Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • Tammye Treviño named rural housing administrator. • Foreclosure law signed, includes provisions for tenants and Sec. 502 guaranteed borrowers, as well as McKinney-Vento changes. • New protections for renters in foreclosure take effect immediately. • Senate votes for supplemental disaster housing funds. • Additional details on HUD budget released. • HUD offers Recovery Act NAHASDA and ICDBG funds. • Section 514/516 off-farm Farm Labor Housing funds available. • RD adds processing workers to “domestic farm laborers” definition. • Comments requested on implementing Kennedy Serve America Act. • USDA plans to collect standardized data on race, other characteristics. • HUD encourages Ike/Gustav survivors to register for disaster housing vouchers. • Online ARRA Clearinghouse collects Recovery Act information. • Rural public housing authorities covered in Rural Voices magazine. • Corrected link for details about HUD’s Green Retrofit program.
|
May 27, 2009 TAMMYE TREVIÑO NAMED RURAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATOR. Treviño – CEO of FUTURO Communities, an Empowerment Zone in parts of Dimmit, LaSalle, Maverick, Uvalde, and Zavala counties in Texas’s Middle Rio Grande area – will begin work June 8 as the administrator of USDA RD’s Housing and Community Development Programs. FORECLOSURE LAW SIGNED, INCLUDES PROVISIONS FOR TENANTS AND SEC. 502 GUARANTEED BORROWERS, AS WELL AS MCKINNEY-VENTO CHANGES. (See HAC News, 5/13/09.) A summary, including full text of the Section 502 guarantee provision, is posted at https://ruralhome.org/infoAnnouncements_2008HousingCrisis.php. New protections for renters in foreclosure take effect immediately. The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s summary of those provisions is at https://www.nlihc.org/template/page.cfm?id=159. SENATE VOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL DISASTER HOUSING FUNDS. On May 21 the Senate passed a supplemental appropriations act for FY 2009 that would provide $30 million, not included in the House version of the bill, for vouchers for Hurricane Katrina/Rita survivors whose disaster housing aid has ended. A conference committee will resolve differences. For bill text, visit https://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app09.html. ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON HUD BUDGET RELEASED. HUD’s “Congressional Justifications for 2010 Estimates” are posted at https://www.hud.gov/offices/cfo/reports/2010/main_toc.cfm. HUD OFFERS RECOVERY ACT NAHASDA AND ICDBG FUNDS. Deadline is July 13 for NAHASDA-eligible tribes and organizations to apply for funds to develop new housing, improve existing units, and build infrastructure. Tribes and organizations that received ICDBG grants in FY 2008 can apply by July 7 for funds to encourage economic development. Visit https://www.hud.gov/recovery and click Programs. SECTION 514/516 OFF-FARM FARM LABOR HOUSING FUNDS AVAILABLE. Pre-applications for Section 514 loans and Section 516 grants for the construction of new off-farm units for farmworkers are due July 20. See Federal Register, 5/21/09 or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/nofas/index.html. Contact an RD state office or Henry Searcy, RD, 202-720-1753, Henry.Searcy@wdc.usda.gov. RD ADDS PROCESSING WORKERS TO “DOMESTIC FARM LABORERS” DEFINITION. The 2008 Farm Bill made workers who process agricultural or aquacultural commodities eligible for Section 514/516 housing. A new Attachment 12-A to Handbook-1-3560, explaining how this change should be implemented, is available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/hblist.html or from USDA RD offices. COMMENTS REQUESTED ON IMPLEMENTING KENNEDY SERVE AMERICA ACT. The Corporation for National and Community Service seeks input on implementation of the new law, which expands existing service programs and adds new ones. Visit