Information Products Archives

Special Edition 2011: Rural Housing Programs That Work

March 31, 2011/in Rural Voices

Features

USDA Housing Programs:

Expand Homeownership. By providing affordable mortgages to low- and very low-income households, USDA Sections 502 and 523 increase homeownership rates beyond what the private market will support.

USDA Housing Programs have Countless Benefits, by Neal Gibson, NRHA
USDA Funding Helps Put an End to the Cycle of Poverty In Rural Colorado, by Brittnee Wood, CRHDC
A Chance at Homeownership, by Tom Sommerville, HRWC
Building Sustainable Assets through Homeownership, by Dana Cleary, CHISPA

Promote Affordability. The low rates of foreclosure for self-help and other USDA-financed homes show that USDA housing programs provide truly affordable mortgages.

Bringing Down Housing Costs in Hawaii, by Claudia Shay, SHHCH
Innovating to Affordability, by Mark Kvammen, NEICAC

Create Jobs. Section 502 funds support local businesses that sell materials, construction workers, plumbers, electricians, and others who depend on housing development for their livelihood.

States Recognize the Benefit of USDA Housing Programs, by Jill Lordan, NCALL
Supporting Local Businesses in Kentucky, by Wilma Kelley, BHDC
Getting the Economic Ball Rolling , by Kimberly Miller, UHDC.

Stabilize Families and Communities. Homeownership benefits families through a more stable environment for children and more investment in the surrounding community; particularly if the whole block help build one another’s home.

With Drive and Determination, by Becky Reynolds, Little Dixie CAA
Finding a Way Home, by David Ferrier, CHIP
Building Homes and Communities in America’s Breadbasket, by Tom Collishaw, SHE

HAC News: March 16, 2011

March 16, 2011/in HAC News

https://rules.house.gov. HAC will post updates at http://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 http://ruralhome.org or $5 from Janice Clark, HAC, janice@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

USDA Rural Development Housing Programs FY2009 Year-End Report

March 10, 2011/in USDA RD Annual Obligations

USDA Rural Development Housing Programs: FY 2009 Year-End Report, produced by the Housing Assistance Council, provides a review of USDA rural housing activity. Since the 1950s, the United States Department of Agriculture has built or repaired millions of affordable homes for rural Americans primarily through its Rural Development agency (formerly the Farmer’s Home Administration). In Fiscal Year 2009, Rural Development (RD) obligated approximately $19 billion which built, repaired, or supported over 350,000 units of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families in rural areas.

HAC News: March 2, 2011

March 2, 2011/in HAC News

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 http://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 http://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 http://ruralhome.org or $2.00 from Janice Clark, HAC, 202-842-8600.

Preserving Affordable Manufactured Home Communities In Rural America

March 1, 2011/in Manufactured Housing, Rental Housing Development and Preservation

Manufactured housing is an important yet often overlooked segment of our nation’s housing stock, especially in rural communities. Despite its importance to the American housing sector, there is a dearth of information on manufactured housing, particularly for homes in community or land-lease settings. This report presents a case study highlighting the process one rural manufactured home community undertook to convert from investor to cooperative resident ownership.
March 2011, 18 pages, ISBN 978-1-58064-168-5, Rural Housing Research Note.

Rural Fair Housing Complaints and Enforcement

March 1, 2011/in

Rural Fair Housing Complaints and Enforcement
This report provides an analysis of over 91,000 fair housing complaints in HUD’s TEAPOTS dataset. The analysis of TEAPOTS data includes information on the number and types of fair housing violations filed with HUD and FHAP agencies in rural counties from fiscal year (FY) 1998 to FY 2008.
Print copy: $5.00
March 2011, 35 pages, ISBN 978-1-58064-165-4

Foreclosure in Rural America: An Update

February 20, 2011/in

Foreclosure in Rural America: An Update
The diversity of rural mortgage markets, combined with a lack of access to accurate data, create ongoing challenges to understanding and addressing the mortgage default and foreclosure problem in rural America. This report provides new information to update, What is the Housing Foreclosure Situation in Rural America?, HAC’s initial report and assessment of the foreclosure situation in rural America.
February 2011, 19 pages, ISBN 978-1-58064-166-7, Rural Housing Research Note.

