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Submit a poster session proposal for the 2023 National Rural Housing Conference

Call for Poster Sessions at the 2023 National Rural Housing Conference

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The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is accepting proposals for its poster session presentation at the 2023 National Rural Housing Conference (NRHC).

Poster Sessions

HAC is providing an opportunity for researchers and policymakers to share their research and innovative ideas through a series of poster sessions.  The presentation of posters will allow for one-on-one interaction with conference participants and enhances the exposure of your research since posters remain accessible throughout the conference.

About the Conference

The 2023 NRHC will take place from October 24th-October 27th, 2023 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.

The biennial NRHC brings together rural affordable housing and community development leaders, practitioners, policy makers, funders, industry experts, and partners for four days of learning and networking.

The 2023 NRHC theme is Build Rural. Thriving rural communities don’t happen by accident. It takes collaborative effort, leadership, investment and planning to build equitable and just communities. Build Rural is both a literal and figurative appeal to explore and provoke action to build and renew rural communities by addressing housing affordability and preservation, community infrastructure and essential facilities creation and revitalization, resident led placemaking, capacity building, and community inclusion and justice efforts. Build Rural is a platform to share successes and best practices for addressing the nexus of housing and community development. It’s a space to highlight and enhance the narrative of rural America through presentations of stories, data, programs, policies, and approaches.

Important Dates and Information
Abstracts Due: June 2, 2023
Notification By: July 1, 2023
Final Posters Due: September 1, 2023
Conference Dates: October 24 – October 27, 2023
Location Washington, DC

Propose a Poster Session

Questions? Contact Natasha Moodie and Manda LaPorte.

Who should present?

The symposium is an opportunity to share your research and garner valuable feedback from stakeholders and organizations from across the country in Washington, DC. Both academic and industry researchers of all levels can apply to present their research by entering the poster board session. If selected, poster presenters will receive a complimentary registration to the conference in Washington, DC. Posters will be reviewed and judged by a distinguished panel of rural experts.

Research

Abstracts of 350 words or less must be submitted for consideration. The research must be related to rural America; however, topics are open to any field including:

  • Housing
  • Public Health
  • Community Development
  • Economic Development
  • Race and Ethnicity
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Creative Placemaking

Posters are created using an online platform which enables attendees to interact with the content and materials both in-person and virtually.

Poster Session participants place materials such as photographs, data, graphs, diagrams, and narrative text on poster boards. During a review  period, participants will have the opportunity to  discuss their presentations with conference participants.

Due Date

Submissions are being accepted now through June 2nd, 2023.

Propose a Poster Session

For questions, please contact Manda LaPorte (manda@ruralhome.org) and Natasha Moodie (natasha@ruralhome.org). We look forward to your submissions!

2023 Call for Workshop Proposals - NRHC

Call for Workshop Proposals for the 2023 National Rural Housing Conference

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The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) invites you to submit a proposal for workshops at the 2023 National Rural Housing Conference (NRHC). We encourage proposals with interactive content or those that facilitate lively discussion.

HAC encourages presenters to join in person but will offer a virtual option to ensure all presenters are able to participate.

About HAC

Since 1971 HAC has been helping local organizations build affordable homes in rural America. With a mission “to improve housing conditions for the rural poor”, HAC places an emphasis on the poorest of the poor in the most rural places.

HAC assists in the development and preservation of affordable housing, community facilities, and placemaking. Our efforts emphasize local solutions, empowerment of people in poverty, and self-help strategies. HAC offers services to public, nonprofit, and private organizations throughout the rural United States and maintains a special focus on the most underserved, highest need groups and regions, including Central Appalachia, the Border Colonias, the Mississippi Delta and rural Southeast, Native American Lands, farmworker communities and Veterans.

Important Dates and Information
Proposals Due: June 2, 2023
Notification By: June 30, 2023
Workshop dates: Wednesday, October 25th and Thursday, October 26th
Location Washington, DC

Submit a Workshop Proposal

Questions? Contact Kelly Cooney and Diane Hunter.

