Privacy Policy

HAC Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Effective date: April 16, 2018

Housing Assistance Council (“us”, “we”, or “our”) operates the https://ruralhome.org website and the HAC Trainings mobile application (the “Service”).

This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data.

We use your data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. Unless otherwise defined in this Privacy Policy, terms used in this Privacy Policy have the same meanings as in our Terms and Conditions.

Information Collection And Use

We collect several different types of information for various purposes to provide and improve our Service to you.

Types of Data Collected

Personal Data

While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you (“Personal Data”). Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:

  • Email address
  • First name and last name
  • Phone number
  • Address, State, Province, ZIP/Postal code, City
  • Cookies and Usage Data

Usage Data

We may also collect information that your browser sends whenever you visit our Service or when you access the Service by or through a mobile device (“Usage Data”).

This Usage Data may include information such as your computer’s Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

When you access the Service by or through a mobile device, this Usage Data may include information such as the type of mobile device you use, your mobile device unique ID, the IP address of your mobile device, your mobile operating system, the type of mobile Internet browser you use, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

Tracking & Cookies Data

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our Service and hold certain information.

Cookies are files with small amount of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device. Tracking technologies also used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information and to improve and analyze our Service.

You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Service.

Examples of Cookies we use:

  • Session Cookies. We use Session Cookies to operate our Service.
  • Preference Cookies. We use Preference Cookies to remember your preferences and various settings.
  • Security Cookies. We use Security Cookies for security purposes.

Automated processing of data

  • We automatically collect certain information to track visitor activity on our websites. We use this information to improve the content of our sites as well as to provide visitors with a more relevant overall experience with our organization and our site. This information may include information that identifies you as an individual or relates to an identifiable individual, including: name, title, company name, job function, expertise, postal address, telephone number, or email address. We may also collect other information that does not reveal your specific identity or does not directly relate to an identifiable individual such as browser and device information, information collected through cookies, pixel tags, and other technologies, and demographic information. We never share this information or information you provide us with third parties except to the extent necessary to provide our Service and only to the extent described in the Terms of Service.
  • If you fill out a web form on our site, your information will be stored in our CRM system and some amount of your past browsing on our site may be available to us to determine your interests. We may use this information to more effectively engage with you and improve our site. However, if you use private browsing as described below, you may provide us your information without making your past browsing activity available to us. If you do not wish for us to have your personal information, please do not fill out any of the web forms on this site.
  • If you provide your email address and consent for email marketing, some information is collected about when/if the email was opened and what links were clicked. This information is used to assess the engagement and success of an email campaign.
  • Clicking on a link in any of these emails may cause you to be personally identified on our site and may cause some part of your past browsing history on our site to be available to our personnel so we may more effectively engage with you and improve our site. If you do not wish for this tracking to occur, you can unsubscribe from our mailings or use private browsing mode to avoid tracking.
  • Housing Assistance Council never uses visitor identification techniques that involve sharing information you provide us with other sites or vice versa. Housing Assistance Council never stores any information in your computer’s Flash local shared objects area (i.e., we never use what is known as ‘flash cookies’).

If you do not want this site to place a cookie on your browser and track your activity, you may leave the site or you may browse the site using privacy mode in your web browser. To learn how to use privacy mode, refer to the links below depending on the browser you use.

Use of Data

Housing Assistance Council uses the collected data for various purposes:

  • To provide and maintain the Service
  • To notify you about changes to our Service
  • To allow you to participate in interactive features of our Service when you choose to do so
  • To provide customer care and support
  • To provide analysis or valuable information so that we can improve the Service
  • To monitor the usage of the Service
  • To detect, prevent and address technical issues

Transfer Of Data

Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from your jurisdiction.

If you are located outside United States and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data, including Personal Data, to United States and process it there.

Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to that transfer.

Housing Assistance Council will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of your data and other personal information.

Disclosure Of Data

Legal Requirements

Housing Assistance Council may disclose your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

  • To comply with a legal obligation
  • To protect and defend the rights or property of Housing Assistance Council
  • To prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
  • To protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public
  • To protect against legal liability

Security Of Data

The security of your data is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Service Providers

We may employ third party companies and individuals to facilitate our Service (“Service Providers”), to provide the Service on our behalf, to perform Service-related services or to assist us in analyzing how our Service is used.

These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

Analytics

We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Service.

