Access a pdf version of this HAC News. • House moves to add 502 guarantee funds • Committee approves GREEN Act • Section 533 HPG funds available • Continuum of Care application registration opens • HUD proposes new definition of “homeless • RD addresses self-help appraisals. • Some dates changed for USDA self-help forums • USDA Section 515 buyers and sellers conferences scheduled for May-July • RD provides guidance on new RESPA requirements • Input sought on reform of housing finance system • National Housing Trust Fund campaign collects nationwide support • Affordable housing still out of reach nationwide • 2010 Census participation rates may be lower in rural places • Data show inequalities for Latino children

April 28, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 9

HOUSE MOVES TO ADD 502 GUARANTEE FUNDS. On April 27 the House passed H.R. 5017, the Rural Housing Preservation and Stabilization Act of 2010, authorizing up to $30 billion in Section 502 loan guarantees in FY10. A guarantee fee of up to 4% on each loan would cover the additional cost. The program is expected to run out of money by the end of April. It is not known when the Senate may act. Find H.R. 5017 at https://thomas.loc.gov.

COMMITTEE APPROVES GREEN ACT. Provisions in the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act, approved by the House Financial Services Committee on April 22, include energy-efficiency incentives for HUD and USDA housing. Find H.R. 2336 at https://thomas.loc.gov.

SECTION 533 HPG FUNDS AVAILABLE. Nonprofits and public agencies can apply by June 28 for USDA’s Housing Preservation Grants (not related to the Multifamily Revitalization Program or Section 515). See Federal Register, 4/27/10 or https://www.grants.gov. Contact a USDA RD state office for an application and details.

CONTINUUM OF CARE APPLICATION REGISTRATION OPENS. Applicants must register for HUD’s e-snaps system by June 4 in order to apply for FY10 funds. The NOFA will be issued after July 1. Visit www.hudhre.info. Applicants without Internet access can contact HUD’s NOFA Information Center, 800-HUD-8929.

HUD PROPOSES NEW DEFINITION OF “HOMELESS.” Comments are due June 21 on a proposed rule that is HUD’s first step in implementing the 2009 HEARTH Act. See Federal Register, 4/20/10 or https://www.regulations.gov. Contact Ann Marie Oliva, HUD, 202-708-4300.

RD ADDRESSES SELF-HELP APPRAISALS. Responding to concerns in places with falling land values, a new Administrative Notice says the appraised value of a self-help home must cover the amount of the Section 502 direct loan. When the value of sweat equity does not cover the cost of Section 523 management, the AN says, exceptions may be documented. AN 4507 is available at www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/an_list.html or from RD offices.

SOME DATES CHANGED FOR USDA SELF-HELP FORUMS. (See HAC News, 2/3/10.) The Washington, DC forum will be held June 30 rather than June 18. Written comments are now due July 15. See Federal Register, 4/19/10 or https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/Admin/2010SelfHelpForums.htm. Contact Carolyn Bell, USDA, carolyn.bell@wdc.usda.gov, 202-720-1532.

USDA SECTION 515 BUYERS AND SELLERS CONFERENCES SCHEDULED FOR MAY-JULY. Information about RD’s new “Super Green” goals will be included. Visit https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/mfh/MPR/MPRHome.htm.

RD PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON NEW RESPA REQUIREMENTS. AN 4506 (April 12, 2010), intended to help RD field staff comply with new mortgage disclosure requirements, is available at www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/an_list.html or from RD offices.

INPUT SOUGHT ON REFORM OF HOUSING FINANCE SYSTEM. HUD and the Treasury Department request comments by July 21 on the federal government’s role, how the current organization of the housing finance system could be improved, and more. See Federal Register, 4/22/10 or www.regulations.gov, or contact a HUD field office.

NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND CAMPAIGN COLLECTS NATIONWIDE SUPPORT. The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that over 1,350 organizations from every state, DC, and Puerto Rico have signed on to a letter urging Congress to provide $1 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund, created in 2008 to finance construction of affordable housing, primarily for extremely low-income tenants. Visit https://www.nhtf.org.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING STILL OUT OF REACH NATIONWIDE. Again this year, there is no county in the United States in which a full-time minimum wage worker can afford even a one-bedroom apartment at HUD’s Fair Market Rent, according to Out of Reach 2010, prepared by the National Low Income Housing Coalition in collaboration with HAC. Data for states, counties, metro areas, and nonmetro areas are at www.nlihc.org/oor2010.

2010 CENSUS PARTICIPATION RATES MAY BE LOWER IN RURAL PLACES. A preliminary HAC analysis of Census participation data indicates slightly lower Census participation rates for rural counties than for the nation as a whole, and rates are even lower in the Border Colonias and Native American Reservations. To find local participation rates on an interactive map, visit https://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/.

DATA SHOW INEQUALITIES FOR LATINO CHILDREN. America’s Future: Latino Child Well-Being in Numbers and Trends uses 25 indicators, including affordable housing, to review current national and state-level trends for Latino children under age 18. Produced by the National Council of La Raza and the Population Reference Bureau, the report and data are available at https://www.nclr.org/section/audience/researchers/latino_child_well_being.

Housing Assistance Council
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