https://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app11.html.

CHANGES IN SECTION 202 AND 811 BECOME LAW. On January 4, President Obama signed the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act (S. 118) and the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Act (S. 1481) into law. The bills modernize the programs and do not include major changes proposed by HUD in 2010 (see HAC News, 10/13/10). The bills are available at https://thomas.loc.gov. A Technical Assistance Collaborative summary of the Melville Act is at https://www.tacinc.org/ and an American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging summary of the Section 202 Act is at https://www.aahsa.org.

HUD SETS FEBRUARY 23 DEADLINE FOR RURAL INNOVATION FUND APPLICATIONS. The Rural Fund NOFA (see HAC News, 12/8/10) and a correction are available at https://www.grants.gov or https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa10/rural-innov.cfm. Contact Robert Duncan, 202-402-4681, robert.duncan@hud.gov.

HUD ISSUES RESEARCH NOFAS. For details on the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program (Round 2), the Homeless Families Demonstration Small Grant Research Program, and the Sustainable Communities Research Grant Program, visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm or https://www.grants.gov.

FINAL RULE ISSUED FOR SECTION 538 CONTINUOUS GUARANTEE. The Section 538 rental guarantee program will now offer a single, continuous guarantee for construction advances and permanent financing. See Federal Register, 1/3/11. Contact Tammy S. Daniels, RD, tammy.daniels@wdc.usda.gov, 202-720-0021.

RD TO HOLD CALLS ON MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROGRAMS. Teleconference or web conference meetings will be scheduled during January, April, July, and October, 2011, covering a variety of subjects for stakeholders. See Federal Register, 12/23/10 or search for document RHS-10-MFH-0029-0001 at https://www.regulations.gov. To request notices as calls are scheduled, contact Sandra Mercier, RD, 202-720-1617, sandra.mercier@wdc.usda.gov.

HOUSING GOALS SET FOR FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANKS. The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s final rule is “substantially the same” as its May 28, 2010 proposed rule (see HAC News, 6/09/10). See Federal Register, 12/27/10, or https://www.fhfa.gov. Contact Brian Doherty, FHFA, 202-408-2991.

COMMENTS SOUGHT ON FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK MEMBERSHIP. The Federal Housing Finance Agency invites input on possible alternatives for revising its regulations governing FHLB membership. Deadline is March 28. See Federal Register, 12/27/10, or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Eric M. Raudenbush, FHFA, eric.raudenbush@fhfa.gov, 202-414-6421.

DIVERSITY REQUIRED FOR FANNIE, FREDDIE, AND FHLBS. A Federal Housing Finance Agency final rule implements a legislative provision that requires Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks to promote diversity and the inclusion of women and minorities in all activities. See Federal Register, 12/28/10, or https://www.fhfa.gov. Contact Eric Howard, FHFA, eric.howard@fhfa.gov, 202-408-2502.

WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS ESTABLISHED. The Council’s website says it will focus on highlighting ways to enlist more Americans and leaders across sectors to help catalyze change in communities to address important goals in education, youth development and employment. Visit https://www.serve.gov/communitysolutions. Contact Susannah Washburn, swashburn@cns.gov.

NEW PUBLICATIONS PROVIDE NSP CASE STUDIES. NeighborWorks America profiles 12 NeighborWorks organizations, most in metro areas, that are stabilizing communities impacted by the foreclosure crisis across the country. Implementing the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP): Community Stabilization in the NeighborWorks Network is at https://www.stablecommunities.org/library/implementingnsp. Neighborhood Stabilization Program: Innovative Development Strategies for Very Low-Income Housing features five metro area places and is available from the National Housing Law Project at https://nhlp.org/files/NHLP%20NSP%20Best%20Practices%20Final_0.pdf.

ART COLLINGS INTERNSHIP FUND ESTABLISHED. As a memorial to Art, who served as a mentor and trainer to many rural housers, HAC has created the Art Collings Internship. The first Collings intern will work at HAC during summer 2011. Donations in Art’s memory are welcome. Checks can be made out to the Housing Assistance Council, with “Collings internship” on the memo line, and mailed to HAC’s national office.