https://www.nationalservice.gov/serveact to submit comments in writing or register for a conference call in early June. Contact Amy Borgstrom, CNCS, 202-606-6930. USDA PLANS TO COLLECT STANDARDIZED DATA ON RACE, OTHER CHARACTERISTICS. Comments are due July 13 on a proposal for USDA agencies that serve agricultural producers and landowners to consolidate data on race, ethnicity, sex, national origin, disability, and age of farmers or ranchers. See Federal Register, 5/13/09. Contact Rhonda Davis, USDA, 202-720-1010, rhonda.davis@usda.gov. HUD ENCOURAGES IKE/GUSTAV SURVIVORS TO REGISTER FOR DISASTER HOUSING VOUCHERS. Aid ends on May 31 for those eligible for the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP-Ike/Gustav) who have not yet enrolled. Call a local housing authority or HUD’s Referral Call Center, 1-866-785-3239. ONLINE ARRA CLEARINGHOUSE COLLECTS RECOVERY ACT INFORMATION. The portal at https://www.nlihc.org, created by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, provides materials and links regarding the housing and development programs affected by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (see HAC News, 2/18/09). RURAL PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES COVERED IN RURAL VOICES MAGAZINE. The current issue of HAC’s quarterly magazine explores ways rural PHAs have become partners in local housing and development. It also includes an article written by Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.), the first in a series reflecting on the 60th anniversary of the Housing Act of 1949. Rural Voices is free online at https://ruralhome.org/infoRural.php. 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://lists.ruralhome.org/lists/info/rural_voices. CORRECTED LINK FOR DETAILS ABOUT HUD’S GREEN RETROFIT PROGRAM (see HAC News of 5/13/09). Go to https://www.hud.gov/recovery, click on Programs, then select Green Retrofit Program. Documents including the application are listed in the lower right column on HUD’s program page. |
As the population and economy of rural America is changing so too are rural homes. For the most part these changes have beenpositive as today more rural Americans live in safe, decent, and high quality housing than at any time. Despite this progress, far too many rural Americans live in substandard, unaffordable, or crowded homes. There are more than 111 million occupied housing unitsin the United States, roughly 25 million, or 22 percent of homes, are located in rural areas.
Access a pdf version of Rural Voices.
Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • Obama Administration Budget Would Hold Most Rural Housing Programs Steady, Replace RHED • Budget includes settlement funds for black farmers • Foreclosure bills include protections for tenants and for Sec. 502 guaranteed borrowers • HAC website provides RHED application help • USDA offers Section 533 funds • HUD will make NSP2 and public housing capital grants • HUD implements Green Retrofit program for multifamily housing • HUD and DOE agree to weatherize multifamily housing • Former HUD Secretary Jack Kemp passes away at age 73
|
May 13 , 2009 OBAMA ADMINISTRATION BUDGET WOULD HOLD MOST RURAL HOUSING PROGRAMS STEADY, REPLACE RHED. Under the detailed proposal for FY 2010 released on May 7, most USDA rural housing programs would stay at the same funding levels as in FY 2009. Some HUD programs would receive increases. The new National Housing Trust Fund would get $1 billion, offset by reductions in unspecified other spending. HUD’s Rural Housing and Economic Development program would be replaced by a new Rural Initiative Fund. Budget documents are at https://www.omb.gov and HAC’s analysis is at https://ruralhome.org/manager2/Budget2010HACSummary.pdf.
a. Rental Assistance contracts were for four years in FY 2006, for two years in FY 2007, and for one year in FY 2008 and 2009. The budget proposes one-year contracts in 2010.
