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.

Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • Field offices encouraged to obligate all Section 502 direct funds this year • USDA to announce some housing NOFAs on web only • Section 538 rental housing guarantees offered • RD changes position on Tax Credit Exchange Program funding as equity • New affordable housing goals proposed for Fannie and Freddie • Federal Home Loan Banks community development lending changes suggested • Census Bureau developing new poverty calculation • Census participation tools offered • Home Depot Offers $1 Million For 2010 Pro Trade Scholarships • Correction to budget table, HAC News, 2/3/10 • Rural Voices magazine covers colonias • Registration and details posted for HAC’s conference on sustainable approaches

March 5, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 5

FIELD OFFICES ENCOURAGED TO OBLIGATE ALL SECTION 502 DIRECT FUNDS THIS YEAR. An Unnumbered Letter to USDA state offices launches a campaign to use all FY2010 appropriation and Recovery Act loan funds by September 30, including providing at least 40% of funds to very low-income borrowers. The UL, dated February 24, 2010, is available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/ul_list.html or from RD offices.

USDA TO ANNOUNCE SOME HOUSING NOFAS ON WEB ONLY. A Federal Register notice and an Unnumbered Letter state that NOFAs for some programs will be posted only on RD’s website, https://www.rurdev.usda.gov, and others will continue to be published in the Federal Register. The notice does not provide details, and HAC could not obtain any by press time. Any additional news HAC receives will be posted at https://ruralhome.org. See Federal Register, 3/4/10 or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/ul/ulfebruary10.pdf.

SECTION 538 RENTAL HOUSING GUARANTEES OFFERED. Funds can be used for new construction; acquisition with rehabilitation; or revitalization, repair, and transfer of existing Section 515 housing, including equity payments in connection with transfer. Deadline is December 31. See Federal Register, 2/26/10 at https://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a100226c.html or contact a Rural Development state office.

RD CHANGES POSITION ON TAX CREDIT EXCHANGE PROGRAM FUNDING AS EQUITY. Responding to a letter from House Financial Services Committee Chair Barney Frank (D-Mass.), RD housing Administrator Tammye Treviño committed to reverse a November 20, 2009 Unnumbered Letter that stated TCEP funds would be considered grants rather than equity in Section 515 projects. A National Housing Law Project explanation and the Frank and Treviño letters are posted at https://nhlp.org/node/1293.

NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS PROPOSED FOR FANNIE AND FREDDIE. As required by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency has drafted new goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase single-family and multifamily affordable housing mortgages. FHFA also suggests revising the way it determines whether the goals are met. Comments are due April 12. See Federal Register, 2/26/10 or https://www.fhfa.gov/Default.aspx?Page=89. Contact Nelson Hernandez, FHFA, 202-408-2993.

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANKS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LENDING CHANGES SUGGESTED. Comments are due April 26 on a Federal Housing Finance Agency proposed rule regarding Federal Home Loan Bank community development finance, including definitions of terms such as “community development.” See Federal Register, 2/23/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Thomas E. Joseph, FHFA, thomas.joseph@fhfa.gov, 202-414-3095.

CENSUS BUREAU DEVELOPING NEW POVERTY CALCULATION. The Supplemental Poverty Measure will not change the official government calculation, but will provide “an additional macro-economic statistic.” See the press release at https://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_008963.

CENSUS PARTICIPATION TOOLS OFFERED. Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network resources, including a toolkit to help nonprofits encourage Census participation, are at https://www.nonprofitscount.org/downloads.html. Census Bureau resources are at https://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/.

HOME DEPOT OFFERS $1 MILLION FOR 2010 PRO TRADE SCHOLARSHIPS. The program will provide $1,000 scholarships to 500 students attending building and construction trade schools and $1,000 grants to their schools. Applications are due April 30. Visit https://www.homedepot.com/tradescholarship or call 877-743-5327.

CORRECTION TO BUDGET TABLE, HAC NEWS, 2/3/10. The second to last line in the table of HUD programs should read “Transformation Initiative” rather than “Transforming Rental Assistance.” HAC apologizes for any confusion. The corrected version is available at https://ruralhome.org.

