TOP STORIES

USDA and HUD predict impact of proposed funding cuts

House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) asked heads of federal agencies about the impact of cutting FY24 discretionary spending back to FY22 levels. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack responded that between 40,000 and 63,000 of the 288,000 tenant households currently receiving USDA Rental Assistance would lose that aid. The resulting loss of rental income could cause property owners to defer maintenance and fall behind on loan payments, Vilsack noted. HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge’s reply predicted mass evictions, increased homelessness, exacerbated dire housing conditions in Indian Country, and more.

HUD sets schedule for applying Buy America requirements

HUD has established an implementation schedule for applying the new Buy America preference for U.S.-made construction components. As of February 22, 2023, the requirements apply to iron and steel products used in infrastructure projects funded with new Choice Neighborhood, Lead Hazard Reduction, and Healthy Homes Production Grants. For most products in most other programs, the requirements will take effect in 2024. HUD has not yet provided further guidance on what activities under these programs will be considered to be infrastructure projects. This schedule does not apply to Tribes and Tribal entities because the requirements are waived temporarily for them under a separate notice, although the Tribal waiver will expire after May 14, 2023.

USDA explains timing for eligible areas review

USDA RD has posted details about the eligible areas review process, adding to the information previously available. (The new notice came from the Section 502 guarantee office but applies to all housing programs.) The new details include copies of all notices issued by State Offices between March 8 and 10 indicating where RD is reviewing population changes to determine whether area eligibility changes are required. The public now has 90 days to submit comments. Before final decisions are made, the public will have 30 days to review comments received from the 90-day notice, a description of any proposed boundary revisions, and a revised eligibility map. RD tentatively plans to make new boundaries effective on October 2, 2023, at the beginning of fiscal year 2024. For more information or to submit comments, contact the relevant State Office. Sign up here to receive email notices from your state (and other USDA RD notices).

HAC invites workshop proposals for October 2023 National Rural Housing Conference

HAC requests workshop proposals for its 2023 conference, to be held October 24-27 (with workshops on October 25 and 26) in Washington, DC. Workshops should seek to align themselves with the conference theme – Build Rural – or one of the following threads: Housing Affordability, Development, Preservation, Community Facilities, Rural Prosperity, Placemaking, Capacity Building, Housing Justice, or other adjacent threads. Proposals are due June 2. For more information, contact Kelly Cooney or Diane Hunter, HAC.

RuralSTAT

While racial/ethnic diversity has generally increased over the past 10 years among tenants of rental housing financed with USDA loans, the proportion of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) tenants has not changed. In 2012, 68% of tenants were white, non-Hispanic; 18.5% were Black, non-Hispanic; 10.7% were Hispanic; and 1.7% were AIAN. In 2022, 64.4% were white, 20.4% were Black, 12% were Hispanic, and 1.7% were AIAN. Source: USDA Multi-Family Housing Annual Fair Housing Occupancy Reports, 2012 and 2022.

OPPORTUNITIES

USDA offers disaster repair grants for homeowners

USDA is now accepting applications for Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grants, newly funded in the final FY23 omnibus appropriations bill. Grants of up to $40,675 are available for low- and very low-income homeowners in rural places that experienced presidentially declared disasters in calendar year 2022. Very low-income homeowners may also be eligible for Section 504 loans and grants. For more information, contact a USDA RD office.

Fair housing education and outreach funds offered

HUD has opened a supplemental Fair Housing Initiatives Program Education and Outreach Initiative. Eligible applicants are Qualified Fair Housing Enforcement Organizations, Fair Housing Enforcement Organizations, public and private nonprofits, state and local governments, and agencies that participate in the Fair Housing Assistance Program. The deadline is May 11. For more information, contact Stephanie W. Thomas, HUD, 202-402-6938.

Community Connect broadband grants available

Nonprofits, for-profits, and state, local, and Tribal governments may apply by June 20 for Community Connect grants to construct rural broadband networks. For more information, contact Randall Millhiser, USDA RD, 202-578-6926.

Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers nominations open

The committee’s 15 members will include historically underserved farmers and ranchers, as well as representatives of minority serving institutions of higher education and community-based nonprofits, and people with civil rights and equity expertise. Nominations are due April 24. For more information, contact R. Jeanese Cabrera, USDA, 202-720-6350.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

HUD seeks input on NSPIRE scoring and ranking

The most recent step in HUD’s implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) is a notice requesting comments on proposed NSPIRE physical inspection scoring and ranking methodology. HUD previously published a proposed regulation for NSPIRE and proposed standards. NSPIRE applies to public housing and multifamily housing programs, including Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 8 Project-Based and other assisted housing, the Section 202 and 811 programs, and HUD-insured multifamily housing. Comments are due April 27. For more information, contact Tara J. Radosevich, HUD, NSPIRERegulations@hud.gov.

New temporary authorization to help address RD backlogs

Effective immediately, additional staff in USDA RD State Offices may receive temporary authority to make some decisions regarding Section 502 direct and Section 504 applications. The change is intended to help reduce application backlogs. For more information, contact a State Office.

Cost burden increased among USDA tenants, annual occupancy report shows

Characteristics of tenants in Section 515 and 514 properties remained largely the same from October 2021 to October 2022, USDA’s annual data report indicates. There were 3,154 fewer units in 2022 than in 2021, with a decrease of 158 Section 515 properties and 7 Section 514 FLH properties. In 2022, average annual income for all tenants was $15,502, while the average income for those receiving Section 521 Rental Assistance was $12,989. The number of cost-burdened households, which fell dramatically from 41,121 in 2020 to 3,227 in 2021 because the American Rescue Plan Act provided additional RA, rose to 4,975 in 2022. Past occupancy data reports are available on HAC’s website.

HUD suggests changes related to floodplains

A proposed regulation is intended to improve the resilience of HUD-assisted or financed projects to the effects of climate change and natural disasters and provide for greater flexibility in the use of HUD assistance in floodways under certain circumstances. Comments are due May 23. For more information, contact Lauren Hayes Knutson, HUD, 202-402-4270.

Some USDA loan limits revised

Limits for USDA Section 502 direct loans have been revised for some places in Florida, New Jersey, and Virginia. For more information, contact an RD office.

HUD returns to 2013 disparate impact rule

HUD is reversing a change it made in 2020 to its fair housing discriminatory effects regulation and is reinstating a 2013 rule governing fair housing violation claims based on policies or actions with “disparate impacts” on categories of people protected by the Fair Housing Act. HAC supported this step when it was proposed. It requires no changes in practice because the 2013 rule remained in effect while the 2020 version was challenged in court.

EVENTS

Register now for upcoming HAC trainings

HAC Spring Training will be held April 11-13 in San Diego, with three different segments: “Housing and Services for Rural Veterans: A Symposium,” “Leading an Organization in Changing Times,” and “Creating Sustainable and Affordable Housing: A Workshop on Green Building Principles.”

Overcoming Cost Barriers: Innovative Approaches to Construction with Smart Building Techniques, Volunteers, and Sweat Equity is a series of five webinars:

• Fostering Skilled Labor in Your Community was held March 22, and the materials and recording are posted online;
• Benefits of Using Pre-Assembled Building Components, April 26;
• Implementing Change in Your Organization/Adopting Alternative Construction Techniques, June 7;
• Emerging Construction Techniques, June 14; and
• Modular and Manufactured Homes, June 28.

Webinar to review federal funding for rural development

Seizing the Moment: Rural Development Hubs and the Historic Opportunity for Federal Resources, a new Rural Opportunity and Development (ROAD) Session, will be held on April 12. The webinar is hosted by Aspen Institute’s Community Strategies Group in collaboration with HAC, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Rural LISC, the International Economic Development Council, and the Federal Reserve Board.

