https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/01/.

ADMINISTRATION BUDGET TO BE PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 14. The process of developing federal funding levels for fiscal year 2012 will begin when the Obama Administration issues its budget proposals in less than two weeks. Watch for details on HAC’s website, https://ruralhome.org.

HUD OFFERS FUNDS FOR ASSISTED LIVING, SERVICE COORDINATORS, AND RESEARCH. • The Assisted Living Conversion Program aids private nonprofits that own properties with specific types of federal assistance, including Section 515 with Section 8, or Section 202. Deadline is March 29. Contact Katina Washington, Katina.X.Washington@hud.gov, 202-708-3000. • Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing funds are available for specified types of HUD-assisted properties. Deadline is March 24. Contact HUD field staff. • The Transformation Initiative: Natural Experiments Grant Program supports scientific research that makes use of natural experiments to evaluate the impacts of local, state, and federal policies. HUD is particularly interested in helping policymakers spend effectively and efficiently, but will consider other projects as well. Deadline is February 21. Contact Michael T. Morse, Michael.T.Morse@hud.gov, 202-402-5901. • All HUD NOFAs are posted at https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm and https://www.grants.gov.

MATERIALS ON HUD RURAL INNOVATION FUND NOFA POSTED ON HAC’S SITE. A recording of a HAC webcast discussing the application process, slides, and other resources are available at https://ruralhome.org. Application materials are at https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm or https://www.grants.gov. Deadline remains February 23. Contact Robert Duncan, HUD, 202-402-4681 or 1-877-787-2526.

HUD PROPOSES PROTECTIONS FOR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY. Owners and operators of HUD-assisted and FHA-insured housing would be prohibited from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The notice explains that a separate rule will add the same protections to HUD’s Native American housing programs. Comments are due March 25. See Federal Register, 1/24/11 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Kenneth J. Carroll, HUD, 202-708-2333.

FHFA REQUESTS ALTERNATIVES TO CREDIT RATINGS FOR GSE OVERSIGHT. The Federal Housing Finance Agency seeks alternatives to replace the use of credit ratings for securities in its regulations overseeing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Comments are due March 17. See www.fhfa.gov/Default.aspx?Page=89 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Scott Smith, FHFA, 202-414-8922.

RD PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON SECTION 515 PROPERTIES FUNDED BETWEEN 1979 AND 1989. An Unnumbered Letter dated January 4, 2011 explains the status of properties included in a litigation settlement agreement and those that were not included. Contact Cynthia L. Johnson, RD, 202-720-1940, cynthial.johnson@wdc.usda.gov. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_UnnumberedList.html.

CAPITAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES UPDATED. An Unnumbered Letter dated January 7, 2011 compiles information from several sources for USDA-financed multifamily properties’ CNAs. Contact Carlton Jarratt, RD, 804-287-1524, carlton.jarratt@wdc.usda.gov. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RD_UnnumberedList.html.

HUD REPORTS WORST CASE NEEDS INCREASED 20% FROM 2007 TO 2009. Worst case housing needs – defined as very low-income renter households who paid more than half their monthly income for rent, lived in severely substandard housing, or both – were 7.10 million in 2009 (41% of very low-income renters), up from 5.91 million (37%) in 2007. Every racial/ethnic group experienced increases, with Hispanics having the largest increase. The report suggests the rise is tied to the economic recession and homeownership crisis. Worst Case Housing Needs 2009: A Report to Congress is free at https://www.huduser.org.

ONLINE MAP SHOWS POVERTY RATES FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. An interactive map provides total poverty rates and rates for children. Visit https://halfinten.org/issues/articles/poverty-data-by-congressional-district/.

STUDY ANALYZES HPRP, SUGGESTS IMPROVEMENTS. On the Edge: How HUD Can Improve the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, published by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, is based on a survey of service providers and is available at https://www.nlchp.org.

MISSED THE LAST HAC NEWS? The January 19 issue of the HAC News may not have reached all print subscribers because of a mailing glitch. It is available (along with other back issues) on HAC’s website, https://ruralhome.org. HAC apologizes for any problems.