About the Conference

The 2023 NRHC will be held October 24 – 27, 2023 at The Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.

The biennial NRHC brings together rural affordable housing and community development leaders, practitioners, policy makers, funders, industry experts, and partners for four days of learning and networking.

The 2023 NRHC theme is Build Rural. Thriving rural communities don’t happen by accident. It takes collaborative effort, leadership, investment and planning to build equitable and just communities. Build Rural is both a literal and figurative appeal to explore and provoke action to build and renew rural communities by addressing housing affordability and preservation, community infrastructure and essential facilities creation and revitalization, resident led placemaking, capacity building, and community inclusion and justice efforts. Build Rural is a platform to share successes and best practices for addressing the nexus of housing and community development. It’s a space to highlight and enhance the narrative of rural America through presentations of stories, data, programs, policies, and approaches.

Workshops should seek to align themselves with the conference theme or one of the following threads: Housing Affordability, Development, Preservation, Community Facilities, Rural Prosperity, Placemaking, Capacity Building, Housing Justice, or other adjacent threads.

About the Workshops

Workshops are intended to facilitate the active exchange of approaches and ideas. HAC recognizes learning landscapes have changed in recent years and aims to have workshops that engage participants in meaningful and beneficial ways.

Focused Workshops are 45 minutes. They should seek to provide exposure to new ideas, techniques, or approaches or provide concentrated engagement for participants. Focused workshops should allow at least 10 minutes for Q&A.

Standard Workshops are 90 minutes. A standard workshop could provide the time required to address more a complex or nuanced issue; allow additional presenters to provide a variety of examples or viewpoints; provide for discussion, case study, an activity, etc. Standard workshops should include 15 minutes for Q&A.

The NRHC is paperless (except when needed for workshop engagement). All workshop materials and information will be available via the conference app and website.

In addition to workshops that expand participants’ knowledge of traditional affordable housing and community development practices, HAC encourages workshops that address:

  • Placemaking
  • Health and community connections
  • Nonprofit financial management
  • Housing rehab and/or preservation
  • Art and design
  • Sustainable design and construction
  • Alternative homebuilding and construction methods

Workshops on emerging topics or new approaches on perennial issues are encouraged.

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria. The order below does not reflect importance.

  • Diversity, equity, inclusion, and housing justice
  • Interest and relevance to conference participants
  • Experience and organization of the presentation team
  • Potential to contribute to a balanced conference program
  • Presentation engagement and approach

Submission of a workshop proposal does not guarantee acceptance.

Submission Guidelines

HAC invites interested parties to submit workshop proposals.

Submit a Proposal

Proposals should include the following information:

TOPIC

• Workshop title
• Topic(s) the workshop will address
• Impact Statement – Describe why the workshop is relevant to rural affordable housing and/or community development

PRESENTER(S)

• Workshop Coordinator
• Workshop Presenters, proposed and confirmed
• Experience that makes the workshop team suited for organizing and presenting the workshop

FORMAT

• Preference for a 45-minute or 90-minute workshop session
• Presenter location(s) – Will presenter(s) be on site and/or present virtually?
• Brief workshop outline
• How diversity, equity, inclusion, and housing justice are addressed
• Required resources (other than laptop, projector, Wi-Fi, or flipchart)

2023 National Rural Housing Conference

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Save the Date!

2023 National Rural Housing Conference

Washington, DC

Mark your calendar and save the date for the 2023 National Rural Housing Conference! The Conference brings together stakeholders in the field of rural affordable housing from local nonprofits, federal agencies, Congress, state and local governments, and other industry leaders for two-and-a-half days of training, discussion, and networking. We are excited to see you all in DC in 2023!