a. Proposed new initiatives under CDBG. BUDGET INCLUDES SETTLEMENT FUNDS FOR BLACK FARMERS. The Administration’s USDA budget would provide $1.25 billion for black farmers whose discrimination complaints have not yet been settled. To read USDA’s press release visit https://www.usda.gov and click Newsroom. FORECLOSURE BILLS INCLUDE PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS AND FOR SEC. 502 GUARANTEED BORROWERS. A variety of mortgage lending reforms and protections for tenants in foreclosed properties are provided in H.R. 1728 and S. 896, which passed the House and Senate last week. S. 896 would also require lenders with USDA Section 502 guarantees to take steps to avoid foreclosures and would authorize USDA to allow modifications, make loans to defaulting borrowers, and take over modified mortgages. In addition, the Senate bill would reauthorize and consolidate the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance programs. Find both bills at https://thomas.loc.gov. HAC WEBSITE PROVIDES RHED APPLICATION HELP. Slides and audio from a recent webcast for applicants are posted at https://ruralhome.org/servicesTraining.php. The deadline is May 29. USDA OFFERS SECTION 533 FUNDS. Housing Preservation Grants are available for public agencies and nonprofits to repair owner-occupied and rental housing. Deadline is July 10. See Federal Register, 5/11/09, or https://www.grants.gov. Contact a USDA RD state office. HUD WILL MAKE NSP2 AND PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL GRANTS. Government agencies and nonprofits can compete for foreclosure recovery funding from the second round of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Deadline is July 17. Funds to provide technical assistance to NSP grantees are also available with a June 8 deadline. Visit https://www.hud.gov/nsp. Contact Stanley Gimont, HUD, 202-708-3587. • PHAs can apply for capital funding; visit www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/capfund/ocir.cfm. Contact HUD staff at PIHOCI@hud.gov. HUD IMPLEMENTS GREEN RETROFIT PROGRAM FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. Owners of properties with funding from Section 202 or 811, or with project-based Section 8 vouchers (including Section 515/8 properties with at least 20 units) can apply beginning June 15 for grants or loans to reduce utility consumption, benefit resident health, or benefit the environment. Details will be available soon at HUD’s Economic Recovery page. HUD AND DOE AGREE TO WEATHERIZE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. A Memorandum of Understanding is intended to help the Department of Energy use economic stimulus weatherization funds for multifamily properties with HUD or Low-Income Housing Tax Credit funding. Visit https://www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm. FORMER HUD SECRETARY JACK KEMP PASSES AWAY AT AGE 73. The Washington Post’s obituary is at https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/02/AR2009050202501.html. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • Two rural housing bills introduced in House • AmeriCorps expansion bill signed into law • RHED funds available, deadline May 29 • NOFAs issued for most USDA multifamily housing programs and for household water wells • IDA grants offered • Second funding round opens for CDFIs and Native American CDFIs • USDA issues civil rights improvement plan • Economic stimulus Section 502 direct loans explained • RD preservation voucher policy updated • Loss mitigation guide for 502 guaranteed loans reissued • Transition period extended for new H-2A certification process • Advocates’ Guide to Housing and Community Development released
|
April 29, 2009 TWO RURAL HOUSING BILLS INTRODUCED IN HOUSE. H.R. 2034, introduced by Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO) with several cosponsors, would allow Section 502 guaranteed loans to refinance private sector mortgages. USDA would set the guarantee fee at a level that would enable such refis without credit subsidy. The guarantee fee for other Section 502 guaranteed loans would increase to 2%. H.R. 1989, sponsored by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), would change FY 2009 appropriations bill language for Section 538 guaranteed loans, allowing part of the program’s FY 09 funding to be used for interest subsidies. Search by bill number at https://thomas.loc.gov. AMERICORPS EXPANSION BILL SIGNED INTO LAW. President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act on April 21 (see HAC News, 4/1/09). The first opportunity to fund the larger program will be FY 2010. Search H.R. 1388 at https://thomas.loc.gov. RHED FUNDS AVAILABLE, DEADLINE MAY 29. HUD’s Rural Housing and Economic Development program has three categories: innovative housing and economic development, economic development and entrepreneurship for tribes, and technical assistance for tribes. Paper applications are required this year. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/economicdevelopment/programs/rhed/funding09/index.cfm. Contact RHED staff at 1-877-787-2526. NOFAS ISSUED FOR MOST USDA MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROGRAMS AND FOR HOUSEHOLD WATER WELLS. June 29 is the application deadline for Section 515 rental housing new construction and the Multi-family Housing Revitalization Demonstration (MPR) program for Section 515 and 514/516 housing. Applications for household water well grants are due May 21. Section 542 preservation vouchers are available on a rolling basis for tenants in Section 515 properties when mortgages are prepaid or foreclosed upon. See Federal Register, April 29 or https://www.grants.gov. For Section 515, contact Sue Harris-Green, 202-720-1660, Susie.Harris@wdc.usda.gov; for MPR, Cynthia Foxworth, cynthia.reesefoxworth@usda.gov, 202-720-1940; for vouchers, Stephanie B.M. White, 202-720-1615; and for wells, Cheryl Francis, 202-720-1937, cheryl.francis@wdc.usda.gov. IDA GRANTS OFFERED. Nonprofits, governments, and tribes can apply by June 25 for Assets for Independence grants to implement Individual Development Account programs. Visit https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/afi/. Contact AFI staff, 1-866-778-6037, info@idaresources.org. SECOND FUNDING ROUND OPENS FOR CDFIS AND NATIVE AMERICAN CDFIS. Both CDFI Fund programs are offering financial assistance grants only, not technical assistance. Applicants must already be certified or have applied for certification. Apply by May 27 through https://www.cdfifund.gov (not through grants.gov). See Federal Register, 4/28/09 or https://www.cdfifund.gov. Contact CDFI Fund staff, 202-622-6355, cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov. USDA ISSUES CIVIL RIGHTS IMPROVEMENT PLAN. On April 21, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack released a memo explaining his plan to promote civil rights and equal access for USDA employees and clients. Steps include an external analysis of program delivery in RD and other agencies, creation of a task force to review processing of civil rights complaints, improved data collection, and management controls for handling complaints. View the memo at https://www.usda.gov/documents/NewCivilRightsEra.pdf. ECONOMIC STIMULUS SECTION 502 DIRECT LOANS EXPLAINED. Information applicable to Section 502 direct loans made with funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is provided in an unnumbered letter dated April 10, available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/ul/ulapril09.pdf or from RD offices. RD PRESERVATION VOUCHER POLICY UPDATED. An unnumbered letter dated April 10 is available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/ul/ulapril09.pdf or from RD offices. LOSS MITIGATION GUIDE FOR 502 GUARANTEED LOANS REISSUED. Administrative Notice 4433 is intended to clarify policies for loss mitigation and updates a guide for lenders. AN 4433 and others are available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/an_list.html or from USDA offices. TRANSITION PERIOD EXTENDED FOR NEW H-2A CERTIFICATION PROCESS. As the Department of Labor considers suspending the new process (see HAC News, 3/18/09), it has extended transition procedures to include all employers with a date of need on or before January 1, 2010. Comments on the extension are due May 18. See Federal Register, 4/16/09 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact William L. Carlson, DOL, 202-693-3010. ADVOCATES’ GUIDE TO HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RELEASED. The 2009 issue of the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s annual book describes housing and housing-related programs, proposals, issues, and pending legislation. The guide is free at https://www.nlihc.org. Print copies are $25 for NLIHC members (or call 202-662-1530 for bulk rates) or $40 for non-members. |
Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • HUD changes SuperNOFA general section • April is Fair Housing Month • McKinney-Vento reauthorization bills introduced • EPA smart growth aid available • RBOG deadline extended, rural redefined • OCC rule on bank public welfare investments final • FEMA proposes rule on hurricane loan cancellations • Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac eviction ban ends • Federal and state governments combat mortgage relief fraud • Two updated reports confirm ongoing affordability crisis • National “Jobs and Homes Now!” Day of Action set for June 11
|