HAC News: February 16, 2011

February 16, 2011/in HAC News

http://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.

USDA Rural Development Program (dollars in millions)	FY 2010 Approp.	FY 2011 Admin. Budget	FY11 Proposed CR (H.R. 1)	FY 2012 Admin. Budget
*Loans*
502 Single Fam. Direct	$1,121	$1,200	$1,121	$211.4
502 Single Family Guar.	12,000	12,000	12,000	24,000
504 Very Low-inc. Rpr.	34.4	34	34	0
514 Farm Labor Hsg.	27.3	27	27.3	27
515 Rental Hsg. Direct	69.5	95.2	69.5	95.2
38 Rental Hsg. Guar.	129.1	129.1	129.1	0
Rental Prsrv. Revlg. Lns.	1.8	0	0	0
*Grants and Payments*
504 Very Low-inc. Rpr.	31.6	31	31.6	11.5
516 Farm Labor Hsg.	9.9	10	9.9	9.8
523 Self-Help TA	41.9	37	37	0
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants	9.4	9.4	9.4	0
521 Rental Assistance d	980	966	955.6	906.7
Preservation RA	(6)	0	0	0
New Constr. 515 RA	(2.03)	(3)	(2.03)	(3)
New Constr. 514/516 RA	(3.4)	(3)	(3)	(3)
542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers	16.4	18	16.4	16
Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR)	25	0	0	0
Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init.	6.3	0	0	8.4

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.

HUD Program (dollars in millions)	FY10 Approp.	FY11 Admin. Budget	FY11 Proposed CR (H.R. 1)	FY12 Admin. Budget
Cmty. Devel. Block Grants – Sustainable Communities Initiative (b) – Rural Innovation Fund (a) – Catalytic Investment Grants	$4,450 (150) (25) –	4,380.1 (150) 0 (150)	1,500 0 25 –	3,781 0 25 0
HOME	1,825	1,650	1,650	1,650
Tenant-Based Rental Asstnce.	16,339	17,310	14,080	15,223
Project-Based Rental Asstnce.	8,551.5	9,382.3	8,882	9,035
Transforming Rental Asstnce.	–	350	–	200
Vets. Affairs Spptve Hsg. Vouchers	75	0	75	75
Public Hsg. Capital Fund	2,500	2,044	1,428	2,405
Public Hsg. Operating Fund	4,775	4,829	4,626	3,962
Public Hsg. Revtlztn. (HOPE VI)	135	0	0	0
Choice Neighbrhd. Initiative	65	250	65	250
Housing Trust Fund	–	1,000	–	1,000
Native Amer. Hsg. Block Grant	700	580	500	700
Homeless Assistance Grants	1,865	2,055	1,865	2,372
Hsg. Opps. for Persons w/ AIDS	335	340	335	335
202 Hsg. for Elderly	825	273	238	757
811 Hsg. for Disabled	300	90	90	196
Fair Housing	72	61	72	72
Rural Hsg. & Econ. Dev. (RHED) (a)	0	0	–	0
Healthy Homes & Lead Haz. Cntl.	140	140	120	140
Sustainable Communities Initiative (b)	–	–	0	150
Self-Help Homeownshp. (SHOP)	27	0	27	0
Brownfields Redevelopment	17.5	0	0	0
Housing Counseling	87.5	88	0	88

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 http://ruralhome.org. One print subscription per organization is free from Dan Stern, HAC, 202-842-8600, dan@ruralhome.org.

HAC News: February 2, 2011

February 2, 2011/in HAC News

https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/01/.

ADMINISTRATION BUDGET TO BE PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 14. The process of developing federal funding levels for fiscal year 2012 will begin when the Obama Administration issues its budget proposals in less than two weeks. Watch for details on HAC’s website, http://ruralhome.org.

