HAC News Formats. pdf

December 14, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 25

• HUD offers housing counseling funds • Section 202 Demonstration Pre-Development Grants available • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau requests suggestions for regulations • Rules issued for Emergency Solutions Grants, HMIS, and new definition of homeless • HUD releases FY12 median family income limits • Changes proposed to HUD’s wetlands and floodplains rules • Administration reports drop in homelessness • Report suggests how states can help seniors age in place • Nominations due January 6 for community reinvestment awards • HAC releases overview of nonprofits’ housing capacity in Delta • HAC examines rural affordable housing issues related to prisoner reentry • Season’s greetings!

December 14, 2011
Vol. 40, No. 25

HUD OFFERS HOUSING COUNSELING FUNDS. HUD-approved counseling agencies can apply by January 12. Visit https://www.grants.gov or https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm. Contact a HUD homeownership center.

SECTION 202 DEMONSTRATION PRE-DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AVAILABLE. Appropriated in FY10, these grants can be used by those with FY10 Section 202 awards to cover architectural and engineering work, site control, and other planning related expenses that are eligible for Section 202 funding. Deadline is January 18. Visit https://www.grants.gov or https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm. Contact Denise Taylor-Parker, HUD, 202-402-2892, denise.l.taylor-parker@hud.gov.

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU REQUESTS SUGGESTIONS FOR REGULATIONS. The CFPB is responsible for regulations originally written by other agencies, including rules for the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and the SAFE Mortgage Licensing Act. It requests specific suggestions by March 5 for ways to streamline “inherited” regulations and practical measures to make compliance easier. See Federal Register, 12/5/11 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Jane Gell, CFPB, 202-453-7700.

RULES ISSUED FOR EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS, HMIS, AND NEW DEFINITION OF HOMELESS. The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 (HEARTH Act) made numerous changes in HUD’s homeless programs. Rules for the Continuum of Care program and the Rural Housing Stability Assistance program have not yet been proposed. Comments on an interim rule for the Emergency Solutions Grants program, which replaces the Emergency Shelter Grants program, are due February 3. See Federal Register, 12/5/11, or https://www.regulations.gov. Regulations are proposed for Homeless Management Information Systems(HMIS), with comments due February 7. See Federal Register, 12/9/11, or https://www.regulations.gov. A final definition of homeless, broader than in the past, is effective January 4. See Federal Register, 12/5/11. All three regulations are also posted at https://www.hudhre.info. Contact Ann Marie Oliva, HUD, 202-708-4300.

HUD RELEASES FY12 MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME LIMITS. The limits and other materials are available at https://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/il/il12/index.html. Contact a HUD office.

CHANGES PROPOSED TO HUD’S WETLANDS AND FLOODPLAINS RULES. Updated procedures would apply to HUD and to state, tribal, and local governments responsible for environmental reviews under HUD programs. Comments are due February 10. See Federal Register, 12/12/11, or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Jerimiah Sanders, HUD, 202-402-4571, jerimiah.j.sanders@hud.gov.

ADMINISTRATION REPORTS DROP IN HOMELESSNESS. On a single night in January 2011, HUD states, 636,017 people were homeless, a reduction of 2.1% from January 2010 and 5.3% since 2007. The study report provides national data and figures for each Continuum of Care. HUD’s press release, with a link to the report, is posted at https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories.

REPORT SUGGESTS HOW STATES CAN HELP SENIORS AGE IN PLACE. Aging in Place: A State Survey of Livability Policies and Practices, by the National Conference of State Legislatures and AARP, examines state policies on land use, transportation, and housing, including consideration of rural issues. Visit https://www.aarp.org/home-garden/livable-communities/info-11-2011/Aging-In-Place.html or contact AARP, 202-434-3890.

NOMINATIONS DUE JANUARY 6 FOR COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AWARDS. The National Community Reinvestment Coalition will make several awards, including one for a rural nonprofit. Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012ncrcawards. Contact Karen Taylor, NCRC, ktaylor@ncrc.org, 202-464-2716.

HAC RELEASES OVERVIEW OF NONPROFITS’ HOUSING CAPACITY IN DELTA. A new report provides a directory to Lower Mississippi Delta housing nonprofits and summarizes their programs, geographic service areas and gaps, and capacity strengths and weaknesses. Nonprofit Capacity in the Lower Mississippi Delta Region is free at https://ruralhome.org or $5.00 from Dan Stern, dan@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

HAC EXAMINES RURAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES RELATED TO PRISONER REENTRY. Rural Reentry: Housing Options and Obstacles for Ex-Offenders also reviews the regulations associated with housing formerly incarcerated persons, suggests resources, and makes recommendations. The report is free at https://ruralhome.org or $5.00 from Dan Stern, dan@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

SEASON’S GREETINGS! HAC’s board and staff wish peace, happiness, and affordable housing to all!