Equity and resiliency connections to be covered

Rural Affordable Housing: Equity and Resiliency, a webinar offered on April 11 by the Technical Assistance Collaborative, will examine steps to center equity and mitigate effects of future disasters for vulnerable populations through thoughtful building and rebuilding.

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

Disaster guide online for survivors of southern tornadoes

HAC’s thoughts are with our rural partners and communities affected by the recent tornadoes in Mississippi and Alabama. HAC offers an online resource guide with information for individuals and families in the disaster area. Other disaster resources from HAC include Rural Resilience in the Face of Disaster and a Disaster Response for Rural Communities Guide.

Blog considers how states and localities can support rural justice

Identifying Policies That Advance Racial & Economic Justice in Rural Places, a ChangeLab Solutions blog post, highlights several policies that “hold high potential to address multiple dimensions of oppression for BIPOC rural communities – for example, funding for Native arts programs; Native tourism alliances; targeted and local hiring; agricultural workers’ rights; funding and support for small water systems; broadband expansion; and reparations.”

HAC

National Rural Housing Conference set for October

Mark your calendars and save the date! HAC’s National Rural Housing Conference will be held October 24-27 in Washington, DC and online.

Need capital for your affordable housing project?

HAC’s loan fund provides low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, new development, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development, construction/rehabilitation and permanent financing. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including tribes).

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Please credit the HAC News and provide a link to HAC’s website. Thank you!

TOP STORIES

USDA budget requests growth in rural housing funding

The Biden administration’s budget for fiscal year 2024 would increase resources for almost all of USDA’s rural housing programs. It asks Congress to continue funding the 27,000 Section 521 Rental Assistance units added by pandemic relief legislation and renews proposals made in last year’s budget to improve rental housing preservation by increasing funding and decoupling Rental Assistance from USDA mortgages. It proposes ending subsidy recapture for Section 502 direct borrowers. The Rural Community Development Initiative for capacity building would grow to $22.8 million from $6 million in FY23. HAC’s analysis, as well as a recording and slide deck from HAC’s March 15 budget webinar, are posted online.

HUD budget proposes increased aid to tenants and downpayment assistance

While requesting significant new resources, the administration’s HUD budget would also make small cuts in the SHOP, Section 184 guarantee, and Rural Capacity Building programs. It would increase HOME from $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion, add $565 million for 50,000 new incremental vouchers, and provide $300 million for capital investments in public housing. A new mandatory spending program would provide downpayment assistance. Other proposed mandatory spending – which must be approved by legislation in addition to the annual appropriations bill, and therefore is very unlikely to pass in the current Congress – would add rent aid for specific populations as well as modernizing public housing and financing eviction reduction efforts. HAC’s analysis, as well as a recording and slide deck from HAC’s March 15 budget webinar, are posted online.

Eligible areas under review for rural housing programs

In early March, USDA RD State Offices sent email notices telling stakeholders that the agency is conducting its periodic review of area eligibility designations for its rural housing programs. Based on data from the 2020 census, this review could result in loss of eligibility for some locations. For examples, see these notices from Illinois and Minnesota. Public comments are due in early June, 90 days after the date of each notice. For more information, contact housing staff in an RD State Office.

HAC invites workshop proposals for October 2023 National Rural Housing Conference

HAC requests workshop proposals for its 2023 conference, to be held October 24-27 (with workshops on October 25 and 26) in Washington, DC. The biennial conference brings together rural affordable housing and community development leaders, practitioners, policy makers, funders, industry experts, and partners for learning and networking. Workshops should seek to align themselves with the conference theme – Build Rural – or one of the following threads: Housing Affordability, Development, Preservation, Community Facilities, Rural Prosperity, Placemaking, Capacity Building, Housing Justice, or other adjacent threads. Proposals are due June 2. For more information, contact Kelly Cooney or Diane Hunter, HAC.

RuralSTAT

During the pandemic, domestic migration (moving within the U.S.) to rural areas caused population increases in far more places than before the pandemic: 63% of counties outside metro areas had net population inflows in 2021, compared to only 39% in 2019. Source: Joint Center for Housing Studies.

