Tag Archive for: Rural Housing

HUD Releases Native American Housing Studies

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American Indian tribes are building more housing units after enactment of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) but housing conditions are substantially worse among American Indian households than other U.S. households. These are some of the findings of three new comprehensive reports of tribal housing needs just released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Urban Institute.

Special circumstances on tribal areas — remoteness, lack of infrastructure, complex legal issues and other constraints related to land ownership — make it extremely difficult to improve housing conditions in some areas, according to the reports. Based on the assessments of doubled up households and the number of severely distressed housing units in tribal areas, it is estimated that 68,000 more units are needed to replace severely inadequate units and to eliminate overcrowding in tribal areas. While tribes have been able to use NAHASDA funds effectively, their purchasing power has been eroded by inflation.

Key findings from the Housing Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Tribal Areas report:

  • Housing conditions vary by region but are substantially worse overall among American Indian and Alaska Native households in tribal areas than among all U.S. households, with overcrowding being especially severe.
  • Physical deficiencies in plumbing, kitchen, heating, electrical, and maintenance issues were found in 23 percent of households in tribal areas, compared to 5 percent of all U.S. households.
  • Overcrowding coupled with another physical condition problem was found in 34 percent of households in tribal areas, compared to 7 percent of all U.S. households.
  • The percentage of households with at least one “doubled-up” person staying in the household because they have nowhere else to go was 17 percent, estimated to be up to 84,700 people.

Key findings from the Mortgage Lending on Tribal Land report:

  • While Native Americans value homeownership as much as other Americans, mortgage lending is limited in Indian Country because reservation land is held in trust and cannot be used to secure a mortgage loan.
  • Since 1994, nearly half of mortgage loans originated on tribal lands were in Oklahoma (45 percent by number and 37 percent by dollar value). The entire state of Oklahoma is considered an ‘eligible area,’ the state has no tribal trust areas, there are several participating lenders in the state, and many Native Americans live in Oklahoma.

Key findings from the Housing Needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Urban Areas report:

  • Native Americans are becoming more urban but are still less likely to live in a city than other Americans. Even within urban areas, these households often live in census tracts within or near a village or reservation.
  • American Indian and Alaska Native households are more likely to occupy worse housing than the rest of the population and more likely to be overcrowded.
  • American Indian or Alaska Native individuals leave their village or reservation due to lack of opportunities and some people cycle back and forth between their tribal home and a nearby primary city.
  • For Native Americans who struggle to transition from a village or reservation to an urban area, there are a specific set of challenges, including lack of familiarity with urban life and urban housing markets, lack of employment, limited social networks, insufficient rental or credit history, and race-based discrimination.

Rural Voices: Innovation in Building Technology for Affordable Rural Housing

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Building decent, affordable housing for the lowest-income rural Americans requires creativity – in financing, design, planning, and even in administering organizations. This issue of Rural Voices is meant to provide helpful examples for the field, and we encourage readers to share other innovations as well.

FEATURES

Small Size, Big Results: Tiny Houses in Hale County, Alabama
by Pam Dorr

Tiny homes, from 400 to 850 square feet, can provide decent, affordable homes for rural Americans with very low incomes, while blending beautifully into existing communities.

Cargo Containers Become Simple, Decent, Affordable and Energy-Efficient Homes…It’s Happening in Kentucky
by Mary Shearer

Abandoned cargo containers are converted to highly energy-efficient, simple homes for extremely low-income Kentuckians.

Kicking and Screaming All the Way to Greater Energy Efficiency
by Patrick Shiflea

After hesitating to adopt new construction techniques and add costs, Alaska CDC staff have concluded increased energy efficiency is worth it for homeowners.

Factory-Built Housing as an Affordable Housing Solution
by Stacey Epperson

Modern manufactured and modular housing options can serve as an affordable alternative to site-built structures.