  • Google Analytics

    Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of our Service. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network.

    For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en

  •  

    Microsoft Dynamics 365

    Dynamics 365 is a set of intelligent business applications that help organizations run their entire business and deliver greater results through predictive, AI-driven insights. HAC utilized Dynamics 365 Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) and Customer Voice to gather marketing contacts, track business activities, and distribute marketing communications to the HAC audience. HAC does not share this data with external parties.

    To learn more about Microsoft’s privacy policies, visit https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/

Links To Other Sites

Our Service may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit.

We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third-party sites or services.

Children’s Privacy

Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 18 (“Children”).

We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your Children has provided us with Personal Data, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from children without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.

Changes To This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.

We will let you know via email and/or a prominent notice on our Service, prior to the change becoming effective and update the “effective date” at the top of this Privacy Policy.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

  • By email: hac@ruralhome.org
  • By visiting this page on our website: https://ruralhome.org/privacy
  • By phone number: 202.842.8600

Loan Products

Rural Seed Money Loan Products

The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) operates several loan funds that provide vital seed money to rural housing developers: community-based, nonprofit organizations, housing development corporations, self help housing sponsors, farm worker organizations, cooperatives, Indian tribes, public agencies, units of local government, public utility districts, and small business and minority contractors. HAC funds help these organizations and individuals take the steps necessary to improve housing and living standards for rural, low- and very-low-income households, such as creation of subdivisions and new single- or multifamily housing units, rehabilitation of existing units, and improved water and waste water disposal systems in rural communities.

The Housing Assistance Council’s loan fund provides low-cost financing to developers of affordable housing in rural communities nationwide. Funds are currently available at 5.0% interest with a discounted 1.0% service fee; borrowers are responsible for closing costs. Current interest rate for for-profit developers is 8%. The standard loan term is three years. There is no maximum loan amount, although loans may not exceed available collateral. Loans must be recoverable from the permanent financing for the project.

Loans must be for projects, which include provisions for serving low-income people as defined by federal guidelines. Projects serving low- and very-low income persons will receive priority. At least 51% of the resulting housing units must be affordable to low- or very-low income people. The proposed projects must be located in areas that are rural in character and have populations of less than 25,000. Each of HAC’s loan products is briefly described below.

PRE-DEVELOPMENT

Loan funds are available for predevelopment expenses associated with the development of affordable housing. Eligible uses are: land options, down payments, architectural and engineering fees, site surveys, soil test borings, market studies, appraisals, environmental engineering studies, archeological clearances, and legal expenses related to site acquisition.

SITE ACQUISITION

Loan funds are available for acquisition and related costs for the development of affordable housing. Eligible uses are: land options, escrow payments, land purchase, legal expenses associated with site acquisition, and other reasonable closing costs.

SITE DEVELOPMENT

HAC loan funds may finance site development expenses associated with affordable single-family and multifamily development including self-help housing. Eligible expenses are: impact and permit fees, engineering surveys/fees, clearing and grading, wells, septic/water, sewer installation, utility hook-ups, streets, curbs, sidewalks, and legal expenses for site development.

CONSTRUCTION

Loan funds may finance unit construction costs of affordable housing developments. Eligible expenses are: construction materials and labor, construction bonds, construction inspection fees, legal costs, and title and recording fees. The maximum loan amount for construction loans is currently $750,000 and limited to single-family development. All fees incurred by HAC, including legal costs, hiring of a local construction inspector, title, and recording fees, will be charged to the borrower and, if necessary, financed by the HAC loan. The term of the loan will be determined by the needs of the project, pending underwriting review.

HAC’s SELF-HELP HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (SHOP)

HAC provides loan funds through the HUD Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) to self-help housing providers for land acquisition and infrastructure improvement for the development of self-help units. The homebuyer family must contribute a significant amount of sweat-equity towards the construction of the dwelling. Loan funds are made available through a competitive application process and cannot exceed $15,000 per lot. SHOP loans are at 0% interest. Up to 90% of the SHOP loan may be forgiven when the borrower has satisfied the conditions of the loan agreement. The forgivable portion may become a grant for the group to establish its own revolving loan fund for future site acquisition and development of self-help housing or to provide direct subsidies to participating homebuyer families. SHOP funds are subject to HUD Environmental Review regulations.