Build Rural

The 2023 NRHC theme is Build Rural.  Thriving rural communities don’t happen by accident.  It takes collaborative effort, leadership, investment and planning to build equitable and just communities.  Build Rural is both a literal and figurative appeal to explore and provoke action to build and renew rural communities by addressing housing affordability and preservation, community infrastructure and essential facilities creation and revitalization, resident led placemaking, capacity building, and community inclusion and justice efforts. Build Rural is a platform to share successes and best practices for addressing the nexus of housing and community development.  It’s a space to highlight and enhance the narrative of rural America through presentations of stories, data, programs, policies, and approaches.

Sponsor the Conference

Become a Sponsor of the 2023 National Rural Housing Conference

Propose a Workshop


2023 Call for Workshop Proposals - NRHC

Propose a Poster Session

Submit a poster session proposal for the 2023 National Rural Housing Conference

 

Introduction to USDA's Mutual Self-Help Housing

Self-Help Housing Trainings from HAC’s Conference

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Self-Help Housing

There are many potential homeowners who fall short financially but are able to contribute time and labor toward the construction or rehabilitation of their homes.

The self-help housing model helps bridge the gap in housing affordability by having participant families work together to build their homes. Instead of requiring a down payment, the prospective homeowners contribute their own labor to the project. When these families work together, they learn valuable construction skills and build a sense of community with their neighbors.

These five workshops, first recorded at HAC’s Virtual National Rural Housing Conference, provide an overview of the self-help housing process, how it works, and information on how local organizations can incorporate it into their efforts.

This session provides an overview of USDA’s Mutual Self-Help Housing program. It covers funding possibilities, regulation requirements, and the grant application process, as well as eligible grant uses, program development, staffing needs, and feasibility.

USDA-supported self-help housing rehab activities (acquisition/rehab and owner-occupied rehab) can be viable additions to affordable housing work. This session is designed for organizations currently active in the program as well, as those considering it. Workshop leaders share the latest instructions and guidance governing rehab activities and show before-and-after pictures of self-help projects. The discussion focuses on challenges, successes, and best practices in delivering the program. The audience was able to ask questions about the impacts of COVID. One of the presenters shares the key to the self-help method with a quote.

“Helping people help themselves benefits the participants and the community while making better use of scarce resources.”

In this session, experts present information on recent improvements to SHARES for group coordinators. Workshop leaders also provide an overview of how to use e-Forms for submitting Section 502 and 504 applications. A nonprofit marketing specialist provides strategies for how to use social media, email marketing, and design to share about your work with self-help programs. Self-help grantees are encouraged to share their updates on https://www.selfhelphousingspotlight.org/.

Learn what’s new in Section 502 loan packaging and how to avoid common errors and omissions that cause delays in processing 502 loan applications. This session will help packagers improve the quality and completeness of applications to get faster loan closings for families.

5 challenges in 502 Packaging

  1. Significant Delinquencies, how credit worthiness impacts application processing and what can be done to streamline this step.
  2. How to account for full-time student income and student loan debt.
  3. COVID’s impact on calculating income and how to account for variations.
  4. What forms of verification are acceptable and what can a packager use to verify application details?
  5. What has COVID’s impact been on budgets and materials and how to best incorporate them into the loan process?

The coronavirus pandemic’s cost overages, material delays, and numerous other challenges have intensified the need for leveraged funds in self-help housing programs. Learn how leveraged funds can not only increase affordability and resources for applicants, but also build an organization’s capacity and control. Leveraging can also better position an organization for program diversification to address community needs.

Registration is now open for the HAC Rural Housing Conference

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ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Register-Now-Button

The biennial HAC Rural Housing Conference brings together stakeholders in the field of rural affordable housing from local nonprofits, federal agencies, Congress, state and local governments, and other industry leaders for two-and-a-half days of training, discussion, and networking.

The Conference features nearly 40 workshops where participants will learn best practices for housing development, organizational management, resource development, and innovative approaches to housing and community development. The Conference also includes a pre-Conference day, packed with gatherings for coalitions, association, and working groups.