From Tornado to Sustainable Community in Saint Peter, Minnesota
by Rick Goodemann

After a major disaster, intensive planning and community-wide innovation produced new affordable housing as well as improved electricity and broadband service.

The Basics of Process Improvement for Affordable Housing Organizations
by Josh Crites

New ideas that improve project management can pave the way to an efficient and organized affordable housing process.

View from Washington

Doubling Down in a Time of Uncertainty
by Ellen Lurie Hoffman and Michael Bodaken

As advocates for affordable housing face the uncertainties of a new Administration, it is clear that our work and our partnerships have never been more essential.

Rural Voices would like to hear what you have to say about one, or all, of these issues. Please feel free to comment on this story by sending a tweet to #RuralVoicesMag, discuss on the Rural Affordable Housing Group on LinkedIn, or on our Facebook page.

USDA Multi-Family Fair Housing Occupancy Report FY 2015

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USDA’s yearly occupancy survey shows the total number of properties in USDA’s rural rental portfolio fell by 1.39% from September 2014 to September 2015, a decrease of 186 Section 515 properties and 19 Section 514 properties. The reduction covers 2,646 apartments (0.37% of total units). The average annual income of Section 515 residents has increased to $12,377. For Section 515 tenants with RA, average income is $10,332.

USDA Multi-Family Fair Housing Occupancy Report FY 2014

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USDA’s yearly occupancy survey shows the total number of properties in USDA’s rural rental portfolio fell by 1.25% from September 2013 to September 2014, a decrease of 142 Section 515 properties and an increase of 45 Section 514 properties. The reduction covers 1,645 apartments (0.37% of total units). The average annual income of Section 515 residents has increased to $12,022. For Section 515 tenants with RA, average income is $10,054.

Rural Voices: The Future of Housing Finance in Rural America

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This issue of Rural Voices tackles the question “What is the future of housing finance in rural America?” from a variety of perspectives.

View from Washington

The Realities of Housing Finance in Rural America
by Senator Jerry Moran

Private financing is essential, but changes are needed to make it more feasible.

FEATURES

Assessing the Future of Housing Finance Amidst an Ongoing Recovery
by Jonathan Spader, Shannon Rieger, and Christopher Herbert

In considering the future of housing finance in rural communities, it helps to begin with an understanding of the conditions and trends in the housing market

The Secondary Market Works for affordable rural housing
Rural Voices posed a series of questions to two Freddie Mac representatives. Corey Aber works in multifamily housing and Mike Dawson covers single-family housing

Freddie Mac works to help make financing available for single-family and multifamily properties.

There’s Never Been a Better Time for Obtaining Rural Multifamily Financing
by Tim Carpenter

Fannie Mae is optimistic about the potential to support the development of more affordable rural rental housing.

Rural Housing Finance One Size Does Not Fit All
by Sarah Carpenter

State housing finance agencies can help fill gaps to address smaller-scale rural housing needs.

Nonprofits Need Capacity Building to Access Scarce Multifamily Financing
by Michael D. Carroll

An intermediary organization has developed tools to improve local entities’ ability to use the complex financing available.

Access to Financing Is Key to Manufactured Housing’s Potential
by Doug Ryan

Manufactured housing can help expand rural homeownership if financing options are expanded.

Qualified Mortgage Rule is a Win-Win
by Barry Zigas

Recent regulations have improved home mortgage financing for lenders and consumers.

Rural Voices would like to hear what you have to say about one, or all, of these issues. Please feel free to comment on this story by sending a tweet to #RuralVoicesMag discuss on the Rural Affordable Housing Group on LinkedIn, or on our Facebook page.

How the Major Party Platforms Approach Housing

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by Leslie Strauss

The major political party platforms take different approaches to federal housing assistance and related topics. The Republican and Democratic platforms adopted at the parties’ conventions in July are couched in strikingly different ways, consistent with the conventions’ tones. For example, while the Republican paper states, “We must scale back the federal role in the housing market, promote responsibility on the part of borrowers and lenders, and avoid future taxpayer bailouts,” the Democratic one asserts, “We will substantially increase funding for the National Housing Trust Fund to construct, preserve, and rehabilitate millions of affordable housing rental units . . . [to] help address the affordable housing crisis . . . [and] create millions of good-paying jobs in the process.”

