April 15, 2009
Vol. 38, No. 8

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.

March 18, 2009
Vol. 38, No. 6

TONSAGER NOMINATED TO HEAD RURAL DEVELOPMENT. President Obama has announced he will appoint Dallas P. Tonsager to be USDA’s Under Secretary for Rural Development. Tonsager served as South Dakota state RD director in the Clinton Administration. For details, visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/.

SENATORS RELEASE RURAL AGENDA. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas), Chair of Rural Outreach for the Senate Democratic Caucus, recently unveiled a rural outreach website and an agenda at https://www.democrats.senate.gov/rural/.

RBOG GRANTS COMPETITION OPEN. Contact RD state offices for Rural Business Opportunity Grant program application information. Deadline is March 31. See Federal Register, 3/12/09 or https://www.grants.gov.

CENSUS SEEKS INPUT ON PROVIDING BETTER DATA FOR SMALL AREAS. The Census Bureau requests comments by April 20 on its plans to provide American Community Survey data estimates for five-year periods, which would include small area data. See Federal Register, 3/06/09 or https://www.census.gov/acs. Contact Susan Schechter, Census, 301-763-8950, Susan.Schechter.Bortner@census.gov.

COMMENTS SOUGHT ON SUSPENDING NEW H-2A FARMWORKER RULES. The Department of Labor is considering suspending its new rules on certifying H-2A workers and enforcing employers’ contractual obligations. The previous rules would be reinstated temporarily. Comments on the proposed suspension are due March 27. See Federal Register, 3/17/09 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact William Carlson, DOL, 202-693-3010.

CAPITAL MAGNET FUND COMMENTS REQUESTED. Comments are due May 5 regarding the CDFI Fund’s design, implementation, and administration of the Capital Magnet Fund created by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. See Federal Register, 3/6/09 or https://www.cdfifundgov. Contact cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov.

NEW DEADLINES SET FOR OMB REVIEW AND RD GUARANTEED LOAN PLATFORM. t Comments on improving OMB’s regulatory review process (see HAC News, 3/4/09) are now due March 31. See Federal Register, 3/17/09. Contact Mabel Echols, OMB, 202-395-6880. • USDA’s unified platform for some guaranteed loans (not including housing; see HAC News, 1/7/09) will be effective on June 1. See Federal Register, 3/6/09. Contact Michael Foore, RD, Michael.Foore@wdc.usda.gov, 202-690-4730.

Q&A DESCRIBES HUD VA VETERANS VOUCHERS. A chart explaining the HUD VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program is at https://www.hudhre.info/documents/HUD_VASH_QA.pdf

HUD WARNS OF DECEPTIVE WEBSITE. HUD warns that https://bailout.hud-gov.us is a “bogus and deceptive website” that mimics government sites and asks for personal information from people looking for help to avoid foreclosure. Real government sites on the subject are https://www.financialstability.gov/makinghomeaffordable and https://www.hud.gov/recovery.

FANNIE MAE STREAMLINES LOAN LOOKUP SITE FOR BORROWERS. A homeowner can now determine whether Fannie Mae owns his/her mortgage by entering the street address at https://loanlookup.fanniemae.com/loanlookup. Freddie Mac’s lookup at https://ww3.freddiemac.com/corporate requires additional information including a Social Security Number.

STATE FORECLOSURE LAWS STUDIED. The National Consumer Law Center reports that many state laws do not adequately protect homeowners facing foreclosure. Foreclosing a Dream: State Laws Deprive Homeowners of Basic Protections is free at https://www.consumerlaw.org/issues/foreclosure/PR_report.shtml.

GUIDES HELP IMPROVE MANUFACTURED HOUSING OWNERSHIP. Available free at https://www.cfed.org/go/mhtoolkit, Titling Homes as Real Property assesses the benefits of converting from personal to real property and gives information on strong policies that help. Promoting Resident Ownership of Communities has been updated to include new state legislation.

USDA RD SPENDING IN FY 2008 CONSISTENT WITH RECENT PAST, HAC FINDS. HAC’s annual review of rural housing program activities shows that Section 502 guaranteed borrowers had much higher incomes than direct borrowers, 43% of direct Section 502 loans went to very low-income borrowers, and Section 515 financed 805 new units while mortgages on 1,877 were prepaid. RD’s mortgage foreclosure rates rose but remain lower than in comparable portfolios such as FHA. The report is free at https://ruralhome.org/rhs/08report/index.php.

SURVEY ON RURAL USE OF NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM. HAC is interested in knowing how rural organizations are using NSP funds to address foreclosure issues. If you have a project, please take a few minutes to share your experiences by participating in the brief survey posted at https://ruralhome.org.