For rural nonprofits, the Conference provides an excellent opportunity to network and improve connections to federal agencies and national nonprofit organizations. For many of the attendees, this conference represents their sole opportunity during the year to connect with these important policy makers and experts.

Retool, Rebuild, Renew

This year’s conference theme is Retool, Rebuild, Renew. Although these verbs could describe the construction or rehab of housing, the theme is not about bricks and mortar. It’s about our movement. The rural housing network has a proud history of accomplishment and has empowered, improved, and made lasting impacts across rural America. However, for a number of years, we have been in a defensive posture-the support and resources necessary for our network have been threatened. It is past time to shift from a reactive to a proactive posture. It is time go on the offensive and retool our collective talents, rebuild the innovative spirit that got us where we are, and renew our passion for the mission that guides us. HAC’s Rural Housing Conference will help get us back on track to expand the accomplishments of the past.

For more information on the HAC Rural Housing Conference, visit HAC’s registration portal.

Conference app

Discussion Topics and Papers

National Rural Housing Conference 2012

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Materials from the 2012 HAC Conference
Promises to Keep in Challenging Times

Thank You to everyone who attended the 2012 National Rural Housing Conference. Look forward to seeing you all again in 2014!

Join the National
Rural Housing Conference group on LinkedIn and network with your fellow attendees before you even attend!

LinkedIn

HAC’s National Rural Housing Conference is an expression of our continuing commitment to provide local organizations with the resources needed to build affordable housing in rural America. The Conference will bring together more than 700 community-based housing advocates for a celebration of our collective efforts to develop and sustain affordable housing in rural communities. Based on the theme, “Promises to keep in Challenging Times” the Conference will focus on the promise America made through the Housing Act of 1949 and how those promises still apply even in the face of America’s new fiscal reality. Scheduled events will include numerous workshops, networking sessions, peer-learning opportunities, our awards program and entertainment.

The theme brings to mind the vision and promises America has made through the Housing Act of 1949 and all subsequent housing legislation and policy. While these promises, that include the opportunity for quality affordable housing, still remain the country continues to face a difficult fiscal situation with many questions or concerns about what can be done to protect affordable housing as an industry in the future, particularly in rural areas. Keeping the vision and promises is important, not just to increase the quality of life for low-income Americans, but also to build stronger and more sustainable communities as a whole.

Where:

The Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001

When:

December 6-7, 2012

Pre-Conference Activities December 5

Stay Informed:

Sign up for the HAC News [vresponse][/vresponse]

Donate to the Conference:

Help HAC keep registration fees low for our participants.
Please donate to HAC’s conference.

Join the Conversation:

Join the National Rural Housing Conference Group on LinkedIn and tweet your thoughts, expectations and ideas for the Conference using hashtags #nrhc12 and #rural2012.

Don’t forget to Follow HAC for more on the Conference and all things rural housing.

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HAC News: November 7, 2012

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HAC News Formats. pdf

November 7, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 22

• November is National Native American Heritage Month • November 10-18 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week • Rural housing on Senate Majority Leader’s list • Disaster recovery information available from USDA and HAC • VA offers funds to help families’ housing stability • LIHTC can serve extremely low-income tenants, research finds • Some income exclusions apply to USDA RD multifamily occupants • USDA RD offers guidance on using Section 538 loans for Section 515 properties • Treatment of farmworkers and others by large food companies varies, research finds • CBO reports on income tax’s effect on owning and renting • Child poverty increased in rural areas and nationwide from 2010 to 2011 • National Rural Housing Conference early bird registration deadline is November 9!


November 7, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 22

NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. President Obama’s proclamation also names November 23 (the day after Thanksgiving) Native American Heritage Day.

NOVEMBER 10-18 IS NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK. Information about this annual event, sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, is posted online.

RURAL HOUSING ON SENATE MAJORITY LEADER’S LIST. The National Journal published a list of unfinished legislative items compiled by the staff of Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and noted there are too many to complete during Congress’s lame duck session, which will begin soon. “Rural housing” appears on the list without further explanation, probably referring to the effort to preserve eligibility for housing programs in places with growing populations. See HAC News, 9/26/12.