Read the complete article on Rooflines

HAC News: June 15, 2016

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HAC News Formats. pdf

June 15, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 11

• Homeownership, healthy homes, and 502 guarantee program celebrated in June • Republican poverty plan released • USDA RD launches two-tiered income limit pilot • Administration objects to Senate’s proposed FY17 funding for 2020 Census preparation • Nine new Promise Zones include four tribal/rural zones • HUD proposes mobility for CoC renters • USDA finalizes broadband rule changes • Small Area FMRs proposed to increase voucher choices • FEMA offers guidance on disaster recovery program • Research analyzes factors for unstable housing among former prisoners • Number of families with children receiving HUD rental aid falling • Please nominate national or local rural housing leaders for HAC awards

HAC News Formats. pdf

June 15, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 11

Homeownership, healthy homes, and 502 guarantee program celebrated in June. HUD declared National Homeownership Month and also the first National Healthy Homes Month. USDA is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first Section 502 guaranteed loan.

Republican poverty plan released. The poverty reduction portion of A Better Way: Our Vision for a Confident America, released by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on June 7, focuses on work requirements, increased program control at the state and local level, measurable results, and reduction of fraud and abuse. As an example of programs that could be consolidated, the plan states that “the rental assistance program of the Rural Housing Service (RHS) is similar to HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program,” without noting that rural RA is tied to RHS-financed properties. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Democratic poverty task force chair Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued critical responses. Other portions of A Better Way address national security, the economy, and – to be released June 16 or later – separation of powers, health care, and tax reform.

USDA RD launches two-tiered income limit pilot. For the Section 502 direct and guaranteed programs and Section 504 loans and grants, 23 states and territories will use HUD’s four-person income limit to qualify households with one to four people, and HUD’s eight-person income level for households with five to eight people. Intended to address situations where low income limits keep families from qualifying, the change will allow more families to qualify for the programs. Contact an RD state office.

Administration objects to Senate’s proposed FY17 funding for 2020 Census preparation. On June 14 the Obama Administration threatened to veto S. 2837, the FY17 Commerce/Justice/Science appropriations bill, for several reasons, including inadequate funding for development of design changes to save money in carrying out the 2020 Census. The bill is being considered on the Senate floor this week. The House version, H.R. 5393, has not yet been taken up by the full House.

Nine new Promise Zones include four tribal/rural zones. On June 6 the Administration announced its final Promise Zone selections, which include the Spokane Tribe of Indians in Washington, the Pride of the Great Plains Promise Zone (led by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) in North Dakota Southwest Florida, and Eastern Puerto Rico.

HUD proposes mobility for CoC renters. Comments are due August 15 on an interim rule that would allow some recipients of Continuum of Care tenant-based rental assistance to choose housing outside their CoC’s geographic area. It also offers some regulatory exemptions when a program participant moves to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Contact Norm Suchar, HUD, 202-708-4300.

USDA finalizes broadband rule changes. The Rural Utility Service adopted without changes the July 30, 2015 interim final rule that governs broadband loans and guarantees. Contact Keith Adams, RUS, 202-720-9554.

Small Area FMRs proposed to increase voucher choices. HUD suggests using zip code level Fair Market Rents in some metro areas, so assistance would match higher rents in places with high opportunity. Comments are due August 15. Contact Peter B. Kahn, HUD, 202-402-2409.

FEMA offers guidance on disaster recovery program. Comments are due August 1 on a draft Individuals and Households Program Unified Guidance describing the policies for the IHP, which includes housing aid. The guidance is intended to serve as a comprehensive resource for states, territorial and tribal governments, and other entities that assist disaster survivors. A separate guide will be available for survivors. Contact Johnathan Torres, FEMA, 202-212-1079.

