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