February 18, 2009
Vol. 38, No. 4

FINAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS LAW INCLUDES 502, NSP, AND OTHER HOUSING FUNDS. On February 17, President Barack Obama signed into law H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Revitalization Act of 2009. The final bill provides $1 billion for USDA direct Section 502 loans and $10.472 billion for Section 502 guaranteed loans, $510 million for Native American housing block grants, $4 billion for public housing, $1 billion for CDBG, $2 billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, and more, as well as funding for rural community facilities, business, and water/wastewater programs. It also requires that at least 10% of the spending for each of the RD community facilities, business, and water/waste programs included in the bill must be allocated to persistent poverty counties (those with poverty rates of 20% or more in the 1980, 1990, and 2000 decennial censuses). (This does not apply to Sec. 502 funding.) Details are available at https://ruralhome.org/infoAnnouncements_2009EconRecovery.php.

CFED OFFERS FUNDS FOR INNOVATIONS IN MANUFACTURED HOMES (I’M HOME). To address barriers to asset building in the manufactured housing sector, funds are available for new and replacement development and for public policy activities. Concept papers are due March 20 and must be submitted online. For information, visit https://www.cfed.org/go/imhome or email questions to imhome@cfed.org.

COMMENTS SOUGHT ON CHANGES TO METROPOLITAN AND MICROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA STANDARDS. The Office of Management and Budget is considering recommendations from a review committee. Comments are due April 13. See Federal Register, 2/12/09 or www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/2009.aspx. Contact James D. Fitzsimmons, Census Bureau, 301-763-1465, pop.fr.notice@census.gov.

EFFECTIVE DATE DELAYED FOR NEW RD GUARANTEED LOAN PLATFORM. RD’s uniform platform for community facility, water and waste disposal, business and industry, and rural energy guaranteed loans (see HAC News, 1/7/09) is delayed until March 9, and RD requests comment on whether to delay the rule to June 1. Comments are due February 20. See Federal Register, 2/13/09 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Michael Foore, RD, Michael.Foore@wdc.usda.gov, 202-690-4730.

HAC OFFERS RURAL HOMELESSNESS CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS. Faith- and community-based organizations in rural areas may apply for up to $15,000 in capacity building funds. Deadline is March 16. HAC is hosting an Audio-Web Conference on February 23, 2009 at 1:00 PM EST to advise participants on the application process. Visit https://ruralhome.org/rhcbfinancehome.php, call 1-877-842-RHCB, or email Darren Favello, HAC, darren@ruralhome.org.

HUD DELAYS EFFECTIVE DATE FOR TENANT INCOME VERIFICATION. Comments are due March 13 regarding the delay or other aspects of the rule published January 27, 2009 (see HAC News, 2/4/09). See Federal Register, 2/11/09 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Nicole Faison, HUD, 202-708-0744.

HOMEOWNERSHIP AND VACANCY RATES UNCHANGED FROM LATE 2007 TO LATE 2008. New Census Bureau data show that, when adjusted for seasonal variation, the national homeownership rate in the fourth quarter of 2008 (67.5%) was not significantly different from the rate in third quarter 2008 (67.7%) or in fourth quarter 2007 (67.8%). Vacancy rates and homeownership rates have fallen since 2004. In nonmetro areas, vacancy rates in both rental and homeownership units were statistically unchanged over the year. Homeownership rates were statistically unchanged from fourth quarter 2007 to fourth quarter 2008 in the U.S. as a whole (67.5%) and in nonmetro places (75.4%). Visit www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/hvs/qtr408/q408ind.html.

COUNTIES’ GREEN INITIATIVES COLLECTED IN ONLINE DATABASE. The National Association of Counties has launched a searchable database of U.S. counties’ pro-environment and energy-efficient practices, policies, and programs. Users can search by keyword, state, county size, type of document or issue. Visit https://www.naco.org, click “Learn About Counties” and then “Counties Go Green.”

RURAL POVERTY DATA ON FOUNDATION WEBSITE. Spotlight on Poverty, a site launched by several major foundations, includes research on rural poverty as well as relevant news and commentaries in major media. Visit https://spotlightonpoverty.org/rural_poverty.aspx.

CIVIL RIGHTS IN LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM STUDIED. A review of Qualified Allocation Plans in all 50 states discusses LIHTC program features that can promote new housing opportunities for families and help states meet their obligation to affirmatively further fair housing. Building Opportunity: Civil Rights Best Practices in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program is available from the Poverty and Race Research Action Council at https://www.prrac.org/LIHTC.php.