DISASTER RECOVERY INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM USDA AND HAC. HAC has updated Picking up the Pieces, its guide to resources for rural housing in disaster areas, and published a Hurricane Sandy supplement. USDA is sending letters to Section 502 direct and guaranteed borrowers in and around the Hurricane Sandy disaster areas summarizing available loan servicing assistance, including possible payment moratoria for direct borrowers. Owners and renters in USDA assisted properties should contact USDA RD offices. Vacant houses and apartments with USDA financing may be available for hurricane survivors through FEMA, 800-621-FEMA. Additional federal disaster information is posted at https://www.disasterassistance.gov.

VA OFFERS FUNDS TO HELP FAMILIES’ HOUSING STABILITY. The Supportive Services for Veteran Families program makes grants to nonprofits, consumer coops, and Tribally Designated Housing Entities to provide or coordinate supportive services to very low-income veteran families to remain in or transition into permanent housing. Deadline is February 1, 2013. Contact John Kuhn, VA, 877-737-0111, SSVF@va.gov.

SOME INCOME EXCLUSIONS APPLY TO USDA RD MULTIFAMILY OCCUPANTS. An Unnumbered Letter (October 9, 2012) provides a copy of a July 24 HUD Federal Register notice (see HAC News, 7/25/12) listing exclusions to income for numerous programs, and announces that RD Handbook changes will be published soon. Contact Laura Horn, RD, 202-720-5443.

USDA RD OFFERS GUIDANCE ON USING SECTION 538 LOANS FOR SECTION 515 PROPERTIES. Section 538 guaranteed loans can finance revitalization of existing properties with Section 515 direct loans. An Unnumbered Letter (October 9, 2012) instructs USDA staff on reconciling procedural differences between the programs. Contact Tammy Daniels, RD, 202-720-0021.

TREATMENT OF FARMWORKERS AND OTHERS BY LARGE FOOD COMPANIES VARIES, RESEARCH FINDS. Worker Equity in Food and Agriculture, published by the Tellus Institute and Sustainalytics, examines wages and working conditions (not housing) at the 100 largest U.S. companies in food and agriculture. “Worker equity” is evaluated at the farm, factory, retail, and restaurant stages.

CBO REPORTS ON INCOME TAX’S EFFECT ON OWNING AND RENTING. A Congressional Budget Office working paper, “Taxation of Owner-Occupied and Rental Housing,” concludes that federal income tax advantages tend to make owning more advantageous than renting for higher-income households, but lower-income households can find renting cheaper than owning. The paper also examines how four different possible changes to the tax code (including repealing the mortgage interest deduction) would affect these calculations. Contact Larry Ozanne, CBO, larry.ozanne@cbo.gov.

CHILD POVERTY INCREASED IN RURAL AREAS AND NATIONWIDE FROM 2010 TO 2011. The Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire reports that American Community Survey data show 45% of U.S. children live below 200% of the poverty level, and 10.1% live below 50% of poverty. “Over Sixteen Million Children in Poverty in 2011” includes data for urban/rural/suburban geographies, regions, and states.

NATIONAL RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 9! The 2012 conference, “Promises to Keep in Challenging Times,” will be December 6-7, with pre-conference activities on December 5, at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Register now to take advantage of the special early bird discount! Start networking in advance – join the conference LinkedIn group. Questions? Contact Dan Stern, HAC, dan@ruralhome.org or 202-842-8600.

HAC News: October 24, 2012

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HAC News Formats. pdf

October 24, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 21

• October 21-27 is National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week • HAC invites applications for rural veterans assistance • Section 8 OCAFs announced • Federal homelessness plan amended • Toolkit offered for Independent Foreclosure Review outreach • LIHTC can serve extremely low-income tenants, research finds • Census reports on sheltered population • HUD launches app for FMRs and Income Limits • LIHEAP assistance to older manufactured homes higher per square foot • GAO raises concerns about air exchange standards in HUD Code • National Rural Housing Conference early bird registration deadline is November 9!


