>. H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act,

includes $1.065 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund, extends the Low Income Housing Tax Credit exchange program and New Markets Tax Credit for one year, and

provides settlement funds for the Cobell class action lawsuit regarding American Indians’ trust accounts and the Pigford suit concerning USDA discrimination against

African-American farmers. Its text is posted at >

href=”https://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_hr4213_txt.pdfhttps://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_hr4213_txt.pdf”>https://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_hr4213_txt.pdf>. The current versions of both bills have

not yet been approved by either the House or the Senate.

House panel hears pros and cons on HUD rental changes. Opinions varied at a May 25 House Financial Services Committee hearing on the Preservation,

Enhancement and Transformation of Rental Assistance Act, submitted to Congress by HUD. Written testimony and an archived webcast are posted at >

href=”https://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/hrfc_051910.shtmlhttps://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/hrfc_051910.shtml”>https://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/hrfc_051910.shtml>. HUD’s

proposed bill is at >

href=”https://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/fy2011budget/signature_initiatives/transforming_rental_assistance.

Comments”>https://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/fy2011budget/signature_initiatives/transforming_rental_assistance”>https://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/fy20 due June 14 on next Farm Bill. The House Agriculture Committee invites comments through a web form at >

11budget/signature_initiatives/transforming_rental_assistance.

Comments

href=”https://agriculture.house.govhttps://agriculture.house.gov”>https://agriculture.house.gov> as it begins to develop the 2012 Farm Bill. The committee is also holding field hearings around

the country; testimony to date, posted at https://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/statements.htmlhttps://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/statements.html”>https://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/statements.html>,

has focused on agriculture issues rather than rural development.

In 2007, 1.05 million nonmetro renters had worst case housing needs. The recession’s full economic impact is not included in a new HUD report to Congress on

renters who pay more than half their income for rent, live in severely substandard housing, or both, and do not receive housing aid. Worst Case Housing Needs 2007:

A Report to Congress is free at >

href=”https://www2.huduser.org/portal/publications/affhsg/wc_HsgNeeds07.html.

Congressional”>https://www2.huduser.org/portal/publications/affhsg/wc_HsgNeeds07.html”>https://www2.huduser.org/portal/publications/affhsg/wc_HsgNeeds07.html.

Caucus on Homelessness launched. Co-founded and co-chaired by Reps. Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-

Congressional

TX), and Geoff Davis (R-KY), the caucus hopes to coordinate work on the issue. The members’ press releases can be accessed through >

href=”https://www.house.gov.

National”>https://www.house.gov”>https://www.house.gov.

Housing Trust and Enterprise offer green preservation mini-loans. Nonprofit owners and developers can borrow up to $50,000 for up to 30 months at

National

below-market rates to pay for predevelopment activities in connection with green retrofits of older affordable rental communities. Visit >

href=”https://www.nhtinc.orghttps://www.nhtinc.org”>https://www.nhtinc.org> for a summary. Contact Keiva Dennis, NHT, 202-333-8931 ext. 126, >

href=”kdennis@nhtinc.org.

Section”>mailto:kdennis@nhtinc.org”>kdennis@nhtinc.org

.

533 HPG notice corrected. RD added the Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones set-aside to the NOFA published April 27 and corrected some state office

Section

information. See Federal Register, 5/21/10 or https://www.regulations.govhttps://www.regulations.gov”>https://www.regulations.gov>. Contact Bonnie Edwards-Jackson, 202-690-0759,

bonnie.edwards@wdc.usda.gov.

“Pre-notice”>mailto:bonnie.edwards@wdc.usda.gov”>bonnie.edwards@wdc.usda.gov.

” for Choice Neighborhoods funding issued. The document describes this new HOPE VI replacement program and tells applicants to register for

“Pre-notice

grants.gov. The NOFA will be issued this summer. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/cn/.

USDA”>https://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/cn/”>https://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/cn/.