January 23, 2009
Vol. 38, No. 2

SENATE CONFIRMS VILSACK AND DONOVAN. Tom Vilsack was confirmed as the Secretary of Agriculture on January 20 and Shaun Donovan as HUD Secretary on January 22.

CONGRESS WORKING ON ECONOMIC STIMULUS LEGISLATION, HOUSING INCLUDED. The House may vote during the week of January 26 on an $825 billion, two-year economic stimulus package. The bill, approved by the House Appropriations Committee and now under review by several other committees, includes funds for both HUD and USDA housing programs, plus support for other USDA RD initiatives and Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects. Not included are the National Housing Trust Fund, Section 8, rural rental programs, and some other housing programs that had been sought by advocates. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not released information about the contents of its bill, scheduled for Appropriations Committee mark up on January 27. Updates will be added as available to HAC’s site, https://ruralhome.org/infoAnnouncements_2009EconRecovery.php.

SECTION 538 GUARANTEES FOR RENTAL HOUSING LOANS OFFERED. USDA RD will review applications on a rolling basis. FY 2009 funding includes $2 million for 2008 disaster areas. See Federal Register, 1/21/09, https://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a090121c.html. Contact an RD state office listed in the FR notice or at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.

NEW MARKETS TAX CREDITS APPLICATIONS DUE APRIL 8. Apply by March 3 for Community Development Entity status. By law, rural CDEs must receive a proportionate share of awards. See Federal Register, 1/22/09 or https://www.cdfifund.gov. Contact CDFI Fund staff, 202-622-6355, cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov.

SELF-HELP FUNDING FALLS SHORT FOR FY 09. Expecting demand to exceed resources for Section 523 funding again this year, RD will not fund new and predevelopment grants. Existing grantees will receive up to 75% of the amount requested, with the rest obligated later if funds are available. See Unnumbered Letter (January 5, 2009), available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/ul_list.html or from RD offices.

RD CLARIFIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES FUNDING FOR ASSISTED LIVING. An Unnumbered Letter explains that CF can finance assisted living facilities but not multi-generational family housing, residential care, or continuing care facilities. The UL (January 6, 2009) is available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/ul_list.html or from RD offices.

INCOME LIMIT CHANGES FOR SECTION 502 GUARANTEED LOANS DELAYED. The simplified system (see HAC News, 11/5/08) will take effect on March 20 rather than January 20. See Federal Register, 1/13/09 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Joaquin Tremols, RD, 202-720-1465, joaquin.tremols@wdc.usda.gov.

SECTION 8 ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT FACTORS RELEASED. See Federal Register, 1/12/09 or https://www.huduser.org/datasets/aaf.html. Contact David Vargas, HUD, 202-708-2815.

HUD CORRECTS SUPERNOFA PHONE AND HOURS. The Central Contractor Registration number and hours of operation listed in the HUD SuperNOFA General Section are incorrect. The correct number is 1-888-227 (not 277) -2423. CCR’s hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 9:00-5:00 Eastern time. Visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm for more HUD NOFA information.

INDIAN CDBG JOB-PIRATING RULE FINAL. HUD is adopting its proposed rule, published September 8, 2008, without change. ICDBG funds may not be used to facilitate the relocation of for-profit businesses from one labor market area to another if the relocation is likely to result in significant job loss. See Federal Register, 1/13/09 or https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/fr/. Contact Deborah Lalancette, HUD, 303-675-1600.

RD WATER AND WASTE PROGRAMS INTEREST RATES CHANGED. A rule implementing a provision of the 2008 Farm Bill will become effective unless RD receives adverse comments by February 5. See Federal Register, 1/6/09 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Cheryl Francis, RD, 202-720-9589, cheryl.francis@wdc.usda.gov.

TOLL-FREE NUMBER OFFERED TO LOCATE HOUSING COUNSELORS. To find a HUD-approved agency, call 1-877-HUD-1515 (1-877-483-1515) or visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm. HUD offers the number as part of a new “Keep Your Home. Know Your Loan” campaign launched in six large cities.

SURVEY ON FORECLOSURE AND HOMELESSNESS UNDERWAY. The National Coalition for the Homeless and other national organizations request responses by February 6 from advocates, service providers, and people surviving foreclosure. Visit www.nationalhomeless.org to take the one-page survey online or to obtain printable copies.

POPULATION, HOUSING DATA UPDATED FOR MIDSIZED PLACES. For the first time since the 2000 Census these data are available for counties, cities, and towns with populations of 20,000-64,999, through the American Community Survey. Visit https://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2004/NewsMediaKit.html.