RURAL VOICES MAGAZINE COVERS COLONIAS. In the latest issue of HAC’s quarterly magazine, nonprofit organizations working across the colonias region illustrate the work being done to organize residents, build affordable housing, and improve infrastructure. Articles by Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-Texas) and USDA housing administrator Tammye Treviño are included. Rural Voices is free at https://ruralhome.org. For one free print subscription per organization, contact Lawrence Adams, HAC, 202-842-8600, lawrence@ruralhome.org. To sign up for email notices announcing new issues, visit https://ruralhome.org/information-and-publications/169-sign-up.

REGISTRATION AND DETAILS POSTED FOR HAC’S CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES. “Building Green in Rural America: A Symposium on Policy and Practice” will be held June 9 in Washington, DC. Visit https://ruralhome.org. Contact Dan Stern, HAC, 202-842-8600, dan@ruralhome.org.

Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • United Nations report addresses adequate housing in U.S. • Section 538 continuous guarantee program proposed • Farmworker housing rental assistance provision implemented • RD issues guidance on design/build or construction management • HUD seeks comments on planning grant program • H2-A final rule effective March 15 • Deadline extended for mortgage licensing comments • Disaster recovery comments invited • USDA multifamily properties included in weatherization regulation • Foreclosure’s effects on Latino families reported • If you use HERS testing, please take HAC’s survey • HAC schedules conference on sustainable approaches in rural housing

February 17, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 4

UNITED NATIONS REPORT ADDRESSES ADEQUATE HOUSING IN U.S. After a fact-finding mission to the U.S., including Pine Ridge, SD, in October-November 2009, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing recommends increased resources for affordable housing, a redefinition of homelessness to include people who are doubled up with others, and more. The report is posted at https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/13session/A.HRC.13.20.Add.4_AEV.pdf and background information is at https://restorehousingrights.org.

SECTION 538 CONTINUOUS GUARANTEE PROGRAM PROPOSED. USDA would offer a multifamily housing guarantee covering construction through permanent financing. Comments are due March 30. See Federal Register, 1/29/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Tammy S. Daniels, tammy.daniels@wdc.usda.gov, 202-720-0021.

FARMWORKER HOUSING RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROVISION IMPLEMENTED. USDA RD provides guidance on recapturing unused Section 521 Rental Assistance from Section 514/516 farmworker properties, based on FY 2010 appropriations language, in an unnumbered letter dated January 12, 2010, available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/ul/uljanuary10.pdf or from RD offices.

RD ISSUES GUIDANCE ON DESIGN/BUILD OR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT. Two Administrative Notices explain the process of obtaining national office approval for such projects. AN 4491 and AN 4492, both dated January 21, 2010, are available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/an_list.html or from RD offices.

HUD SEEKS COMMENTS ON PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM. Partnering with the Department of Transportation and EPA, HUD is creating a 2010 Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program to support regional planning that integrates housing, economic development, and transportation decisionmaking. Comments on the program’s structure are due March 12. Listening sessions and webcasts will be scheduled as well. See Federal Register, 2/10/10 or https://www.hud.gov/sustainability. Contact HUD staff, sustainablecommunities@hud.gov.

H2-A FINAL RULE EFFECTIVE MARCH 15. The Department of Labor’s regulation governs the H2-A program for farmworkers temporarily entering the U.S. See Federal Register, 2/12/10 or https://www.doleta.gov/ETA_News_Releases/20100198.cfm. Contact William L. Carlson, DOL, 202-693-3010.

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR MORTGAGE LICENSING COMMENTS. Comments on HUD’s Secure and Fair Enforcement Mortgage Licensing (SAFE) Act proposal are now due March 5. (See HAC News, 12/16/09.) See Federal Register, 2/17/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact William W. Matchneer III, HUD, 202-708-6401.

DISASTER RECOVERY COMMENTS INVITED. FEMA and the interagency Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group have drafted a National Disaster Recovery Framework to provide organizing constructs and principles for disaster recovery. Comments are due February 26. See Federal Register, 2/10/10, or https://www.disasterrecoveryworkinggroup.gov. Contact Gerilee Bennett, FEMA, 202-646-4173.

