HAC News Formats. pdf

November 30, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 24

• HUD offers lead hazard funding • RD explains energy requirements for new construction • Uniform Appraisal Dataset adopted for Section 502 direct and guaranteed loans • RD will accept third-party initial inspections for single-family homes • Updated rural tenant data released • Research predicts increase in homelessness • HAC launches research series using 2010 Census data • New Rural Voices covers housing and water links • HAC examines supplemental poverty measure • Correction: FY12 funding not subject to deficit reduction actions

November 30, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 24

HUD OFFERS LEAD HAZARD FUNDING. Applications are due January 18 for both the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program and the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program. Visit https://www.grants.gov or https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm. Contact Michelle M. Miller, HUD, michelle.m.miller@hud.gov, 202-402-5769.

RD EXPLAINS ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION. Administrative Notice 4603 (October 28, 2011) states that USDA-funded new construction projects are now governed by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act’s standards for the efficiency of equipment and appliances in homes. These standards do not apply to manufactured homes, which remain subject to the HUD Code. ANs are posted at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd-an_list.html. Contact William Downs, USDA, 202-720-1499, william.downs@wdc.usda.gov.

UNIFORM APPRAISAL DATASET ADOPTED FOR SECTION 502 DIRECT AND GUARANTEED LOANS. For appraisals completed on or after January 1, appraisers must use the new Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac UAD for both Section 502 programs. For UAD information visit https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/lqi/umdp/uad/index.jsp. RD’s AN 4601 (October 28, 2011) is at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd-an_list.html. Contact an RD office.

RD WILL ACCEPT THIRD-PARTY INITIAL INSPECTIONS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. For Section 502 direct loans and Section 504 loans and grants, through September 30, 2012 RD will accept qualified third-party inspectors’ inspections instead of requiring its own staff to visit properties, and will waive some site inspections. Environmental requirements must be met, and RD will conduct final inspections. Details are in an Unnumbered Letter dated October 27; visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/uloctober11.pdf or contact an RD office.

UPDATED RURAL TENANT DATA RELEASED. USDA’s annual occupancy report for Section 515 and 514/516 rentals states that from April 2010 to May 2011 the total number of Section 515 properties dropped by 270 (about 3,600 apartments) and the number of farmworker properties increased by six. Other data include tenant income, rent burden, gender, race/ethnicity, and more, nationwide and for each state. Find the Unnumbered Letter dated October 4 at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/uloctober11.pdf or contact an RD office.

RESEARCH PREDICTS INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS. The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that in the next three years U.S. homelessness could increase by 5%, and recommends continued investment in successful homelessness prevention and re-housing activities. “Increases in Homelessness on the Horizon” is free at https://www.endhomelessness.org. Contact NAEH, info@naeh.org, 202-638-1526.

HAC LAUNCHES RESEARCH SERIES USING 2010 CENSUS DATA. “Rurality in the United States” is the first in a series of Rural Research Notes presenting data and findings regarding social, economic, and housing characteristics of rural America based on the recently released 2010 Census and American Community Survey. Copies are free at https://ruralhome.org or from Dan Stern, HAC, dan@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

NEW RURAL VOICES COVERS HOUSING AND WATER LINKS. Housing and Water: The Critical Connection is a joint fall 2011 issue of HAC’s quarterly magazine and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership’s Rural Matters magazine. It provides examples of successful projects that have improved opportunities for affordable housing and water and waste services for low-income rural families and communities. This and other issues of Rural Voices are free at https://ruralhome.org. One print subscription per organization is free from Dan Stern, HAC, 202-842-8600, dan@ruralhome.org.

HAC EXAMINES SUPPLEMENTAL POVERTY MEASURE. A new HAC research brief, “Supplemental Poverty Measure: Understanding the change in rural (nonmetro) poverty estimates,” examines a new Census Bureau calculation that attempts to address some of the limitations of the official poverty estimate measure, which was created in the 1960s and is used by an estimated 82 federal programs as a factor in allocating monies. The supplemental measure will not replace the official measure. It generated a national nonmetro poverty rate estimate of 12.8%, compared to the official rate of 16.6%, probably because of differences in housing costs. The research brief is free at https://ruralhome.org or from Dan Stern, HAC, dan@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

CORRECTION: FY12 FUNDING NOT SUBJECT TO DEFICIT REDUCTION ACTIONS. The November 16 HAC News stated incorrectly that the recently enacted FY12 funding levels for USDA and HUD could be affected by the Super Committee’s actions or sequestration of funds resulting from its inaction. Any changes would take effect in FY13, not FY12. HAC apologizes for the confusion.