PRESERVATION LOAN

PRLF proceeds are for short- or long-term costs of preservation, repayment and rehabilitation of USDA RHS Section 515 properties. Loans may be used for refinancing and costs incorporated into long-term financing such as options; downpayments; purchase; site development; architectural and engineering fees; construction financing; working capital and construction bonds; costs associated with USDA RHS required Capital Needs Assessments; preliminary easement and water rights purchase; legal expenses to establish utility districts; bonding; interim financing of local share costs; acquisition of existing private systems for rehabilitation; and emergency repair; and rehabilitation and repair.


If you are interested in applying for HAC loan funds, please contact HAC at (202) 842-8600, for information regarding application criteria and to request an application packet.

Applications should be submitted to HAC’s National Office at 1025 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 606, Washington, D. C. 20005, Attention: Loan Fund Division. Telephone (202) 842-8600. Information about HAC and state and federal loan programs may be obtained from the same address or from the HAC Regional Offices.

loanfund_6

HAC-Funded Projects

HAC Profile: Lee County C.D.C., Arkansas

MARIANA/RUNDO SUBDIVISION

SHOP 2001 – $80,000

Raising twelve children in their three-bedroom mobile home, Clarence and Willa May Taylor had to park another trailer in the back yard for extra space. Taylor says he thought he was doing well when he bought that place, but the past year has been “the best ever” because his family is now living in a new home.

The Taylors are retired and receive limited disability assistance. They could afford a new house because of the work of the Lee County Community Development Corporation (LCCDC), which used funding from the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) and other

sources as well as technical assistance from HAC. A loan from HAC’s Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) enabled Lee County CDC to prepare the sites in the Taylors’ small subdivision. Additional financing and “sweat equity” labor from the Taylor family brought the mortgage to an affordable level.

“This is the best thing the CDC could do for the community,” says Clarence Taylor, gesturing to the neat yards and well-kept homes around his. “This is really a wonderful place to live.”

The Taylors sold their old mobile home to a neighbor who intends to rent it to someone else. Perhaps the new tenants will be able to follow the Taylors’ path to better housing.

loanfund_6

HAC Profile: Community Action Commission of Fayette County, Ohio

Village Green Subdivision

SHOP – 1996, $300,000
RHLF – $60,000 Phases I & II
SHOP 1998, $200,000
RHLF – $155,000 Phase III

Julie Allen and her children Tess and Travis moved from a homeless shelter to an apartment to a home of their own, thanks to the Community Action Commission of Fayette County, (CACFC) and the Housing Assistance Council. In 1996, when Julie was pregnant, she left a domestic violence situation and became homeless. She moved into a homeless shelter run by the CACFC and then into supportive housing, which provided services and assistance as well as an apartment for the family.

Julie’s next step was to enroll in the CACFC’s self-help housing program. A loan from HAC helped the CACFC to buy and prepare the land for the 75-unit subdivision in

Bloomingburg, Ohio where Julie’s house was to be built. She and several of her neighbors worked together to help build each other’s houses. Their “sweat equity” replaced their down payments, helping them to afford to purchase their homes. Julie says she really values the safety and community spirit that homeownership has provided. Her children are thriving in the neighborhood, and she has an excellent job. In December 2002, she was a featured speaker before 800 people at the opening session of HAC’s National Rural Housing Conference, describing how self-help housing had changed her life.

HAC Profile: Northeast C.A.C.

SHOP ’99 – $181,818

Glenn Lawrence is proudly helping to build a house for his family in Moberly, Mo. Funding from the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) and the Rural Development arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are enabling the Northeast Community Action Corporation (NECAC) to develop this house and 17 others. The homes are built using the “self-help” method. Because of their labor contribution, Glenn’s family’s house will cost about $79,000 to build but will be appraised at over $100,000. The family will obtain a mortgage from USDA, with payments scaled to fit their income. Northeast Community Action oversees the development process. A loan from the Housing Assistance Council’s Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program covers predevelopment costs such as architectural fees and lot preparation.

Glenn’s mother, stepfather, and younger brother and sister will live in the modestly sized four-bedroom, two-bathroom house, which will be far more comfortable than the house they are now

renting. The rental “isn’t too bad,” says Glenn, but then admits the roof leaks so seriously that one room is unusable. Since he lives on his own, Glenn will not move here with them, but he is glad to use his construction skills on their behalf. A graduate of NECAC’s youth training program, he hopes to make a career in construction.

