HUD vouchers Archives

HAC News Formats. pdf

November 3, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 21

• November is National Native American Heritage Month • November 12-20 will be Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week • USDA pilot hopes to increase nonprofit preservation of Section 515 housing • New platform for USDA multifamily data launched • Section 184 annual premium to increase • GAO again evaluates Section 502 guarantee program and FHA guarantees • Changes suggested for HUD enhanced vouchers • FHFA requests comments on diversity regulations • Some provisions in new HOTMA statute effective immediately • Deadline extended for small CDBG grantees to file Assessments of Fair Housing • HUD proposes altering floodplain requirements • Long-term subsidies yield best outcomes for homeless families • REGISTER BEFORE NOV. 18 FOR THE 2016 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE! The national conference will be held November 30-December 2 in Washington, DC with pre-conference activities on November 29. Information about registration, scholarships, exhibiting, and more is online.

HAC News Formats. pdf

November 03, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 21

November is National Native American Heritage Month. Visit the federal government website about the observance.

November 12-20 will be Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The annual event is sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness.

USDA pilot hopes to increase nonprofit preservation of Section 515 housing. An Unnumbered Letter (September 16, 2016) will allow nonprofits to earn a return on investment and make other changes. It takes effect on March 1, 2017. USDA hopes its staff and interested nonprofits will use the intervening time to identify preservation deals. Nonprofits can reach out to USDA Rural Development state offices for additional information and assistance.

New platform for USDA multifamily data launched. USDA has posted data designed to help analyze timeframes in which USDA RD mortgages could be paid off and properties could leave the agency’s multifamily portfolio. Users can manipulate this information in ways not available through complementary data resources released earlier this year, including its rural housing investment data, program exit data, and mapped data with other indicators in PolicyMap.

Section 184 annual premium to increase. HUD is raising the annual premium for borrowers using the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee program from 0.15% to 0.25% of the remaining loan balance. The new premium will apply to all new loan guarantees, including refinances, effective December 1. For more information contact Heidi J. Frechette, HUD, 202-401-7914.

GAO again evaluates Section 502 guarantee program and FHA guarantees. Home Mortgage Guarantees: Issues to Consider in Evaluating Opportunities to Consolidate Two Overlapping Single-Family Programs (GAO-16-801) expands on a 2012 GAO analysis. Researchers found that USDA-guaranteed mortgages were more affordable than FHA loans but also had higher delinquency and default rates. The report notes that at least 36% of RHS Section 502 guarantee borrowers in 2010-2014 could have met FHA’s criteria, including its downpayment requirement. GAO repeats a 2012 recommendation “that RHS and FHA should evaluate and report on opportunities to consolidate their similar housing programs.”

Changes suggested for HUD enhanced vouchers. HUD proposes to codify its existing policy concerning the eligibility criteria for enhanced vouchers, as well as provide rental payment standards and subsidy standards applicable to enhanced vouchers, the right of enhanced voucher holders to remain in their units, procedures for addressing over-housed families, and the calculation of the enhanced voucher housing assistance payment. Comments are due December 27. For more information contact Rebecca Primeaux, HUD, 202-708-0477.

FHFA requests comments on diversity regulations. The Federal Housing Finance Agency is proposing amendments to its regulations on minority and women inclusion by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. The changes are intended to clarify the entities’ obligation to promote diversity in all business and activities, require them to develop strategies, and improve the usefulness of the information they report. Comments are due December 27. For more information contact Sharron P. A. Levine, FHFA, 202-649-3496.

Some provisions in new HOTMA statute effective immediately. A HUD notice lists provisions of the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 that are effective without further HUD action, and those that become effective after HUD issues rules or notices. It does not include the provisions impacting USDA’s Section 502 guaranteed loan program.

Deadline extended for small CDBG grantees to file Assessments of Fair Housing. Consolidated Plan program participants or HOME consortium members that received CDBG grants of $500,000 or less in FY15 or later will submit AFHs in the program year that begins on or after January 1, 2019 instead of 2018. For more information contact Adam Norlander, HUD, 202-402-3778.

HUD proposes altering floodplain requirements. Comments are due December 27 on a proposed rule that would apply to projects that are assisted, financed, or insured by HUD and involve new construction or substantial improvement, and to one-to-four unit buildings under HUD mortgage insurance and public housing programs. For more information contact Elizabeth Zepeda, HUD, 202-402-3988.

Long-term subsidies yield best outcomes for homeless families. HUD’s Family Options Study tracked more than 2,200 families in cities over three years. Rapid rehousing was the least costly of the four interventions studied, while the cost of longer-term subsidies such as Section 8 vouchers fell between rapid rehousing and “usual care” (emergency shelter plus services and non-priority eligibility for housing programs). The long-term subsidy recipients did not receive additional services but experienced significantly less homelessness and housing instability, as well as better non-housing outcomes including improved adult and child well-being, increased food security, and decreased economic stress.