HUD OFFERS FUNDS FOR ASSISTED LIVING, SERVICE COORDINATORS, AND RESEARCH. • The Assisted Living Conversion Program aids private nonprofits that own properties with specific types of federal assistance, including Section 515 with Section 8, or Section 202. Deadline is March 29. Contact Katina Washington, Katina.X.Washington@hud.gov, 202-708-3000. • Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing funds are available for specified types of HUD-assisted properties. Deadline is March 24. Contact HUD field staff. • The Transformation Initiative: Natural Experiments Grant Program supports scientific research that makes use of natural experiments to evaluate the impacts of local, state, and federal policies. HUD is particularly interested in helping policymakers spend effectively and efficiently, but will consider other projects as well. Deadline is February 21. Contact Michael T. Morse, Michael.T.Morse@hud.gov, 202-402-5901. • All HUD NOFAs are posted at https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm and https://www.grants.gov.

MATERIALS ON HUD RURAL INNOVATION FUND NOFA POSTED ON HAC’S SITE. A recording of a HAC webcast discussing the application process, slides, and other resources are available at http://ruralhome.org. Application materials are at https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm or https://www.grants.gov. Deadline remains February 23. Contact Robert Duncan, HUD, 202-402-4681 or 1-877-787-2526.

HUD PROPOSES PROTECTIONS FOR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY. Owners and operators of HUD-assisted and FHA-insured housing would be prohibited from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The notice explains that a separate rule will add the same protections to HUD’s Native American housing programs. Comments are due March 25. See Federal Register, 1/24/11 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Kenneth J. Carroll, HUD, 202-708-2333.

FHFA REQUESTS ALTERNATIVES TO CREDIT RATINGS FOR GSE OVERSIGHT. The Federal Housing Finance Agency seeks alternatives to replace the use of credit ratings for securities in its regulations overseeing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Comments are due March 17. See www.fhfa.gov/Default.aspx?Page=89 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Scott Smith, FHFA, 202-414-8922.

RD PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON SECTION 515 PROPERTIES FUNDED BETWEEN 1979 AND 1989. An Unnumbered Letter dated January 4, 2011 explains the status of properties included in a litigation settlement agreement and those that were not included. Contact Cynthia L. Johnson, RD, 202-720-1940, cynthial.johnson@wdc.usda.gov. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_UnnumberedList.html.

CAPITAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES UPDATED. An Unnumbered Letter dated January 7, 2011 compiles information from several sources for USDA-financed multifamily properties’ CNAs. Contact Carlton Jarratt, RD, 804-287-1524, carlton.jarratt@wdc.usda.gov. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_UnnumberedList.html.

HUD REPORTS WORST CASE NEEDS INCREASED 20% FROM 2007 TO 2009. Worst case housing needs – defined as very low-income renter households who paid more than half their monthly income for rent, lived in severely substandard housing, or both – were 7.10 million in 2009 (41% of very low-income renters), up from 5.91 million (37%) in 2007. Every racial/ethnic group experienced increases, with Hispanics having the largest increase. The report suggests the rise is tied to the economic recession and homeownership crisis. Worst Case Housing Needs 2009: A Report to Congress is free at https://www.huduser.org.

ONLINE MAP SHOWS POVERTY RATES FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. An interactive map provides total poverty rates and rates for children. Visit https://halfinten.org/issues/articles/poverty-data-by-congressional-district/.

STUDY ANALYZES HPRP, SUGGESTS IMPROVEMENTS. On the Edge: How HUD Can Improve the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, published by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, is based on a survey of service providers and is available at https://www.nlchp.org.

MISSED THE LAST HAC NEWS? The January 19 issue of the HAC News may not have reached all print subscribers because of a mailing glitch. It is available (along with other back issues) on HAC’s website, http://ruralhome.org. HAC apologizes for any problems.

