September 30, 2009
Vol. 38, No. 20

CR EXPECTED THROUGH OCTOBER. The House of Representatives adopted a stopgap continuing resolution on September 25 to keep government agencies, including HUD and USDA, funded through October 31. The Senate is expected to approve the CR before the new fiscal year begins October 1. This move will allow Congress to complete work on 2010 appropriations bills. House-Senate conferences to resolve differences between bills are expected to begin next week.

HUD OFFERS FUNDS FOR HOMELESSNESS, HEALTHY HOUSING. Apply for Continuum of Care funds by November 9. Visit https://www.hudhre.info/.Questions may be submitted only at https://www.hudhre.info/helpdesk/index.cfm?do=viewHelpdesk. The deadline to apply for the Green and Healthy Homes and Technical Studies Program is November 17, the Lead Hazard Control Capacity Building Program November 19, and the Healthy Homes Demonstration Program November 24. For details visit https://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm or https://www.grants.gov. Contact Peter J. Ashley, 202-402-7595, Peter.J.Ashley@hud.gov.

ASSETS FOR INDEPENDENCE GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE JANUARY 15, 2010. The Department of Health and Human Services program enables local nonprofits and government agencies to establish Individual Development Account programs to help families save for homeownership or other goals. Visit www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding/ for details. To request an application kit, contact info@idaresources.org or 1-866-778-6037.

CDFI FUND ISSUES FY 2010 NOFA. Certified Community Development Financial Institutions can apply by November 18 for financial assistance, technical assistance, or a combination. Apply by October 14 for CDFI certification. Visit https://www.cdfifund.gov. Contact CDFI Fund staff, cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov, 202-622-6355.

RD GUIDANCE DISCUSSES STABLE, DEPENDABLE INCOME FOR SECTION 502 GUARANTEED BORROWERS. A new Administrative Notice is intended to help RD and private lenders evaluate homebuyers’ income sources. AN 4474 is available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/regs/an_list.html or from RD offices.

USDA WITHDRAWS GUARANTEED LOANS UNIFIED PLATFORM. RD will develop a new proposal for its commercial lending only, stating the interim rule published December 17, 2008 was too broad because it combined commercial lending and community development in establishing a single platform for guaranteed lending for Community Facilities; Water and Waste Disposal; Business and Industry; and Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Projects. See Federal Register, 9/21/09. Contact Michael Foore, RD, Michael.Foore@wdc.usda.gov, 202-690-4730.

FY 2010 FINAL FAIR MARKET RENTS PUBLISHED. See Federal Register, 9/30/09 or https://www.huduser.org/datasets/fmr.html, or contact a HUD office.

HUD EXPLAINS PROTECTING TENANTS IN NSP PROPERTIES. A recent HUD document summarizes the various tenant protection rules that apply to Neighborhood Stabilization Program properties. Visit www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/neighborhoodspg/index.cfm or contact a HUD office.

U.S. TO HOST U.N. WORLD HABITAT DAY ON OCTOBER 5. This year’s theme is “Planning Our Urban Future” and the U.S. is hosting the celebration for the first time, with events intended to raise awareness of the need to improve urban planning to deal with new major challenges of the 21st century. Visit https://www.hud.gov/whd/.

IRS DATA ON MIGRATION PATTERNS SHOWS COASTS AND SMALL METRO AREAS POPULAR. University of Kansas researchers studied data on taxpayer moves between counties and found three broad trends: outmigration from very rural areas, migration to areas with pleasant weather and natural amenities (especially coastal regions), and outmigration from very large urban centers to smaller urban centers. The County-to-County Migration of Taxpayers and their Incomes, 1995-2006 is at https://www.news.ku.edu/2009/september/24/arthall.shtml.

BABY BOOM MIGRATION LIKELY TO IMPACT RURAL AMERICA, ERS REPORTS. USDA’s Economic Research Service finds that if baby boomers follow past migration patterns, the nonmetro population age 55-75 will increase by 30% between now and 2020. Baby Boom Migration and Its Impact on Rural America is available at https://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR79/ or from USDA, 1-800-999-6779.

TOP 1% GOT TWO-THIRDS OF U.S. INCOME GAINS, 2002-2007. A Center for Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of IRS data notes that the top 1% of households also held a larger share of income in 2007 than at any time since 1928. The recession’s effects on income concentration are not yet known, but CBPP predicts concentration will fall in 2008 and 2009 and then rise again unless significant policy changes occur. Top 1 Percent of Americans Reaped Two-Thirds of Income Gains in Last Economic Expansion is at https://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=2908.

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