REGISTER BEFORE NOV. 18 FOR THE 2016 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE! The national conference will be held November 30-December 2 in Washington, DC with pre-conference activities on November 29. Information about registration, scholarships, exhibiting, and more is online.

HAC News Formats. pdf

October 20, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 20

• USDA RD showed strong performance in FY16 • HUD requests comments on utility benchmarking • Assets for Independence IDA program funds available • USDA RD offers webinar on Limited English Proficiency compliance • 2017 DDA and QCT designations announced • CFBP amends mortgage servicing rules • Some USDA Community Facilities loans to be made by intermediaries • HUD previous participation review rule changed • Long waiting lists for HUD vouchers and public housing reported by NLIHC • HAC issues disaster guide supplement for Hurricane Matthew survivors • Register now for the 2016 HAC Rural Housing Conference

HAC News Formats. pdf

October 20, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 20

USDA RD showed strong performance in FY16. Funds for most of the rural housing programs were fully obligated in fiscal year 2016, which ended September 30. Section 502 direct used not only its entire $900 million loan total, but also an additional $58.3 million that was not being used in other programs. Obligations to very low-income borrowers comprised 40% of the total, compared to 31.8% last year. (See HAC News, 8/25/16.) There were also 127 Multifamily Housing Preservation and Revitalization program loans or grants ($96.1 million) obligated, a decrease of $9.5 million (22 loans or grants) over last year. Details are in HAC’s monthly Program Obligation Report for September.

HUD requests comments on utility benchmarking. The department proposes to require owners of HUD-assisted multifamily properties to report data for utility benchmarking, which means tracking the utility consumption of a development on an on-going basis, calculating the energy and water efficiency of the development, and comparing its efficiency to similar developments. The mandate would apply to Section 202 and 811 properties, those with project-based Section 8 contracts, and those with FHA insurance. Data reporting would be required for properties with 21 units or more, while smaller properties would be encouraged to submit data. Owners would provide the figures every three years or when similar information is required. Comments are due December 5. Contact Stan Houle, HUD, 202-708-2572.

Assets for Independence IDA program funds available. Nonprofits can apply by October 31, 2016 or April 3, 2017 for grants to administer projects that provide individual development accounts and related services to low-income individuals. State, local, and tribal governments, as well as CDFIs and credit unions, are also eligible in specific situations. Participants can use savings for a first home, a business, or post-secondary education or training. Request an application package at https://idaresources.acf.hhs.gov/apply or from info@IDAresources.org.
USDA RD offers webinar on Limited English Proficiency compliance. Free webinars covering the same content will be held on October 25 at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/usda-rural-development-limited-english-proficiency-lep-compliance-tickets-28539845446. Attendee groups and those needing special accommodations should email Darren Kaihlanen at USDA.
2017 DDA and QCT designations announced. HUD’s annual designation of DDAs and QCTs for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit will be effective January 1, 2017. Contact Michael K. Hollar, HUD, 202-402-5878.

CFBP amends mortgage servicing rules. A final rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau alters parts of its regulations under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and the Truth in Lending Act. CFPB has also issued an interpretive rule to clarify how some of its mortgage servicing rules interact with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, providing safe harbors from liability for mortgage servicers in some situations. Contact CFPB’s Office of Regulations, 202-435-7700.

Some USDA Community Facilities loans to be made by intermediaries. Twenty-six community development organizations were recently approved to re-lend long-term, low-interest financing to local entities to build, acquire, maintain, or renovate community facilities in rural places. For more information, contact a USDA RD State Office.

HUD previous participation review rule changed. Amendments to HUD’s regulations for multifamily housing programs and healthcare funding are intended to clarify and simplify the process for reviewing the previous participation of participants that have decision-making authority over their projects. Contact Danielle Garcia, HUD, 202-402-2768.

Long waiting lists for HUD vouchers and public housing reported by NLIHC. Housing Spotlight: The Long Wait for a Home explains a National Low Income Housing Coalition survey of public housing agencies showed 53% of Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists were closed to new applicants and another 4% were open only to specific populations, such as homeless individuals and families, veterans, persons with a disability, or local residents. HCV waiting lists had a median wait time of 1.5 years and public housing lists had a nine-month median wait. The survey included PHAs of all sizes in metro and nonmetro areas, though the results are not reported by size or location.

HAC issues disaster guide supplement for Hurricane Matthew survivors. The special update provides targeted information in addition to HAC’s general natural disaster guide, Picking Up the Pieces.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2016 HAC RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE! The national conference will be held November 30-December 2 in Washington, DC with pre-conference activities on November 29. Information about registration, scholarships, exhibiting, and more is online.

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