Economist Robert J. Samuelson: Why Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac survived. In 2015, GSE guarantees cover about half of new mortgages for home purchases; including other agencies (FHA, VA, USDA) the government guarantees three-quarters of new mortgages.
A notice from USDA Rural Development explains how new mortgage disclosure requirements apply to self-help grantees who are packaging loans for people participating in USDA-financed self-help housing programs.
According to new research from USA Today the nation’s progress against cancer has left behind poor, minority and rural residents. The article includes state-by-state statistics on health and preventative care and stories of individual hardship.
Nonprofit Quarterly continues its coverage of the impacts of USDA Rural Housing Service’s current Rental Assistance shortfalls. The story examines an ongoing situation in Kitsap, Washington as it reflects on a national problem.
The HUD Info Exchange blog recently examined how HUD’s approach to ending chronic homelessness, while increasingly effective in urban areas, presents several challenges for rural communities that make it harder to address rural homelessness.
As of August 2015 the majority of rural counties have gained jobs compared to the same period last year. But energy-producing regions like the eastern coalfields and northern Great Plains have suffered. From The Daily Yonder.
HAC is hosting a two track training in Charleston, SC on November 19-20. Sharpening Your Skills: Financial Management for Rural Nonprofits will offer a general introduction to financial management for nonprofit organizations. Participants of Utilizing the LIHTC Pro-gram: Creating and Preserving Affordable Housing will obtain a basic understanding of the fundamentals of LIHTC.
An article in The Daily Yonder “Rural and Homeless: ‘I Had No Place to Go’”, describes the work of the Corner Haven Crisis Center in addressing rural homelessness in Eastern Kentucky. Statistics on national rural homelessness rates are included in the piece.
USDA is leading a cross-agency effort to combat child poverty in rural areas with the Administration’s “Rural Impact” effort. Ten rural and tribal communities from across the country will participate in the demonstration program.
New protections for farmworkers applying pesticides are provided in an EPA rule released September 19. It enhances requirements for training, protective equipment, and more. It also requires workers applying pesticides to be 18 or over.