TOP STORIES

Continuing resolution likely to fund government

Congress is back in session but has not passed any appropriations bills for fiscal year 2025, which begins October 1. Legislators are expected to adopt a continuing resolution that will keep the federal government open at FY24 funding levels and will reauthorize the Farm Bill, which expires September 30. It is not yet clear whether a CR will end in November or December – after the election but before a new administration and Congress are sworn in – or later after the election’s changes are in place. House Speaker Mike Johnson proposed a CR on September 6, and alternatives are expected from others.

The administration sent Congress a list of requested “anomalies” – provisions in a CR that differ from a strict continuation of existing funding levels. In a CR that would last through mid-December, the document says, HUD would need more flexibility to use unobligated Tenant Protection Vouchers carryover funding and some funds should be released for USDA Community Facilities direct loans.

USDA moves funds to Section 502 direct mortgage loans and Section 504 repair grants

USDA RD has shifted unused budget authority from other housing accounts, primarily disaster funding, into the Section 502 direct loan program and the Section 504 grants program, according to the National Rural Housing Coalition. Because the appropriation for Section 502 direct funding was cut from $1.25 billion in FY23 to $880 million in FY24, many states ran out of loan funds partway through the year, leaving rural housing organizations and homebuyers in limbo. USDA’s “interchange” of funds increased the total amount available for Section 502 direct loans to $1.1 billion and the total number of loans to about 4,450 rather than about 3,500. Another $1.2 million was shifted to the Section 504 grant program and $1.8 million to Community Facilities Technical Assistance Grants. The funds will be available until expended; they do not expire at the end of FY24. For more information, contact a USDA Rural Development office.

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month

Online information and resources are available from many sources including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and the U.S. Census Bureau.

RuralSTAT

From 2022 to 2023, median incomes increased by 3.7% for households inside metropolitan statistical areas and by 7.5% for those outside metro areas. In 2023, median incomes were $90,140 for suburban households, $73,540 for urban households, and $62,520 for those outside metro areas. Source: Census Bureau, Income in the United States: 2023.

OPPORTUNITIES

Grants enable rural teachers to do place-based projects

The Rural Schools Collaborative’s 2024-2025 Grants In Place Fellows Program will make awards to innovative rural teachers in areas served by RSC’s regional hubs. Each fellow will receive up to $2,500 to carry out a place-based education project. Projects should enhance the students’ understanding and appreciation of their place, while addressing a community need. Applications are due October 6.

REGULATIONS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

HUD revises manufactured housing code

Revisions to HUD’s Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards for new manufactured housing, known as the “HUD Code,” are available in a pre-publication version; the official document will be published in the Federal Register on September 16. Changes include extending the code to cover structures with up to four units.

DDAs and QCTs designated

HUD has posted its 2025 lists of Difficult Development Areas and Qualified Census Tracts for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Comments requested on revising lead threshold for young children

HUD intends to revise its elevated blood lead level threshold for children under six years old living in assisted housing built before 1978. It requests public input by October 11 on lowering the blood lead level at which a property owner, PHA, government entity, or Tribe would be required to undertake certain actions.

Executive Order tells agencies to take labor standards into account

On September 6, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Investing in America and Investing in American Workers encouraging federal agencies to prioritize labor standards when they award funds. The EO tells USDA, HUD, and other agencies to emphasize applicants’ policies related to positive labor-management relations, family-sustaining wages, benefits for workers, combatting discrimination, workforce development, and worker health and safety. A new Investing in Good Jobs Task Force will coordinate efforts related to this EO.

EVENTS

HAC offers Section 502 direct loan packaging course in Alabama

HAC will hold an in-person USDA Section 502 Direct Certified Loan Packaging Course in Montgomery, AL on September 24-26. This three-day advanced course prepares participants to become certified Section 502 loan packagers. It is designed for those experienced in using Section 502. A laptop is required for the class for each participant. Following the course, participants are encouraged to take the online certification exam. The registration fee is $750. For more information, contact HAC, registration@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

Learn more about the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design

Join CIRD online on October 24 for our 2023-2024 local design workshop showcase, titled CIRD’s Local Design Workshops: The Process Explained. CIRD is a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with HAC. With support from a wide range of design, planning, and creative placemaking professionals, CIRD design workshops bring together local residents and local leaders from nonprofits, community organizations, and government to develop actionable solutions to specific design challenges. To learn more about CIRD’s workshop process from the perspective of our workshop communities, our design partners at TBD Studio, and others, register here for the showcase.

PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA

Incomes rose and poverty fell slightly from 2022 to 2023

On September 10 the Census Bureau released its annual reports on income, poverty, and health insurance. Real median household income increased by 4.0% between 2022 and 2023, its first statistically significant annual increase since 2019. Real median household income increased by 5.4% for white households and by 5.7% for non-Hispanic white households between 2022 and 2023. There was no significant change in median incomes for Black, Asian, and Hispanic households. The official poverty rate fell from 11.5% in 2022 to 11.1% in 2023. The Supplemental Poverty Measure, on the other hand, increased 0.5 percentage points to 12.9%; that calculation takes into account government assistance and other adjustments that are not included in the official poverty calculation.

Resource aims to help prevent eviction of tenants with mental and behavioral health conditions

Eviction Prevention: A Toolkit for Tenants and Service Providers is intended for people with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders living in community-based low-income housing and the service providers and organizations supporting them in their housing and recovery. Topics include upstream eviction prevention strategies, housing support services, landlord partnerships, rent payment tools, behavioral health strategies, legal tools, and service coordination. Published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the toolkit is available in both English and Spanish. A webinar recording is also posted online.

Tribes’ climate response needs not being met

A report titled Climate Adaptation Barriers and Needs Experienced by Northwest Coastal Tribes is based on listening sessions conducted with Tribal government staff, elected officials, and citizens from 13 coastal Tribes in Oregon and Washington about their climate adaptation plans and obstacles. Researchers identified several key barriers to Tribes’ ability to respond to threats from floods, fires, heat, and other risks. These include the need for adequate staff capacity and funding; more coordinated and effective partnerships with federal agencies and other entities; more technical expertise and services around climate adaptation; and improved communication, education, and outreach. High Country News published an interview with the lead researchers. The project’s work will continue, with its next effort looking at possible solutions.

Database shows U.S. disaster spending

The Carnegie Endowment’s Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics Program created the Disaster Dollar Database to demonstrate federal spending for 170 specific disasters from 2015 to present. Currently the database includes funding only from FEMA and from HUD’s CDBG-Disaster Recovery program, though Carnegie hopes to add efforts from other agencies. CDBG-DR has spent $50 billion over this period, but is not a permanently authorized program. Carnegie calculated that it takes an average of 342 days from the date of the disaster until HUD publishes guidelines for the associated CDBG-DR funds in the Federal Register and 762 days on average from the date of disaster until grants are executed with states and local grantees.

HAC

HAC is hiring

HAC job listings and application links are available on our website.

• Training Implementation Specialist
• Accountant

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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