Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • United Nations report addresses adequate housing in U.S. • Section 538 continuous guarantee program proposed • Farmworker housing rental assistance provision implemented • RD issues guidance on design/build or construction management • HUD seeks comments on planning grant program • H2-A final rule effective March 15 • Deadline extended for mortgage licensing comments • Disaster recovery comments invited • USDA multifamily properties included in weatherization regulation • Foreclosure’s effects on Latino families reported • If you use HERS testing, please take HAC’s survey • HAC schedules conference on sustainable approaches in rural housing

February 17, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 4

UNITED NATIONS REPORT ADDRESSES ADEQUATE HOUSING IN U.S. After a fact-finding mission to the U.S., including Pine Ridge, SD, in October-November 2009, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing recommends increased resources for affordable housing, a redefinition of homelessness to include people who are doubled up with others, and more. The report is posted at https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/13session/A.HRC.13.20.Add.4_AEV.pdf and background information is at https://restorehousingrights.org.

SECTION 538 CONTINUOUS GUARANTEE PROGRAM PROPOSED. USDA would offer a multifamily housing guarantee covering construction through permanent financing. Comments are due March 30. See Federal Register, 1/29/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Tammy S. Daniels, tammy.daniels@wdc.usda.gov, 202-720-0021.

FARMWORKER HOUSING RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROVISION IMPLEMENTED. USDA RD provides guidance on recapturing unused Section 521 Rental Assistance from Section 514/516 farmworker properties, based on FY 2010 appropriations language, in an unnumbered letter dated January 12, 2010, available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/ul/uljanuary10.pdf or from RD offices.

RD ISSUES GUIDANCE ON DESIGN/BUILD OR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT. Two Administrative Notices explain the process of obtaining national office approval for such projects. AN 4491 and AN 4492, both dated January 21, 2010, are available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/an_list.html or from RD offices.

HUD SEEKS COMMENTS ON PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM. Partnering with the Department of Transportation and EPA, HUD is creating a 2010 Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program to support regional planning that integrates housing, economic development, and transportation decisionmaking. Comments on the program’s structure are due March 12. Listening sessions and webcasts will be scheduled as well. See Federal Register, 2/10/10 or https://www.hud.gov/sustainability. Contact HUD staff, sustainablecommunities@hud.gov.

H2-A FINAL RULE EFFECTIVE MARCH 15. The Department of Labor’s regulation governs the H2-A program for farmworkers temporarily entering the U.S. See Federal Register, 2/12/10 or https://www.doleta.gov/ETA_News_Releases/20100198.cfm. Contact William L. Carlson, DOL, 202-693-3010.

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR MORTGAGE LICENSING COMMENTS. Comments on HUD’s Secure and Fair Enforcement Mortgage Licensing (SAFE) Act proposal are now due March 5. (See HAC News, 12/16/09.) See Federal Register, 2/17/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact William W. Matchneer III, HUD, 202-708-6401.

DISASTER RECOVERY COMMENTS INVITED. FEMA and the interagency Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group have drafted a National Disaster Recovery Framework to provide organizing constructs and principles for disaster recovery. Comments are due February 26. See Federal Register, 2/10/10, or https://www.disasterrecoveryworkinggroup.gov. Contact Gerilee Bennett, FEMA, 202-646-4173.

USDA MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES INCLUDED IN WEATHERIZATION REGULATION. Properties subsidized by USDA, HUD, or the Low Income Housing Tax Credit may be eligible for the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program without further evaluation of eligibility. See Federal Register, 1/25/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Claire Broido Johnson, DOE, 202-586-1510, claire.johnson@ee.doe.gov.

FORECLOSURE’S EFFECTS ON LATINO FAMILIES REPORTED. Research by the National Council of La Raza and the University of North Carolina’s Center for Community Capital found that foreclosures strained family relationships and impacted children’s school performance. The Foreclosure Generation: The Long-Term Impact of the Housing Crisis on Latino Children and Families is available at https://www.nclr.org/content/publications/detail/61725.

IF YOU USE HERS TESTING, PLEASE TAKE HAC’S SURVEY.To better understand HAC’s local partners’ transition to energy efficiency, HAC is researching the true cost of Home Energy Rating System testing. Please take a quick online survey at https://ruralhome.org by March 15. Contact Stella Edosomwan, HAC, stella@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600.

HAC SCHEDULES CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES IN RURAL HOUSING. “Building Green in Rural America: A Symposium on Policy and Practice” will be held June 9 in Washington, DC. Sponsored by HAC and the Home Depot Foundation, the conference features local housing developers who have successfully used a wide range of sustainable and green practices in their rural homeownership and rental projects. After March 1, look for registration details on HAC’s site, https://ruralhome.org, or contact Dan Stern, HAC, 202-842-8600, dan@ruralhome.org.

Housing Assistance Council
1025 Vermont Ave., NW, Suite 606, Washington DC 20005
(202) 842-8600 | hac@ruralhome.org | www.ruralhome.org