HAC News: January 19, 2011

January 19, 2011/in HAC News

http://ruralhome.org or https://rules.house.gov for updates. The FY12 funding process will begin when the Administration releases its budget proposals, expected to be during the week of February 14.

EPA OFFERS GRANTS TO BUILD CAPACITY TO ADDRESS CHILDREN’S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. State and local governments, tribes, and nonprofits can apply by February 18. Projects should be multi-media (involving multiple environmental health hazards), holistic (involving multiple stakeholders and built on strong partnerships), and focused on underserved communities. Visit https://www.grants.gov or https://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/grants.htm. Contact seikel.kathy@epa.gov.

USDA OIG CRITICIZES SECTION 502 GUARANTEE PROGRAM. On December 6, 2010 USDA’s Office of Inspector General issued preliminary findings from an audit of Section 502 loans guaranteed with Recovery Act funding. Based on a sample of 100 loans, OIG estimated that 33% of the 81,000 loans made may have been ineligible for the program because borrowers’ incomes were too high or too low, they already owned adequate homes, or they purchased homes with swimming pools. OIG also identified instances where agency policies and guidance were unclear, inadequate, or insufficient, and suggested that agency oversight might have been a contributing factor. USDA officials did not agree with OIG’s conclusions for many of the loans it reviewed. The preliminary report is available at https://www.usda.gov/oig/rptsauditsrhs.htm.

HOMELESSNESS AND DOUBLED UP LIVING INCREASED FROM 2008 TO 2009. The National Alliance to End Homelessness studied state and national data, finding that the nation’s homeless population increased by 3% – approximately 20,000 people – from 2008 to 2009. Increased numbers of people experienced homelessness in each of the subpopulations examined: families, individuals, chronic, unsheltered. The doubled up population (people living with family or friends for economic reasons) increased by 12% to more than 6 million people. State of Homelessness in America 2011 is at https://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/3668.

USDA MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES MAY ADOPT NON-SMOKING POLICIES. An Unnumbered Letter (Dec. 29, 2010) provides guidance to owners who choose to limit smoking. The UL is available from RD offices and posted at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_UnnumberedList.html. Contact Janet Stouder, RD, 202-720-9728. A similar HUD piece from September, PIH-2010-21, is at https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/notices/hsg/10hsgnotices.cfm.

REPORT SAYS PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN ALSO HELP BUILD ASSETS. Homeownership Today and Tomorrow: Building Assets While Preserving Affordability presents research showing how inclusionary housing, limited equity coops, and community land trusts can accomplish both goals and is available from the National Housing Institute at https://nhi.org/go/Assets. It is based on data presented in full in Balancing Affordability and Opportunity: An Evaluation of Affordable Homeownership Programs with Long-term Affordability Controls, available from the Urban Institute at https://www.urban.org/sharedequity.

HOUSING COUNSELING 101 PODCAST OFFERED. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling series is in-tended to help homeowners understand the use of housing counseling to avoid foreclosure. Visit https://www.nfcc.org/housing/index.cfm.

WEBSITE COVERS RECOVERY ACT IMPACT IN INDIAN COUNTRY. Created by the National Congress of American Indians, https://www.indiancountryworks.org provides information and links to news and data, as well as two 2010 NCAI reports on the Recovery Act’s activities and remaining need.

SUCCESSFUL AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNICATIONS DESCRIBED. What Works and Why: Affordable Housing Communications Campaigns 2000-2010 describes 15 campaigns by advocates and government agencies to build public and political support for affordable housing and to counteract negative attitudes. The report is $12.00 from the Partnership for Sustainable Communities at https://www.p4sc.org/articles/category/54 or 415-453-2100.

HUD OFFERS EMAIL LISTS AND A NEW BLOG. Lists on multifamily property disposition, rural economic development, homelessness, lead based paint, and several other topics are open to the public. To sign up, visit https://www.hud.gov/subscribe/. A new blog, the HUDdle, is online at https://blog.hud.gov.