October 24, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 21

OCTOBER 21-27 IS NATIONAL CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK. Details and resources are available from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leadinfo@cdc.gov.

HAC INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR RURAL VETERANS ASSISTANCE. A new HAC initiative will provide grants of up to $30,000 to support bricks-and-mortar projects that help rural low-income, elderly, and disabled veterans and active military personnel with housing needs. Send a letter of intent by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on October 31. Application guidelines are posted on HAC’s website. Contact Janice Clark, HAC.

SECTION 8 OCAFS ANNOUNCED. HUD’s new Operating Cost Adjustment Factors apply to project-based assistance contracts with an anniversary date on or after February 11, 2013. See Federal Register, 10/16/12. Contact Stan Houle, HUD, 202-402-2572.

FEDERAL HOMELESSNESS PLAN AMENDED. In September the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness amended Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, its plan to end homelessness among families, children, and youth by 2020. The amendment offers strategies and supports to improve educational outcomes for children and youth and steps to assist unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. Contact USICH, 202-708-4663.

TOOLKIT OFFERED FOR INDEPENDENT FORECLOSURE REVIEW OUTREACH. The Federal Reserve Board has made materials available to help local nonprofits reach residents whose homes were foreclosed in 2009-2010 by any of 14 mortgage servicers and who are eligible for an independent review. Call 888-952-9105.

LIHTC CAN SERVE EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME TENANTS, RESEARCH FINDS. The Furman Center and Moelis Institute at New York University examined data from urban, suburban, and rural Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties in 16 states and found that 40% of the units are occupied by extremely low-income tenants (with incomes below 30% of area median). Because almost 70% of those ELI tenants receive some form of rental assistance, researchers concluded that “rental assistance is currently an indispensable part of the equation to serve those households.” The results are reported in “What Can We Learn about the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program by Looking at the Tenants?”

CENSUS REPORTS ON SHELTERED POPULATION. The Emergency and Transitional Shelter Population: 2010 summarizes data on age, sex, and race/ethnicity for the 209,000 people counted in such shelters nationwide by the 2010 Census (not the entire homeless population). Data are aggregated by state and a map shows the number of people in shelters in every county. Over 60% of counties have no sheltered population.

HUD LAUNCHES APP FOR FMRS AND INCOME LIMITS. The map-based app for Android and iPhone allows users to search Fair Market Rents and Income Limits.

LIHEAP ASSISTANCE TO OLDER MANUFACTURED HOMES HIGHER PER SQUARE FOOT. A Government Accountability Office study found that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provided about 33¢ per square foot of assistance to pre-1976 manufactured homes compared to about 20¢ per square foot for site-built homes. About 3% of total LIHEAP funds went to older manufactured homes. The study used data for 2005, the most recent available. Worker and Family Assistance: Home Energy Assistance for Low-Income Occupants of Manufactured Homes (GAO-12-848R) is available online or from GAO, 866-801-7077. Contact Frank Rusco, GAO, 202-512-3841.

GAO RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT AIR EXCHANGE STANDARDS IN HUD CODE. Standards for placement of air intake and exhaust vents are outdated and ventilation systems are not tested, GAO reports, in manufactured homes built after 1976 under HUD’s Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. Manufactured Housing Standards: Testing and Performance Evaluation Could Better Ensure Safe Indoor Air Quality (GAO-13-52) is available online or from GAO, 866-801-7077. Contact Mathew J. Scirè, GAO, 202-512-8678.

NATIONAL RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 9! The 2012 conference, “Promises to Keep in Challenging Times,” will be December 6-7, with pre-conference activities on December 5, at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Register now to take advantage of the special early bird discount! Start networking in advance – join the conference LinkedIn group. Questions? Contact Dan Stern, HAC, dan@ruralhome.org or 202-842-8600.