Learning about the self-help program was a side benefit of Glenn’s participation in the training program. He suggested to his mom, Patsy Hayden that she should apply, since she has always wanted her own house. Glenn is delighted to be helping her make that dream reality — just in time for her fiftieth birthday.

board-retreat-mw

Technical Assistance

HAC’s Training and Technical Assistance assist rural organizations to improve housing conditions for the rural poor, with an emphasis on the poorest of the poor in the most rural places. The division focuses on developing the capacity of local leaders in nonprofit organizations to help their own communities. This is done by providing formal trainings, one-on-one technical assistance and connecting local organizations to resources which can build their capacity and strengthen their community.

board-retreat-mwHAC leads a board governance training for Community Housing Ministries in St. Joseph, MO

Technical Assistance

HAC offers a range of capacity building technical assistance services for organizations in rural areas. Unlike many national organizations, HAC is not a membership organization and has an “open-door” policy with regard to technical assistance. If your organization is looking for guidance on a housing project, organizational development or compliance issues, fill out our TA request and HAC will get back to you as soon as possible.

“But for” HAC our organization would not have been able to develop the housing that it has over the past 28 years. HAC has lent pre-development funds to “all but” every one of our developments in New York State. -Comment from HAC’s Stakeholder Survey

Contact HAC in your Area

Midwest Regional Office

Southeast Regional Office

Southwest Regional Office

Trainings from the Housing Assistance Council

Training

To keep updated on HAC’s training and conference plans, subscribe to the HAC News or Get information on HAC trainings and conferences on TWITTER! HAC’s Twitter feed is at @RuralHome. To get started, visit https://www.twitter.com.

  • HAC sponsors periodic intensive training workshops in different parts of the country, emphasizing housing development, financing, construction, and nonprofit management.
  • HAC also regularly convenes the National Rural Housing Conference, which features a strong training component.
  • If you are having difficulty downloading the files, please contact Dan Stern at dan@ruralhome.org and request that they be sent to you via email.
  • HAC also conducts several web-based trainings and information sessions throughout the year. Go to our web-based trainings page for list of upcoming web trainings and an archive of past events.

[addthis2][/addthis2]

Upcoming Trainings

Materials from the 2012 HAC Conference
Promises to Keep in Challenging Times

Events List

Past Trainings

May 15, 2013: USDA Section 502 Direct Loan and Section 504 Loan and Elderly Grant Repair – An Overview
Presentation, Powerpoint

May 1, 2013: The Silver Tsunami: Are We Prepared for a Senior Population Boom in Rural America?
Presentation, Powerpoint

April 23-25, 2013: Sustainable Affordable Housing: Developing Healthy and Energy Efficient Homes for CHDOs in Las Cruces, NM

March 20-21, 2013: Asset Management Training in Jackson, MS

March 13, 2013: Conducting Homeless Counts on Native American Lands
Presentation, Report

September 19, 2012: Green Building Webinar
Presentation, Powerpoint

September 5-7, 2012: Building HOME and Lead Paint in Columbia, SC

August 21-23, 2012: Sustainable Affordable Housing: Developing Healthy and Energy Efficient Homes for CHDOs in Kansas City, MO

June 28, 2012: Mapping Poverty in Rural AmericaPresentation, Powerpoint, Poverty Materials

May16, 2012: Grant Writing
Presentation, Powerpoint

April 24-26, 2012: Section 502 Packaging Training for Nonprofit Developers in Milwaukee, WI.

April 24, 2012: Rural Housing: New Opportunities for Alabama in Thomasville, AL

April 18, 2012: Fundraising for NonprofitsPresentation, Powerpoint

March 21, 2012: Strategic PlanningWebinar Materials.

March 20-21, 2012: Advanced Financial Management
in Macon, GA

2011: December 5-6 Construction Management and Advanced Financial Management
in Eugene, OR

2011: December 1-2 Construction Management and Advanced Financial Management
in Chico, CA

2011: November 15-16 Construction Management and Advanced Financial Management
in Tucson, AZ

2011: November 9-10. Housing Seniors in Rural America: Aging in Place in a Shifting Landscape in Seattle, WA.
Review Materials from this event:

Jobs

Positions Available

Check back with this space for future job postings from HAC.

TO APPLY FOR A POSITION AT HAC:

No Phone Calls Please!