OPPORTUNITIES

Rural community design support available

The National Endowment for the Arts and HAC, with To Be Done Studio, invite rural communities to apply to the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) for design support and technical assistance to host an on-site Local Design Workshop or participate in the Design Learning Cohort. Municipal, Tribal, or county governments, local rural nonprofits, rural regional planning organizations, university community design centers or agricultural/extension offices, and partnerships of these entities are eligible. An informational webinar will be offered March 22. Apply by April 21. For more information, contact CIRD, cird@ruralhome.org.

USDA offers Section 515 subsequent loans, info session on March 23

Borrowers with existing Section 515 loans or loan commitments can apply by April 30 for Section 515 subsequent loans to complete, improve, repair, or modify these properties. A second round of funding will be announced later this year. For more information, contact a USDA RD Processing and Report Review Branch (scroll down to the second map to see which branch to contact). USDA will hold a stakeholder information webinar on March 23.

Department of Justice to fund supportive housing and clinical services

The first segment of the Pay for Success grant application process closes on March 21. This grant program will provide six awards in the amount of $1 million each to local, Tribal, or state governments or PHAs for projects providing permanent supportive housing or clinical services for people with mental health, substance use, or co-occurring disorders who are or were involved in the criminal justice system. For more information, contact DOJ’s OJP Response Center, 800-851-3420.

Community Connect broadband grants offered

Nonprofits, for-profits, and state, local, or Tribal governments can apply by June 20 for the Community Connect Grant program to construct broadband networks in rural areas that do not currently have broadband service. For more information, contact Randall Millhiser, USDA, 202-578-6926.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

Revisions proposed for rule on using federal property to assist homeless

HUD, the General Services Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services are proposing to update the regulations for the Title V program, which allows states or local governments and nonprofits to use some unused federal properties to assist people experiencing homelessness. Comments are due May 19. For more information, contact Juanita Perry, HUD, 202-402-3970.

HUD revises some Fair Market Rents

New FMRs for Hawaii County, HI; Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI; Hood River County, OR; Wasco County, OR; and Seattle-Bellevue, WA take effect on April 19.

Limited English proficiency requirements repeated for rental housing providers and USDA staff

New USDA guidance reminds agency staff and owners and managers of USDA-financed multifamily housing that they must follow policies and procedures for ensuring that persons with limited English proficiency have meaningful access to USDA’s programs and activities.

EVENTS

HAC plans April workshops

Register for one, two, or all three days of Spring Training (peer networking and practical knowledge), to be held in person in San Diego. There is no registration fee, but space is limited and registration is required. HAC’s annual symposium on “Housing and Services for Rural Veterans” will be on April 11. On April 12 and 13 HAC will present two concurrent trainings, “Leading an Organization in Changing Times” and “Creating Sustainable and Affordable Housing: A Workshop on Green Building Principles.” For more information, contact HAC, 202-842-8600.

National Community Development Week set for April 10-14

This annual observance celebrates improvements achieved with support from the HOME and CDBG programs. Access the National Community Development Week toolkit and other resources online from the CDBG Coalition, which includes HAC.

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

U.S. needs 7.3 million affordable rentals

The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s annual publication, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, reports a shortage of 7.3 million affordable and available rental homes for the lowest-income renters in the country. The shortfall increased by 500,000 between 2019 and 2021. Nationwide, there are only 33 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households; among states, the supply ranges from 17 per 100 in Nevada to 58 in South Dakota. The report calls for greater federal investment in the preservation and expansion of the affordable housing stock, more Housing Choice Vouchers, a national housing stabilization fund for renters who experience an unexpected short-term financial shock, and federal tenant protections.

Community organizations address rural homelessness and housing insecurity

Tackling Rural America’s ‘Hidden’ Housing Crisis, an article from the Daily Yonder, describes the work of local groups in rural Oregon and Kentucky to address homelessness and housing insecurity in their areas.