Research analyzes factors for unstable housing among former prisoners. The National Poverty Center at the University of Michigan found that higher earnings and social support from parents and romantic partners were the most effective buffers against residential insecurity among former prisoners, while forced moves to correctional facilities correlated with future residential instability. “Residential Instability among the Formerly Incarcerated” reports that parolees moved an average of 2.6 times per year, while housing experts define unstable housing as one or more moves each year.

Number of families with children receiving HUD rental aid falling. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports in “Rental Assistance to Families with Children at Lowest Point in Decade” that the number of families with children receiving such aid has fallen by over 250,000 (13%) since 2004, while need has risen. The total number of households receiving HUD rental assistance rose slightly between 2004 and 2015, probably because some continue receiving aid after their children have grown up or left home (in about half of these cases, the household heads were disabled or elderly by 2015), and because new vouchers have been targeted primarily to homeless veterans and people with disabilities.

Please nominate national or local rural housing leaders for HAC awards! Nominations are due September 30 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, November 29-December 2. Complete the online nomination form to be posted on HAC’s website by June 17. Questions? Contact Lilla Sutton, HAC, 202-842-8600.

Annual Report 2015

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HAC's 2015 Annual Report CoverThe Housing Assistance Council is pleased to present Building Rural Communities, HAC’s 2015 Annual Report.

Read a web-friendly version of this publication on issuu.com.

In 2015 the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) mixed innovation, tried and true techniques, and special attention to special needs to further its mission of improving housing conditions for low-income rural Americans.

Ongoing issues surrounding the preservation of existing decent, affordable rental housing in rural America were one important focus of HAC’s work this year, as a large proportion of U.S. Department of Agriculture rental housing mortgages near the end of their terms. Veterans’ housing needs were another. HAC also continued its strong support of self-help homeownership for families who could not afford to purchase their own homes without the value added by their “sweat equity.” HAC’s loan funds make below-market financing available for those developing or rehabilitating affordable rural housing for both owners and renters.

This year HAC continued to increase its use of technology, delivering webinars and publications online and launching a new Veterans Data Central site to complement its popular Rural Data Portal. Person-to-person interactions remained important as well, with individualized conversations and live training sessions, including peer-to-peer events, providing technical assistance to local rural organizations and governments nationwide.

The importance of HAC’s role as an intermediary remains clear. As always, in 2015 local organizations throughout rural America made good use of HAC’s loans, grants, trainings, technical assistance, and information resources. HAC is proud to continue empowering these groups to provide decent, affordable homes for the lowest income residents of their own communities.

HAC News: June 1, 2016

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HAC News Formats. pdf

June 1, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 10

• Senate committee approves FY17 USDA funding bill • HUD funding for FY17 passes House committee • Modest rental housing remains out of reach nationwide for minimum wage earners • RD encourages multifamily properties to offer summer meal program for kids • Permission restored for states to transfer unused Rental Assistance • YouthBuild funds available • RUS seeks comments on energy efficiency loans • Revisions to IHBG formula proposed • FHA offers changes to its reverse mortgage program • Report recommends better integration of health care and housing for seniors • Native CDFIs have helped improve access to capital and credit • Locations of new businesses show economic recovery weaker in rural America • HAC to hold webinar on VA home loan guaranty program

HAC News Formats. pdf

June 1, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 10

Senate committee approves FY17 USDA funding bill. S. 2956 funds most rural housing programs at their FY16 levels, and provides increases requested by the Administration’s budget for Sections 521, 542, and 538. It also raises Section 515 rental housing to $40 million, higher than either the budget or the House bill.The Committee’s report tells the department to work with others to find long-term solutions to rural rental housing issues, particularly maturing mortgages. To encourage nonprofits and PHAs to purchase USDA-financed rental housing, the bill provides returns on investment, increased asset management fees, and a $1 million pilot program offering technical assistance to purchasers. The bill also requires USDA to report quarterly on Rental Assistance use. Unlike the House bill (see HAC News, 4/20/16), the Senate’s version would not expand use of Section 542 vouchers to include tenants in properties whose mortgages mature. More details are posted on HAC’s website. [tdborder][/tdborder]

USDA Rural Dev. Prog.
(dollars in millions)

FY16
Approp.