RD considers changes to Section 502 guarantee program. Comments are due July 19 on a proposed rule that would use Fannie Mae’s interest rate to

USDA

calculate interest on all program loans and would allow USDA to recoup funds it paid on a claim if the lender did not follow program rules. See Federal

Register, 5/19/10, or https://www.regulations.govhttps://www.regulations.gov”>https://www.regulations.gov>. Contact Joaquin Tremols, RD, 202-720-1465, >

href=”joaquin.tremols@wdc.usda.gov.

Census”>mailto:joaquin.tremols@wdc.usda.gov”>joaquin.tremols@wdc.usda.gov

.

requests comments on new poverty measure. The new calculation would supplement, not replace, the official poverty measurement. (See HAC News,

Census

3/5/10.) Deadline is June 25. Visit https://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.htmlhttps://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.html”>https://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.html>. Contact

David Johnson, Census, 301-763-6443, spm@census.gov.

HUD”>mailto:spm@census.gov”>spm@census.gov.

reduces use of Section 8 income limits hold-harmless policy. Income limits for Section 8 tenants will be allowed to decrease if HUD’s formula indicates

HUD

they should. HUD will continue to publish a second set of income limits that apply the hold-harmless provisions, to be used by some HUD programs and by USDA rural

housing programs. Visit https://www2.huduser.org/portal/datasets/il.htmlhttps://www2.huduser.org/portal/datasets/il.html”>https://www2.huduser.org/portal/datasets/il.html>. Contact HUD USER, 800-245-

2691.

Black-white wealth gap quadruples from 1984 to 2007, researchers report. Brandeis University’s Institute on Assets and Social Policy found a large increase

in white households’ real wealth over the time period studied, while African Americans’ wealth rose only slightly. “The Racial Wealth Gap Increases Fourfold” is posted

at https://iasp.brandeis.edu/pdfs/Racial-Wealth-Gap-Brief.pdf.https://iasp.brandeis.edu/pdfs/Racial-Wealth-Gap-Brief.pdf”>https://iasp.brandeis.edu/pdfs/Racial-Wealth-Gap-Brief.pdf.>

Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • House moves to add 502 guarantee funds • Committee approves GREEN Act • Section 533 HPG funds available • Continuum of Care application registration opens • HUD proposes new definition of “homeless • RD addresses self-help appraisals. • Some dates changed for USDA self-help forums • USDA Section 515 buyers and sellers conferences scheduled for May-July • RD provides guidance on new RESPA requirements • Input sought on reform of housing finance system • National Housing Trust Fund campaign collects nationwide support • Affordable housing still out of reach nationwide • 2010 Census participation rates may be lower in rural places • Data show inequalities for Latino children

April 28, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 9

HOUSE MOVES TO ADD 502 GUARANTEE FUNDS. On April 27 the House passed H.R. 5017, the Rural Housing Preservation and Stabilization Act of 2010, authorizing up to $30 billion in Section 502 loan guarantees in FY10. A guarantee fee of up to 4% on each loan would cover the additional cost. The program is expected to run out of money by the end of April. It is not known when the Senate may act. Find H.R. 5017 at https://thomas.loc.gov.

COMMITTEE APPROVES GREEN ACT. Provisions in the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act, approved by the House Financial Services Committee on April 22, include energy-efficiency incentives for HUD and USDA housing. Find H.R. 2336 at https://thomas.loc.gov.

SECTION 533 HPG FUNDS AVAILABLE. Nonprofits and public agencies can apply by June 28 for USDA’s Housing Preservation Grants (not related to the Multifamily Revitalization Program or Section 515). See Federal Register, 4/27/10 or https://www.grants.gov. Contact a USDA RD state office for an application and details.

CONTINUUM OF CARE APPLICATION REGISTRATION OPENS. Applicants must register for HUD’s e-snaps system by June 4 in order to apply for FY10 funds. The NOFA will be issued after July 1. Visit www.hudhre.info. Applicants without Internet access can contact HUD’s NOFA Information Center, 800-HUD-8929.

HUD PROPOSES NEW DEFINITION OF “HOMELESS.” Comments are due June 21 on a proposed rule that is HUD’s first step in implementing the 2009 HEARTH Act. See Federal Register, 4/20/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Ann Marie Oliva, HUD, 202-708-4300.