Study compares access to housing voucher waiting lists in and outside of metro areas

Offline: Limited Access to Section 8 Vouchers reports on an Affordable Housing Online analysis of waiting list openings for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers from 2016 to 2020. Researchers found that counties outside metropolitan areas were more likely to have lists that remain open indefinitely, while metro counties tended to have waiting lists open for scheduled time periods. Renters were more likely to face barriers accessing Section 8 waiting lists in rural places than in urban areas; for example, their applications were less likely to be online, although overall use of online applications rose by 21% from 2019 to 2020.

Native American credit shortage documented

Native Americans Struggle to Obtain Credit: A Close Analysis of Native American Mortgage Lending From 2018-2021, a National Community Reinvestment Coalition blog post, reports that from 2018 through 2021, just 0.9% of all mortgages in the U.S. went to Native Americans, who make up 3% of the US population. Those who do purchase a home are more likely to choose a manufactured home. Also, mortgage lenders impose higher costs on Native Americans than other groups, even when they are buying less expensive homes. Factors contributing to this state of affairs, the post notes, include a lack of access to credit, discrimination, inadequate affordable housing stock, and a shortage of infrastructure to support development of new homes.

System to protect farmworkers falls short, investigation finds

As part of an ongoing series on farmworker housing, Investigate Midwest published Government System for Protecting Farmworkers Plagued by Staff Turnover and Lack of Outreach. The Monitor Advocate System, a federal-state joint effort, is intended to ensure that states protect farmworkers from unsafe housing, wage theft, and other abuses. Journalists found, however, that some states failed to conduct adequate outreach to farmworkers, employee turnover was high, and during the coronavirus pandemic some states stopped doing outreach at a time when farmworkers likely needed it most.

GAO summarizes ways to improve federal disaster spending

Disaster Assistance: Action Needed to Improve Resilience, Response, and Recovery is a two-page summary of GAO’s recent research and recommendations, released with a blog post and a video, all exploring ways to improve federal disaster recovery, disaster resilience, and the processes for assisting survivors.

HAC

HAC releases 2022 Loan Fund Impact Report

In fiscal year 2022, HAC’s Loan Fund provided $16.6 million of financing so that 36 organizations – including 14 minority-led borrowers – could build, rehabilitate, or preserve 689 affordable homes. More details are available in HAC’s Loan Fund Impact Report.

National Rural Housing Conference set for October

Mark your calendars and save the date! HAC’s National Rural Housing Conference will be held October 24-27 in Washington, DC and online.

Need capital for your affordable housing project?

HAC’s loan fund provides low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, new development, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development, construction/rehabilitation and permanent financing. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including tribes).

Want to reprint a HAC News item?

Please credit the HAC News and provide a link to HAC’s website. Thank you!

 

TOP STORIES

USDA RD produces Buy America guide

USDA Rural Development published a Build America, Buy America Customer Guide to help organizations receiving RD financial assistance comply with requirements that took effect on February 4. RD also revised its BABA webpage, which now makes clear that for-profit entities receiving federal funds are not subject to BABA. There are no changes to the list of affected rural housing and community facilities programs USDA provided in September: “Rural Housing Site Loans and Self-Help Housing Land Development Loans, Rural Rental Housing Loans, Section 538 Rural Rental Housing Guaranteed Loans, The RD Multi-Family Housing Revitalization Demonstration Program (MPR), and Community Facilities Loans and Grants (Includes Guarantees, Emergency Rural Health Care Grants and Tribal College Initiatives Grants).” For more information, contact an RD State Office or email sm.rd.babaa.inquiry@usda.gov.

Equity Commission issues interim report

USDA’s Equity Commission released an interim report on February 28, offering 32 recommendations to the department based on the work of the commission’s Agriculture Subcommittee. Topics include heirs’ property and fractionated land, equity within USDA, and improvements to farmworkers’ living and working conditions. Shonterria Charleston, HAC’s Director of Training and Technical Assistance, is a member of the commission’s Rural Community Economic Development Subcommittee. That group’s recommendations will be provided in the commission’s final report. For more information, email EquityCommission@usda.gov.