FY17 Budget Proposal

FY17 House Cmte. Bill (H.R. 5054)

FY17 Senate Cmte. Bill
(S. 2956)

502 Single Fam. Direct
Self-Help setaside

$900
5

$900
0

$1,000
5

$900
5

502 Single Family Guar.

24,000

24,000

24,000

24,000

504 VLI Repair Loans

26.3

26.3

26.3

26.3

504 VLI Repair Grants

28.7

28.7

28.7

28.7

515 Rental Hsg. Direct Lns.

28.4

33.1

35

40

514 Farm Labor Hsg. Lns.

23.9

23.9

23.9

23.9

516 Farm Labor Hsg. Grts.

8.3

8.3

8.3

8.3

521 Rental Assistance

1,390

1,405

1,405

1,405

523 Self-Help TA

27.5

18.5

30

27.5

533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants

3.5

0

5

3.5

538 Rental Hsg. Guar.

150

230

200

230

Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR)

22

19.4

22

22

542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers

15

18

18

18

Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init.

4

4

4

4

HUD funding for FY17 passes House committee. On May 24 the full House Appropriations Committee approved the Transportation-HUD bill summarized in the HAC News, 5/19/16.

Modest rental housing remains out of reach nationwide for minimum wage earners. Out of Reach 2016: No Refuge for Low Income Renters, by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, says there is no state, metropolitan area, or county in the U.S. where a full-time worker earning minimum wage can afford a two-bedroom apartment at HUD’s Fair Market Rent. An interactive map online provides data for states and localities.

RD encourages multifamily properties to offer summer meal program for kids. More information is available in an Unnumbered Letter dated May 10, 2016 and online.

Permission restored for states to transfer unused Rental Assistance. For a one-year trial, state directors will be allowed to reallocate unused RA within each state. RA lost to prepayment, foreclosure, or mortgage maturity will continue to be recaptured by the national office. Contact a USDA RD state office.

YouthBuild funds available. The Department of Labor offers YouthBuild grants to provide education, occupational skills training, and employment services to disadvantaged youth who serve their communities. Apply by July 6. Contact Kia Mason, DOL, 202-693-2606.

RUS seeks comments on energy efficiency loans. The new Rural Energy Savings Program will make loans to rural families and small businesses to implement cost-saving energy efficiency measures. The Rural Utilities Service asks for input by June 23 on measuring results and on providing technical assistance and training to entities carrying out RESP. Contact Titilayo Ogunyale, RUS, 202-720-0736.

Revisions to IHBG formula proposed. Comments are due August 1 on the Indian Housing Block Grant program allocation formula. The proposed changes reflect consensus decisions reached by HUD and the NAHASDA negotiated rule-making committee. Contact Randall R. Akers, HUD, 202-402-7598.

FHA offers changes to its reverse mortgage program. To reduce risks to its Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, FHA proposes to amend regulations to strengthen its Home Equity Conversion Mortgages. Comments are due July 18. Contact Karin Hill, HUD, 202-402-3084.

Report recommends better integration of health care and housing for seniors. Healthy Aging Begins at Home, published by the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Senior Health and Housing Task Force, examines the need for housing affordable to low-income seniors and for integrating health care and supportive services with housing. It recommends making ending senior homelessness a major national priority; investing in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit; establishing a new senior-supportive housing program; making federal regulatory policies more encouraging; engaging the private and nonprofit sectors more broadly; and adopting state and local land-use policies that promote a range of affordable housing options for their seniors.