USDA MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES INCLUDED IN WEATHERIZATION REGULATION. Properties subsidized by USDA, HUD, or the Low Income Housing Tax Credit may be eligible for the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program without further evaluation of eligibility. See Federal Register, 1/25/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Claire Broido Johnson, DOE, 202-586-1510, claire.johnson@ee.doe.gov.

FORECLOSURE’S EFFECTS ON LATINO FAMILIES REPORTED. Research by the National Council of La Raza and the University of North Carolina’s Center for Community Capital found that foreclosures strained family relationships and impacted children’s school performance. The Foreclosure Generation: The Long-Term Impact of the Housing Crisis on Latino Children and Families is available at https://www.nclr.org/content/publications/detail/61725.

IF YOU USE HERS TESTING, PLEASE TAKE HAC’S SURVEY.To better understand HAC’s local partners’ transition to energy efficiency, HAC is researching the true cost of Home Energy Rating System testing. Please take a quick online survey at https://ruralhome.org by March 15. Contact Stella Edosomwan, HAC, stella@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

HAC SCHEDULES CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES IN RURAL HOUSING. “Building Green in Rural America: A Symposium on Policy and Practice” will be held June 9 in Washington, DC. Sponsored by HAC and the Home Depot Foundation, the conference features local housing developers who have successfully used a wide range of sustainable and green practices in their rural homeownership and rental projects. After March 1, look for registration details on HAC’s site, https://ruralhome.org, or contact Dan Stern, HAC, 202-842-8600, dan@ruralhome.org.

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. • Exurbs and rural coastal counties had the most housing growth, 2000-2008 • FHFA seeks comments on diversity rule • HUD takes over HOPE for Homeowners program • Green building uses for recovery funds examined • Federal water-wastewater efforts on U.S.-Mexico border ineffective, GAO finds • Long term strategies needed to address tax credit slump, report concludes • Winter strategies for homeless highlighted • Webinars offered on Strategies for Community Prosperity • Affordable Housing Finance seeks award nominations • Economic impact of aid to renters studied • Resources available to help families claim tax credits • Community leaders social networking site includes rural development • SAVE THE DATE FOR HAC’S NATIONAL RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE 2010!

January 6, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 2

EXURBS AND RURAL COASTAL COUNTIES HAD THE MOST HOUSING GROWTH, 2000-2008. An analysis of Census Bureau data by The Daily Yonder, an online rural news source, includes a map showing the greatest gains and losses in rural housing units at https://www.dailyyonder.com/new-housing-increases-fastest-exurbs/2010/01/12 /2536. A previous Daily Yonder article reporting that exurban counties lost the most rural jobs from June 2008 to June 2009 is at https://www.dailyyonder.com/welcome-exurban-recession/2009/08/04/2271.

FHFA SEEKS COMMENTS ON DIVERSITY RULE. A rule proposed by the Federal Housing Finance Agency would implement recent legislation requiring FHFA, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac to promote diversity in all activities and at every level of the organizations. Comments are due March 12. See Federal Register, 1/11/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Eric Howard, Eric.Howard@fhfa.gov, 202-408-2502.

HUD TAKES OVER HOPE FOR HOMEOWNERS PROGRAM. Comments are due March 15 on an interim rule governing the FHA’s H4H refinancing insurance program, previously administered by a board comprised of several agencies. See Federal Register, 1/12/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Margaret Burns, 202-708-2121.

GREEN BUILDING USES FOR RECOVERY FUNDS EXAMINED. A report from the U.S. Green Building Council – “Top 10 Ways to Use Recovery Funds for Green Building” – and other resources are posted at https://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1962.

FEDERAL WATER-WASTEWATER EFFORTS ON U.S.-MEXICO BORDER INEFFECTIVE, GAO FINDS. A new report recommends solutions for the lack of comprehensive needs data and coordination. Rural Water Infrastructure: Improved Coordination and Funding Processes Could Enhance Federal Efforts to Meet Needs in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region (GAO-10-126) is available free at https://www.gao.gov or for a charge from GAO, 866-801-7077. (Toll free)

LONG TERM STRATEGIES NEEDED TO ADDRESS TAX CREDIT SLUMP, REPORT CONCLUDES. The Disruption of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program: Causes, Consequences, Responses, and Proposed Correctives, published by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, examines the new Tax Credit Assistance Program and Tax Credit Exchange Program. Visit https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/ or contact the Joint Center, 617-495-7908.