RD ADDRESSES SELF-HELP APPRAISALS. Responding to concerns in places with falling land values, a new Administrative Notice says the appraised value of a self-help home must cover the amount of the Section 502 direct loan. When the value of sweat equity does not cover the cost of Section 523 management, the AN says, exceptions may be documented. AN 4507 is available at www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/an_list.html or from RD offices.

SOME DATES CHANGED FOR USDA SELF-HELP FORUMS. (See HAC News, 2/3/10.) The Washington, DC forum will be held June 30 rather than June 18. Written comments are now due July 15. See Federal Register, 4/19/10 or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/Admin/2010SelfHelpForums.htm. Contact Carolyn Bell, USDA, carolyn.bell@wdc.usda.gov, 202-720-1532.

USDA SECTION 515 BUYERS AND SELLERS CONFERENCES SCHEDULED FOR MAY-JULY. Information about RD’s new “Super Green” goals will be included. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/mfh/MPR/MPRHome.htm.

RD PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON NEW RESPA REQUIREMENTS. AN 4506 (April 12, 2010), intended to help RD field staff comply with new mortgage disclosure requirements, is available at www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/an_list.html or from RD offices.

INPUT SOUGHT ON REFORM OF HOUSING FINANCE SYSTEM. HUD and the Treasury Department request comments by July 21 on the federal government’s role, how the current organization of the housing finance system could be improved, and more. See Federal Register, 4/22/10 or www.regulations.gov, or contact a HUD field office.

NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND CAMPAIGN COLLECTS NATIONWIDE SUPPORT. The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that over 1,350 organizations from every state, DC, and Puerto Rico have signed on to a letter urging Congress to provide $1 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund, created in 2008 to finance construction of affordable housing, primarily for extremely low-income tenants. Visit https://www.nhtf.org.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING STILL OUT OF REACH NATIONWIDE. Again this year, there is no county in the United States in which a full-time minimum wage worker can afford even a one-bedroom apartment at HUD’s Fair Market Rent, according to Out of Reach 2010, prepared by the National Low Income Housing Coalition in collaboration with HAC. Data for states, counties, metro areas, and nonmetro areas are at www.nlihc.org/oor2010.

2010 CENSUS PARTICIPATION RATES MAY BE LOWER IN RURAL PLACES. A preliminary HAC analysis of Census participation data indicates slightly lower Census participation rates for rural counties than for the nation as a whole, and rates are even lower in the Border Colonias and Native American Reservations. To find local participation rates on an interactive map, visit https://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/.

DATA SHOW INEQUALITIES FOR LATINO CHILDREN. America’s Future: Latino Child Well-Being in Numbers and Trends uses 25 indicators, including affordable housing, to review current national and state-level trends for Latino children under age 18. Produced by the National Council of La Raza and the Population Reference Bureau, the report and data are available at https://www.nclr.org/section/audience/researchers/latino_child_well_being.

Housing Assistance Council
1025 Vermont Ave., NW, Suite 606, Washington DC 20005
(202) 842-8600 | hac@ruralhome.org | www.ruralhome.org

Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • Art Collings passed away March 23 • Preservation bill under consideration • USDA offers funds to relend for water and wastewater • Lists posted of multifamily properties eligible for weatherization • Section 502 packaging demonstration launched • Tribes believe NAHASDA has helped improve housing, GAO finds • HUD releases three studies of homelessness • HUD’s Transforming Rental Assistance initiative taking shape • Homeownership unaffordable for many in metro areas despite housing cost drops

March 31, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 7

ART COLLINGS PASSED AWAY MARCH 23. Arthur M. Collings, Jr. retired in 2004 after almost 50 years with HAC and the Farmers Home Administration. A legend in the rural housing world, he was both the conscience and the brains of the movement, passionate and dedicated to the mission but also able to cite statutes, regs, and ANs from memory. An obituary is posted at https://ww.ruralhome.org and HAC has created a blog at https://artcollingsmemorial.blogspot.com/ where stories and comments about Art can be shared. HAC will post information about memorial contributions on its website as soon as possible. Plans are being developed for a remembrance at HAC’s National Rural Housing Conference in December 2010.