Native CDFIs have helped improve access to capital and credit. Access to Capital and Credit in Native Communities, commissioned from the Native Nations Institute by the CDFI Fund, concludes there are better options today than in 2001, and finds the CDFI Fund’s Native programs have been critical sources of technical assistance and training in addition to capital. Native Communities still need additional capital and credit, however. To address the needs, the report identifies key strategies for Native communities and the federal government. A related data review will be released on the CDFI Fund’s site.

Locations of new businesses show economic recovery weaker in rural America. The New Map of Economic Growth and Recovery, published by the Economic Innovation Group, surveys the economic landscape emerging from the Great Recession and compares it to previous recovery periods. It finds fewer new businesses have been started, those that do start are concentrated in a smaller number of more populous counties, and counties driving the nation’s economic recoveries have shifted from smaller to larger ones. “Many communities will see fewer employment opportunities as a result,” the report states, “and depressed entrepreneurship will leave their local economies more vulnerable to the downsides of inevitable economic shifts to come.”

HAC to hold webinar on VA home loan guaranty program. “VA Housing Resources for Heroes: An In-depth Overview of the VA Home Loan Guaranty Benefit” is set for Wednesday, June 8, at 2:00 Eastern time. The webinar is free but registration is required. Contact Shonterria Charleston, HAC, 404-892-4824.

HAC News: May 19, 2016

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HAC News Formats. pdf

May 19, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 9

• Senate adopts FY17 HUD funding measure, House releases bill • USDA FY17 funding consideration begins in Senate • Some Continuums of Care see renewal funding cut • Correction: streamlined refinancing applies to Section 502 direct loans also • Sexual orientation and gender protection proposed for Native American programs • HUD seeks comment on broadband and on climate change hazards • Stakeholder calls on Section 515 to continue • RD corrects environmental regs • Guidance on implementation of Section 502 packaging available • Rural child poverty increased as income inequality grew • HAC report describes older veterans

HAC News Formats. pdf

May 19, 2016
Vol. 45, No. 9

Senate adopts FY17 HUD funding measure, House releases bill. The Senate passed its Transportation-HUD appropriations bill on May 19, after adopting an amendment lifting until 2019 the two-year commitment deadline for HOME funds, and rejecting an amendment that would have stopped HUD implementation of its Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing regulations. The Administration has threatened a veto of the Senate bill, listing numerous objections including the funding levels for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance and for Homeless Assistance Grants. The House version of the bill would keep many programs at FY16 levels, with decreases in tenant vouchers and an increase in housing counseling. The House T-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee approved it on May 18, and the full committee will take it up on May 24. Updates will be posted on HAC’s website when available. [tdborder][/tdborder]

HUD Program
(dollars in millions)

FY16
Approp.

FY17 Budget Proposal

FY17 House Subcmte. Bill

FY17 Senate Cmte. Bill
H.R. 2577

Cmty. Devel. Fund
CDBG

3,060
3,000

2,880
2,800

3,060
3,000

3,000
3,000

HOME

950

950

950

950

Self-Help Homeownshp. (SHOP)

10

10a

10

10

Tenant-Based Rental Assistance
VASH setaside

19,628
60

20,854
7c

20,189
7c

20,432
57

Project-Based Rental Asstnce.

10,622

10,816

10,901

10,901

Public Hsg. Capital Fund

1,900

1,865

1,900

1,925

Public Hsg. Operating Fund

4,500

4,569

4,500

4,675

Choice Neighbrhd. Initiative

125

200

100

80

Native Amer. Hsg. Block Grant

650

700

655

647

Homeless Assistance Grantsb

2,250

2,664

2,487

2,330

Hsg. Opps. for Persons w/ AIDS

335

335

335

335

202 Hsg. for Elderly

432.7

505

505

505

811 Hsg. for Disabled

150.6

154

154

154

Fair Housing

65.3

70

65.3

65

Healthy Homes & Lead Haz. Cntl.