April 15, 2009 HUD CHANGES SUPERNOFA GENERAL SECTION. An April 16 Federal Register notice, available on April 15 at https://ruralhome.org, says some programs may accept applications on paper rather than through grants.gov, with specifics to be provided in forthcoming individual program NOFAs; it does not say when those NOFAs will be released. Other changes include alternative websites where NOFAs will be posted. HAC is monitoring relevant sites daily and will post information at https://ruralhome.org as soon as it becomes available. APRIL IS FAIR HOUSING MONTH. HUD will mark Fair Housing Education Week April 20-24 with events for 5th-8th grade students nationwide. Visit https://www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm. Contact a local HUD office. MCKINNEY-VENTO REAUTHORIZATION BILLS INTRODUCED. Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Acts have been introduced in identical form in the House and Senate and are similar to a bill that passed the House in October (see HAC News, 10/8/08). H.R 1877 and S. 808 are available at https://thomas.loc.gov (search by bill number). A summary and other information from the National Alliance to End Homelessness are at https://www.endhomelessness.org/section/policy/legislature/mckinney_vento. EPA SMART GROWTH AID AVAILABLE. State, local, and tribal governments and nonprofits with government partners can apply by April 23 for direct technical assistance in policy analysis or public participation to implement smart growth. Visit https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia.htm or contact Kevin Nelson, nelson.kevin@epa.gov. RBOG DEADLINE EXTENDED, RURAL REDEFINED. The deadline for Rural Business Opportunity Grant applications is now April 30 rather than March 31 (see HAC News, 3/18/09). See Federal Register, 4/13/09 or https://www.grants.gov. Contact RD state offices. Following a 2008 Farm Bill requirement, RD implemented a new definition of “rural” for RBOG and other business programs in Administrative Notice 4419 (dated February 24, 2009), available from RD offices or at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/an/an4419.pdf. OCC RULE ON BANK PUBLIC WELFARE INVESTMENTS FINAL. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is adopting, without change, the interim final rule issued August 11, 2008 (see HAC News, 8/13/08). See Federal Register, 4/7/09, or contact Stephen Van Meter, OCC, 202-874-5750. FEMA PROPOSES RULE ON HURRICANE LOAN CANCELLATIONS. Comments are due June 2 on a proposed regulation implementing statutory changes allowing FEMA to cancel Special Community Disaster Loans made to local governments following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. See Federal Register, 4/3/09 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact James A. Walke, FEMA, 202-646-2751, james.walke@dhs.gov. FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC EVICTION BAN ENDS. The Washington Independent reports that on March 31 the GSEs, which now have programs to work with homeowners and renters, lifted their moratorium on foreclosure evictions. Read the story at https://washingtonindependent.com/category/economy and descriptions of the programs at https://www.fanniemae.com and https://www.freddiemac.com. FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS COMBAT MORTGAGE RELIEF FRAUD. The plan recently announced by the Obama Administration aims to protect homeowners seeking assistance under the Administration’s Making Home Affordable program. Visit https://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov or call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673). TWO UPDATED REPORTS CONFIRM ONGOING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. • Out of Reach 2009, published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and supported in part by HAC, was released April 14. With data comparing incomes and HUD’s Fair Market Rents in counties and metro areas nationwide, the study finds that “in both urban and rural areas from coast to coast, decent housing is affordable for low-wage workers only if they are able to work significant overtime or hold down multiple jobs.” Out of Reach is free at https://www.nlihc.org/oor2009. For print copy prices visit https://www.nlihc.org/doc/Publications%20Order%20Form.pdf or call NLIHC, 202-662-1530. • Priced Out in 2008, announced April 13 by the Technical Assistance Collaborative and the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities, reports that rents for modest studio and one-bedroom units are higher than monthly income for people with disabilities. The report is free at https://www.tacinc.org/pubs/pricedout/2008.html or contact Emily Cooper, ecooper@tacinc.org, 617-266-5657 x 123. NATIONAL “JOBS AND HOMES NOW!” DAY OF ACTION SET FOR JUNE 11. Local organizations and others will meet with policymakers about creating jobs, stopping foreclosures, and investing in community infrastructure. For information or to sign up as a host, contact the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, https://www.ncrc.org/dayofaction, 202-464-2719, or membership@ncrc.org.
|