Follow the application instructions in the job description, or send cover letter along with salary history/requirements and resume to HAC@ruralhome.org. Be sure to reference the job title in the subject line.

Hard copy applications can be sent to Housing Assistance Council, 1025 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 606, Washington, DC 20005, Attn: “job title”.

All positions are located in the Washington, DC office unless otherwise noted.

HAC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

HAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. HAC does not discriminate in hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, marital or familial status, ancestry, or status as a veteran. HAC is committed to maintaining a multicultural work environment. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Updated June 11, 2012

Gideon-Anders

Board of Directors

HAC’s board of directors includes representatives of private industry, government, and public and nonprofit housing agencies at the national, state, and local levels.

Members (including organization, city, state, and e-mail):

Gideon-Anders

Gideon Anders

National Housing Law Project
San Francisco, California

gideon@ruralhome.org

andy-bias

Andy Bias

Wichita, Kansas

andrew@ruralhome.org

laura-buxbaum

Laura Buxbaum

Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
Brunswick, ME

laura@ruralhome.org

Bobby-Calvillo

Robert Calvillo

Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc.
McAllen, Texas

robert@ruralhome.org

Peter-Carey

Peter Carey

Board Chair

Visalia, California

peterc@ruralhome.org

Dave Castillo web

Dave Castillo

Native Capital Access
Tempe, AZ

dave@ruralhome.org

davec@ruralhome.org

Sandra-Ferniza

Sandra Ferniza

Phoenix, Arizona

sandra@ruralhome.org

Ninfa-Gutierrez

Ninfa R. Gutierrez

KDNA Public Radio
Yakima, Washington

ninfa@ruralhome.org

Ilene-Jacobs

Ilene Jacobs

California Rural Legal Assistance
Marysville, California

ilene@ruralhome.org

Lipsetz-7237-small

David Lipsetz

Housing Assistance Council
Washington, DC

david@ruralhome.org

tom-manning-beavin

Tom Manning-Beavin

Frontier Housing
Morehead, Kentucky

tom@ruralhome.org

twila-martin-kekahbah

Twila Martin-Kekahbah

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
Belcourt, North Dakota

twila@ruralhome.org

Maria-Luisa-Mercado

Maria Luisa Mercado

Board President

Lone Star Legal Aid
Galveston, Texas

maria@ruralhome.org

Picotte

Bill Picotte

Gila River Indian Community
Maricopa, AZ

william@ruralhome.org

andres-saavedra

Andres Saavedra

Board Vice President

Rural LISC
Washington, D.C.

andres@ruralhome.org

naomi-scipio

Naomi Scipio

Central City Realty
Columbia, South Carolina

naomi@ruralhome.org

Irene-Sikelianos

Irene Sikelianos

Albuquerque, New Mexico

irene@ruralhome.org

rep-bennie-thompson

Bennie Thompson

U.S. House of Representatives
Bolton, Mississippi

bennie@ruralhome.org

Dazetta-Thorne

Dazetta Thorne

Seventh District Pavillion, Inc.
Crowley, Louisiana

dazetta@ruralhome.org

Winter

Andrew B. Winter

Twin Pines Housing Trust
White River Junction, VT

andreww@ruralhome.org

Connie Wright web

Connie Wright

Wells Fargo Housing Foundation
Atlanta, GA

connie@ruralhome.org

Annual Report 2018

About HAC

What is HAC?

The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) has been helping local organizations build affordable homes in rural America since 1971. HAC assists in the development of both single- and multi-family homes and promotes homeownership for working low-income rural families through a self-help, “sweat equity” construction method by emphasizing local solutions, empowerment of people in poverty, reduced dependence, and self-help strategies. HAC offers services to public, nonprofit, and private organizations throughout the rural United States and maintains a special focus on high-need groups and regions, such as: Indian country, the Mississippi Delta, farmworkers, the Southwest border colonias, and Appalachia.

HAC is a nonprofit corporation located in Washington, DC with regional offices in the southeast, midwest, and southwest.

HAC’s Mission

The mission of the Housing Assistance Council is to improve housing conditions for the rural poor, with an emphasis on the poorest of the poor in the most rural places.

2018 Annual Report

Annual Report 2018HAC is pleased to present the 2018 Annual Report, which looks back at our accomplishments and those of our partner organizations over the last year.


Download HAC’s brochure

Read about HAC’s History