110

110

130

135

Housing Counseling

47

47

55

47

Local Housing Policy Grants

–

300d

–

–
a. The FY17 Administration budget, like past budget requests, proposes to make SHOP a setaside in HOME. Congress has consistently rejected that proposal. b. Includes the Rural Housing Stability Program, which is not yet operational. c. Tribal VASH setaside. d. Proposed as mandatory spending.

USDA FY17 funding consideration begins in Senate. TheSenate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommit-tee approved a spending bill on May 17 and the full committee will consider it on May 19. A press release says the bill includes $900 million for Section 502 loans, $24 billion for Section 502 loan guarantees, and $1.4 billion for Rental Assistance. The bill’s text has not yet been released. The House committee passed its version, H.R. 5054, in April (see HAC News, 4/20/16).

Some Continuums of Care see renewal funding cut. As a result of changes to HUD’s FY15 homelessness funding competition, some CoCs received increases but a number of others had funding for ongoing projects reduced. HUD emphasized rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing, while awards for transitional housing fell. HUD acknowledges that some grantees now “face the difficult task of finding alternative funding for, downsizing, or closing down longstanding programs,” but says the total number of people served nationwide will increase. The National Alliance to End Homelessness’s blog offers analysis and suggestions. Find an area CoC here.

Correction: streamlined refinancing applies to Section 502 direct loans also. The May 4, 2016 HAC News reported that USDA RD adopted amendments to the regulations for Section 502 guaranteed loans but did not note that one of them, a new refinance option, is available for Section 502 direct borrowers also. Contact Lilian Lipton, RD, 202-260-8012.

Sexual orientation and gender protection proposed for Native American programs. A proposed rule would require HUD’s Native American and Native Hawaiian programs to be open to all regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. HUD promulgated this rule for other programs in 2012. Comments are due July 8. Contact Camille E. Acevedo, HUD, 202-708-1793.

HUD seeks comment on broadband and on climate change hazards. Comments are due July 18 on two proposed rules. One would require installation of broadband infrastructure at the time of new construction or substantial rehabilitation of multifamily rental housing funded or supported by HUD, with limited exceptions. Contact people vary by program and are listed in the proposed regulation. The second would require jurisdictions to include broadband and natural hazard risks in their Consolidated Plans. They would have to describe existing broadband access in low- and moderate-income housing, and consider providing access where there is none. They would also have to “consider incorporating resilience to natural hazard risks, taking care to anticipate how risks will increase due to climate change.” Contact Lora Routt, HUD, 202-402-4492.

Stakeholder calls on Section 515 to continue. To register for announcements of upcoming quarterly calls on the Section 515 program, contact Timothy James, RD, 919-873-2056. Those who have registered in the past do not need to register again. (These are separate from the Section 538 calls announced in the HAC News, 5/4/16.)

RD corrects environmental regs. The changes apply to a rule issued in March (see HAC News, 3/4/16).

Guidance on implementation of Section 502 packaging available. RD published anUnnumbered Letter (dated May 6, 2016) that provides guidance on the implementation of the certified loan application packaging process, which becomes effective on May 19. Contact Tammy Repine, RD, 360-753-7677.

Rural child poverty increased as income inequality grew. A USDA Economic Research Service report, Understanding the Rise in Rural Child Poverty, 2003-14, and an article based on the report, explain that nonmetro child poverty rates rose 2003-2011 during economic growth and recession periods, then fell 2012-1014 but remained well above 2003 levels. ERS determined that growth in income inequality accounted for most of the increase in rural child poverty.

HAC report describes older veterans. Over two-thirds of U.S. veterans are age 55 and older and their numbers are rising, according to Aging Veterans in the United States, an analysis of data on the older veteran population. The majority are homeowners, and more than half of older veteran renters are cost burdened.

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