Executive Order calls for economic opportunity, including in rural America

An Executive Order issued by President Biden on February 16 asserts that the federal government will “invest in communities where Federal policies have historically impeded equal opportunity – both rural and urban – in ways that mitigate economic displacement, expand access to capital, preserve housing and neighborhood affordability, root out discrimination in the housing market, and build community wealth.” The directive also covers health, environmental justice, education, and other topics.

Contributions to Housing Trust Fund and Capital Magnet Fund halved this year

In 2022 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provided a record high $1.138 billion for the Housing Trust Fund and Capital Magnet Fund. This year, because the housing market has slowed considerably, the total is $545 million. The HTF will drop from $740 million last year to $354 million this year. The CMF will fall from $398 million last year to $191 million in 2023. The amounts are based on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s new business purchases.

March is Women’s History Month

RuralSTAT

More than half of all banks in the United States (56%) are headquartered in rural areas. But these rural financial institutions hold only 6% of all bank assets nationally. Source: Housing Assistance Council tabulations of FDIC Deposit Market Share Reports – Summary of Deposits.

OPPORTUNITIES

Justice Department funding available for housing

• The Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation for federally recognized tribes and tribal consortia closes on March 21. These grants can support renovation, expansion, replacement, or completion of facilities including transitional housing, shelters, and staff housing.
• The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program for local governments closes on March 21. It includes provisions for transitional or recovery housing and recovery support services.
• Improving Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Outcomes for Adults in Reentry is for state, local, and Tribal governments and nonprofit organizations. The program includes funding for transitional and recovery housing and closes March 28.
• Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program Training and Technical Assistance will fund nonprofits, for-profits, and private and public institutions of higher education to provide technical and training assistance for response efforts including transitional housing and recovery services. It closes April 25.

Technical assistance offered

• HUD’s Thriving Communities Technical Assistance program is intended to help units of general local government ensure housing needs are considered as part of their larger infrastructure investment plans. Requests will be reviewed as they are received, beginning March 15. HUD will give priority to jurisdictions with populations of less than 250,000 people. For more information, email ThrivingCommunitiesTA@HUD.gov.
• Smart Growth America will provide TA to help community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, Tribal Nations, and groups of residents or businesses advocate for just climate and land use development. Apply by March 15. For more information, email Jamie Zouras, Smart Growth America.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

Medicaid and CHIP “unwinding” reviews could mean lost health coverage

During the coronavirus pandemic, a “continuous coverage” requirement has prevented states from reviewing eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), so almost everyone who was enrolled has remained covered. Now the requirement is expiring and its “unwinding” means that states will begin reviewing eligibility of all enrollees. States must begin the process by April 1. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that 6.8 million people – disproportionately children and BIPOC residents – could remain eligible but lose their Medicaid coverage because, for example, they moved and do not receive state notices. HHS provides links and toll-free phone numbers for state Medicaid offices so people can update their contact details. Information to help service providers assist their clients is available from many sources, including HHS, the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, the National Indian Health Board, and the Rural Health Information Hub. On March 1, NIHB will host Medicaid Unwinding Webinar: Updates and Best Practices for Tribal Enrollment Assisters. On March 14, a webinar titled Medicaid Unwinding: Helping Service Recipients Keep Their Health Care Coverage will be offered by the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, and the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Area loan limits for USDA single-family direct programs updated

USDA Rural Development has announced the area loan limits that will apply, effective March 1, to loans under the Section 502 direct and Section 504 programs. For more information, contact an RD office.

USDA seeks input on notices to tenants when owners apply for prepayment

USDA requests feedback from stakeholders as it revises the communications it sends to tenants when owners of Section 515 and Section 514 properties apply to prepay their loans. The agency will hold a listening session for stakeholders on March 9 to present its proposed draft letters and communication strategy and receive input on potential enhancements.

HAC comments on CDBG-DR

Responding to two requests for information from HUD, HAC recently submitted comments on some of the specifically rural concerns involved in using the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program. HAC also signed a comment letter prepared by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition.