WINTER STRATEGIES FOR HOMELESS HIGHLIGHTED. The National Coalition for the Homeless has released Winter Homeless Services: Bringing Our Neighbors in from the Cold. Available at https://www.nationalhomeless.org, the report suggests ways to reduce the incidence of hypothermia for people experiencing homelessness.

WEBINARS OFFERED ON STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY PROSPERITY. The Heartland Center for Leadership Development and the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship offer a series of five webinars from January through May focusing on energizing and rebuilding rural communities, at $59.99 each or $250.00 for the series. Visit https://www.heartlandcenter.info/webinar_reg/.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE SEEKS AWARD NOMINATIONS. The magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards, which include a rural category, will go to affordable housing projects using LIHTC or other financing in 2009 or 2010. Visit https://www.housingfinance.com/. Contact AHF, 415-315-1241, ext. 309 or dkimura@hanleywood.com.

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF AID TO RENTERS STUDIED. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities calculates that $1 billion added to the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program would assist 200,000 families and help strengthen the rental housing market. Options for Jobs Legislation: Providing $1 Billion to Prevent Homelessness is available at https://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3032.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP FAMILIES CLAIM TAX CREDITS. Information and materials for the Earned Income Tax Credit and other credits are available from the National Women’s Law Center. Visit https://www.nwlc.org/details.cfm?id=3136&section=tax or email Melanie Ross Levin, mrosslevin@nwlc.org.

COMMUNITY LEADERS SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE INCLUDES RURAL DEVELOPMENT. Leaders for Communities, developed by NeighborWorks America®, is intended to connect current and future leaders at community development organizations across the country. Participate can discuss topics, share and view resources, access and post job listings, and more. Visit https://www.leadersforcommunities.org.

SAVE THE DATE FOR HAC’S NATIONAL RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE 2010! Washington, DC, December 1-3, 2010! Details will be posted at https://ruralhome.org as available.

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. • HUD spending bill nears completion • HUD proposes trust fund allocation formula • Mortgage licensing standards drafted

December 16, 2009
Vol. 38, No. 25

HUD SPENDING BILL NEARS COMPLETION. An omnibus bill making FY 2010 appropriations for HUD and several other federal agencies has passed the House and the Senate, and President Obama is expected to sign it before the current continuing resolution expires December 18. Many HUD programs received increases, and several new initiatives were funded. Replacing the Rural Housing and Economic Development program is a new $25 million Rural Innovations Fund, as proposed by the Obama Administration. The omnibus bill, which also includes the Department of Labor, provides $5.7 million for DOL’s migrant and seasonal housing program, with at least 70% of that amount for permanent housing. USDA’s FY 2010 spending bill became law October 21 (see HAC News, 10/14/09). For the full legislation visit https://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app10.html.

a. Proposed new initiatives under CDBG. b. Proposed in President’s budget to replace HOPE VI; included in final bill as $65 million demonstration. c. New initiative to combat mortgage fraud.

HUD PROPOSES TRUST FUND ALLOCATION FORMULA. The formula would apportion grants to states from the not-yet-funded National Housing Trust Fund. Comments are due February 2. See Federal Register, 12/4/09, or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Marcia Sigal, HUD, 202-708-2684. National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates of state funding are at https://www.nlihc.org/doc/NHTF-State-Estimates.pdf.

MORTGAGE LICENSING STANDARDS DRAFTED. The 2008 Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Mortgage Licensing Act requires state licensing of mortgage originators and a nationwide registration system. Comments are due February 16 on HUD’s proposed enforcement procedures and standards for state laws. See Federal Register, 12/15/09, or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact William W. Matchneer III, HUD, 202-708-6401. For information about SAFE and the laws already adopted by many states, visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/ramh/safe/smlicact.cfm and https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/safe/.

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