2012 National Rural Housing Conference – Marketing Materials

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Thank you for your interest in assisting HAC with marketing the 2012 National Rural Housing Conference. Please use any of the materials and templates on this page as a starting point, but feel free to customize as you see fit.

About the Conference:

When: December 6-7, 2012 with pre-conference activities on December 5
Where: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001

Conference Brochure

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Marketing Email (Copy the Contents of the Email Below – html source)

NRHC 2012 Conference Banner
Register Now for the National Rural Housing Conference

Interested in learning more about rural housing and networking with innovative organizations from across the U.S.? Join the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) at the 2012 National Rural Housing Conference – Promises to Keep in Challenging Times on December 6-7 in Washington, DC.

The Conference is a gathering of housing and community development organizations that serve rural areas, national housing and rural related associations and groups, federal agency and hill staff, and stakeholders interested in affordable housing in rural America.

Register before November 9 to take advantage of early-bird discount rates.

For more information, download the registration brochure.

Questions? Contact Dan Stern at HAC, (202) 842-8600.

Conference Banner (Right Click and choose “Save Target As”)

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HAC News: August 22, 2012

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HAC News Formats. pdf

August 22, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 17

• USDA to use FY12 Section 515 funds for prepayment incentives • CBS News airs story on Section 502 guarantee foreclosures • Grants offered for senior volunteers in specific places • HUD releases general section for FY13 NOFAs • Funds exhausted for Section 502 guarantee program refinances • FHFA requests comments about eminent domain for foreclosures • Public Housing Assessment System scoring process explained • CFPB proposes regulations on high cost mortgages and homeownership counseling • Some mortgage disclosures to be combined • Blueprint for better farmworker housing published • HAC Seeks Nominations for Rural Housing Awards • Register Now for the National Rural Housing Conference!


August 22,2012
Vol. 41, No. 17

USDA TO USE FY12 SECTION 515 FUNDS FOR PREPAYMENT INCENTIVES. An email message from USDA to congressional offices explains that the department has canceled its NOFA for new construction funding. A Supreme Court ruling in a different context (Salazar v. Ramah Navajo Chapter) required the government to pay amounts to fulfill contractual obligations even if Congress did not appropriate enough funds. Owners of over 100 Section 515 properties have been on a waiting list for incentives (equity loans and/or Rental Assistance) from USDA to keep these properties in the program, so the FY12 funds will be used for those incentives.

CBS NEWS AIRS STORY ON SECTION 502 GUARANTEE FORECLOSURES. Like a May 25 Wall Street Journal article, the August 16 CBS story criticizes USDA’s collection tactics when a borrower with high medical bills fell behind on mortgage payments.

GRANTS OFFERED FOR SENIOR VOLUNTEERS IN SPECIFIC PLACES. The Corporation for National and Community Service requests letters of intent by September 10 from public agencies, tribes, nonprofits, and institutions of higher education interested in Retired and Senior Volunteer Program funding. RSVP grants can be used to cover expenses such as volunteer recruitment, training, and travel for purposes including low-income housing. Partial matching funds are required. Applications are due October 11. A draft NOFA, list of program areas, information about technical assistance calls, and more are posted on CNCS’s site.

HUD RELEASES GENERAL SECTION FOR FY13 NOFAS. The general section’s information applies to next year’s NOFAs and does not itself offer funding. Contact HUD’s grants management office, 202-402-4802.

FUNDS EXHAUSTED FOR SECTION 502 GUARANTEE PROGRAM REFINANCES. USDA has used all its FY12 money for this program. Lenders can submit loan applications reflecting FY13 fees (upfront guarantee fee of 2% and annual fee of 0.4%) to USDA, which will hold them until FY13 funding becomes available. Contact an RD office.