PRESERVATION BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. On March 17, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) introduced H.R. 4868, the Housing Preservation and Tenant Protection Act of 2010, a long-awaited bill addressing the preservation of rental housing funded by HUD or USDA. Most of the provisions in the bill’s rural section are the same as those in H.R. 2876, introduced in 2009 (see HAC News, 6/24/09). HAC submitted written testimony, posted at https://ruralhome.org. Witnesses’ statements and a webcast of a March 24 House Subcommittee on Housing hearing are at www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/hr_031710.shtml.

USDA OFFERS FUNDS TO RELEND FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER. Nonprofits can apply by May 31 for Household Water Well System Grants to establish lending programs for homeowners to construct or repair household water wells for existing homes. Contact Lorrie Davis, RUS, 202-720-9631, lorrie.davis@wdc.usda.gov. The deadline is May 25 to apply for Revolving Fund Program grants to provide loans for predevelopment costs of community water or wastewater projects, or short-term small capital projects. Contact Joyce Taylor, RUS, 202-720-0499. For both programs, see Federal Register, 3/26/10 or www.usda.gov/rus/water/index.htm.

LISTS POSTED OF MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES ELIGIBLE FOR WEATHERIZATION. Specified properties subsidized by USDA, HUD, or the Low Income Housing Tax Credit are eligible for the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program without further evaluation of eligibility (see HAC News, 2/17/10). These properties will not necessarily receive funds, and others may apply as well. The lists and links to other information, including state and local entities that administer the funds, are posted at https://apps1.eere.energy.gov/wip/eligibility_hud.cfm. Contact Claire Broido Johnson, DOE, 202-586-1510, claire.johnson@ee.doe.gov.

SECTION 502 PACKAGING DEMONSTRATION LAUNCHED. This new pilot program enables Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises member organizations, under a contract with USDA RD, to package applications for Section 502 direct loans. Their assistance is expected to speed approvals, helping the agency to use its FY2010 appropriation and Recovery Act funds. More information is at https://www.fahe.org/502. Contact Tom Carew, FAHE, tomc@fahe.org, 606-669-0053.

TRIBES BELIEVE NAHASDA HAS HELPED IMPROVE HOUSING, GAO FINDS. Native American Housing: Tribes Generally View Block Grant Program as Effective, but Tracking of Infrastructure Plans and Investments Needs Improvement (GAO-10-326) is available at https://www.gao.gov or for a fee from GAO, 1-866-801-7077. The study’s full survey results are at https://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-373SP.

HUD RELEASES THREE STUDIES OF HOMELESSNESS. The research for all three focused on metro areas. Costs Associated with First-Time Homelessness for Families and Individuals, Life after Transitional Housing for Homeless Families, and Strategies for Improving Homeless People’s Access to Mainstream Benefits and Services are available at https://www.huduser.org/portal/taxonomy/term/65.

HUD’S TRANSFORMING RENTAL ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE TAKING SHAPE. A new Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report describes TRA as the most important new initiative to preserve affordable housing in over a decade. It would create a new form of long-term rental subsidy that would combine features from the existing project-based Section 8 and the project-based voucher programs. CBPP’s summary is at https://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3123. A HUD webcast on TRA is archived at https://www.hud.gov/webcasts/index.cfm.

HOMEOWNERSHIP UNAFFORDABLE FOR MANY IN METRO AREAS DESPITE HOUSING COST DROPS. A Center for Housing Policy study found that the income needed to purchase a median-priced home fell in 93% of the metro areas studied, while rent rose. Yet many workers still do not earn enough to own a home. Paycheck to Paycheck: Wages and the Cost of Housing in America and an interactive database are at https://www.nhc.org/chp /p2p/. CHP and the National Housing Conference also recently released products on elderly housing, foreclosures, disasters, and transportation, available at https://www.housingpolicy.org/housing_solutions_week.html.