HOTMA rule corrected

HUD has published corrections to its recent rule on rental housing under the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act.

USDA RD financial data posted on new gateway

USDA Rural Development’s Rural Data Gateway is intended to make information more easily accessible. Rural Investments Dashboards show data from more than 65 RD programs by program area (for example, single-family or multifamily housing), for Socially Vulnerable counties as defined by the Centers for Disease Control, or by county or congressional district. The data can also be downloaded. Figures from fiscal years 2012 to 2022 are currently posted. For more information, email USDA.RD.DATA@usda.gov.

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

Guide for housing advocates gets annual update

Advocates’ Guide 2023: A Primer on Federal Affordable Housing & Community Development Programs & Policies, published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, is intended to be a comprehensive resource for those involved in affordable housing and community development advocacy. This year’s new content includes sections on COVID-19-era housing programs and tenant protections.

Research identifies ways to improve state support for creative placemaking

A Report on State Enabling Environments for Creative Placemaking, published by the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations, draws from analyses conducted in Minnesota, New Jersey, and Texas to characterize the enabling environment for creative placemaking at the state level. NACEDA concludes that state policy mechanisms to enable creative placemaking exist, but they are not all rooted in equity and not sufficient to fully support the field; significant outside pressure can induce financial institutions to support placemaking; and leadership to enhance state support would accelerate local work, but is under-resourced.

Wind risk study adds to research on flood, fire, and heat risks

First Street Foundation estimates that in 30 years over 13.4 million U.S. properties will be exposed to hurricanes that are not currently, because a larger proportion of tropical storms will reach major hurricane status and storms will track further northward along the East Coast. The foundation also calculated the dollar values of expected damage and associated downtime. First Street’s RiskFactor.com site now includes wind factors along with flood, fire, and heat factors for many properties in the U.S.

Rural rental preservation draws attention in Maine

WMTV in Portland reports that Maine Could Lose Thousands of Units of Affordable Housing, describing the potential loss of many of the state’s 7,700 Section 515 rental units due to maturing mortgages. One Section 515 property (28 units in the town of Thomaston) was preserved because a new state affordable housing tax credit enabled a nonprofit to purchase the property and keep the units affordable. In First-of-its-kind Model for Protecting Affordable Rental Housing in Rural Maine Hailed as Success, Maine Public Radio reports on the same preservation deal, noting that the $1 million per year program also pays for renovations and that other funding sources were involved as well.

Heart disease research findings: housing instability contributes, rural residents have higher rates

Research from the University of Georgia concludes that cardiovascular disease decreased in the U.S. from 2009 to 2018, but rural counties and those with a higher percentage of Black residents consistently experienced higher rates of heart disease than urban and more predominantly white counties. Housing instability, food insecurity, and lower rates of Medicare coverage were also connected to higher rates of cardiovascular disease and death, researchers explained.

HAC

HAC is hiring a Loan Processor Associate

The Loan Processor Associate is an entry-level position and will assist in loan portfolio management functions including loan department reports, loan payments, loan closing, disbursement, monitoring, and servicing  loans. This position is eligible for telecommuting.

National Rural Housing Conference set for October

Mark your calendars and save the date! HAC’s National Rural Housing Conference will be held October 24-27 in Washington, DC and online.

Need capital for your affordable housing project?

HAC’s loan fund provides low interest rate loans to support single- and multifamily affordable housing projects for low-income rural residents throughout the U.S. and territories. Capital is available for all types of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including preservation, new development, farmworker, senior and veteran housing. HAC loan funds can be used for pre-development, site acquisition, site development, construction/rehabilitation and permanent financing. Contact HAC’s loan fund staff at hacloanfund@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Please note: HAC is not able to offer loans to individuals or families. Borrowers must be nonprofit or for-profit organizations or government entities (including tribes).

Want to reprint a HAC News item?

Please credit the HAC News and provide a link to HAC’s website. Thank you!