FHFA REQUESTS COMMENTS ABOUT EMINENT DOMAIN FOR FORECLOSURES. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank system, is considering taking action on its “significant concerns” about the impact on lenders when local governments use eminent domain powers to seize properties before foreclosure in order to provide affordable housing. Comments are due September 7. See Federal Register, 8/9/12. Contact FHFA, eminentdomainOGC@fhfa.gov.

PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM SCORING PROCESS EXPLAINED. HUD provides additional information about the process for issuing scores under the Physical Condition Indicator of the PHAS under a February 23, 2011 notice, applicable to HUD-assisted multifamily and public housing properties. See Federal Register, 8/9/12 or HUD’s site. Contact Claudia J. Yarus, HUD, 202-475-8830.

CFPB PROPOSES REGULATIONS ON HIGH COST MORTGAGES AND HOMEOWNERSHIP COUNSELING.Comments are due September 7 on Consumer Financial Protection Bureau changes to implement provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that expand the types of mortgage loans subject to the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994, revise triggers for HOEPA coverage, impose other restrictions on HOEPA mortgages, including a counseling re-quirement, and impose homeownership counseling requirements in connection with the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. See CFPB’s site or regulations.gov. Contact Paul Seja, CFPB, 202-435-7700.

SOME MORTGAGE DISCLOSURES TO BE COMBINED. To implement another Dodd-Frank provision, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposes to combine some of the disclosures and forms required by the Truth in Lending Act and RESPA. Comments are due November 6. See CFPB’s site or regulations.gov. Contact David Friend, CFPB, 202-435-7700.

BLUEPRINT FOR BETTER FARMWORKER HOUSING PUBLISHED. The report summarizes policy and research changes identified at a California Rural Legal Assistance forum, and a working group on health and housing will continue the effort. Contact spodesta@crla.org.

HAC SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR RURAL HOUSING AWARDS. Nominations are due September 28 for the Cochran/Collings Award for national rural housing service and the Skip Jason Community Service Award. The honors will be presented at the National Rural Housing Conference in December. Complete the online form to submit a nomination or contact Lilla Sutton, HAC, 202-842-8600, lilla@ruralhome.org to request a paper form.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE NATIONAL RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE!
HAC has opened registration for the 2012 National Rural Housing Conference, which will take place December 6-7, with pre-conference activities on December 5, at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Register now to take advantage of the special early bird discount! Start networking in advance – join the conference LinkedIn group. Questions? Contact Dan Stern, HAC, dan@ruralhome.org or 202-842-8600.

Events

2023 National Rural Housing Conference

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Save the Date!

2023 National Rural Housing Conference

Washington, DC

Mark your calendar and save the date for the 2023 National Rural Housing Conference! The Conference brings together stakeholders in the field of rural affordable housing from local nonprofits, federal agencies, Congress, state and local governments, and other industry leaders for two-and-a-half days of training, discussion, and networking. We are excited to see you all in DC in 2023!

Build Rural

The 2023 NRHC theme is Build Rural.  Thriving rural communities don’t happen by accident.  It takes collaborative effort, leadership, investment and planning to build equitable and just communities.  Build Rural is both a literal and figurative appeal to explore and provoke action to build and renew rural communities by addressing housing affordability and preservation, community infrastructure and essential facilities creation and revitalization, resident led placemaking, capacity building, and community inclusion and justice efforts. Build Rural is a platform to share successes and best practices for addressing the nexus of housing and community development.  It’s a space to highlight and enhance the narrative of rural America through presentations of stories, data, programs, policies, and approaches.

Sponsor the Conference

Become a Sponsor of the 2023 National Rural Housing Conference

Propose a Workshop


2023 Call for Workshop Proposals - NRHC

Propose a Poster Session

Submit a poster session proposal for the 2023 National Rural Housing Conference

 

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50 Years for Rural America

Over 50 years HAC has worked in every U.S. state and the territories. Learn more about what our work means for rural communities.

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Housing Assistance Council   |  1025 Vermont Ave. NW, Suite 606, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 842-8600  |  (202) 347-3441  |  hac@ruralhome.org

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