rural poverty Archives

HAC News: July 11, 2012

July 11, 2012/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

July 11, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 14

• Ag spending bill up next • House committee considering Farm Bill • Reserve account regulation revised for new USDA multifamily developments • USDA RD rule confirms annual fees for Section 502 guarantees • CFPB requests public comment about reverse mortgages • CFPB study on reverse mortgages identifies risks to consumers • Data access could help USDA monitor Rental Assistance payments, GAO says • Report highlights uses of American Community Survey data • Guide describes programs of Administration for Children and Families • HAC provides more rural poverty resources • SAVE THE DATE! 2012 National Rural Housing Conference! Promises to Keep in Challenging Times

July 11, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 14

AG SPENDING BILL UP NEXT. Following a July 4 recess at home, the House may take up 2013 appropriations for USDA soon. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) is expected to offer an amendment to keep growing rural communities eligible for RD housing programs. Similar amendments passed in the Senate as part of the Farm Bill in June and its USDA appropriations bill in April. There will be a continuing resolution to begin FY13 on October 1, 2012. Final budget decisions for 2013 will come in a post-election session, or in the new Congress next year.

HOUSE COMMITTEE CONSIDERING FARM BILL. The House Agriculture Committee began marking up its Farm Bill on July 11. The bill differs from S. 3240, approved by the Senate, and does not include housing provisions.

RESERVE ACCOUNT REGULATION REVISED FOR NEW USDA MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS. A final rule published in the Federal Register, 7/9/12, applies only to new construction Section 515 or 514/516 properties. Their reserve account deposits must be based on life-cycle analyses or Capital Needs Assessments prepared by third parties, rather than on the total development cost, as required in the past. Contact Michael Steininger, RD, 202-720-1610.

USDA RD RULE CONFIRMS ANNUAL FEES FOR SECTION 502 GUARANTEES. Implementing a provision of USDA’s FY12 appropriations act, a final regulation in the Federal Register, 7/11/12, enables RD to charge an annual fee as well as an up-front guarantee fee, in order to make the program self-supporting (see HAC News, 11/1/11). The fee amount will be announced each fiscal year. Contact an RD office or Cathy Glover, RD, 202-720-1460.

CFPB REQUESTS PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT REVERSE MORTGAGES. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which regulates reverse mortgage transactions, seeks “detailed information from the public on the factors that influence reverse mortgage consumers’ decision-making, consumers’ use of reverse mortgage loan proceeds, longer-term consumer outcomes of a decision to obtain a reverse mortgage, and differences in market dynamics and business practices among the broker, correspondent, and retail channels for reverse mortgages.” Comments are due August 31. Contact Monica Jackson, CFPB, 202-435-7275.

CFPB STUDY ON REVERSE MORTGAGES IDENTIFIES RISKS TO CONSUMERS. In a report required by Congress, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau surveys the reverse mortgage market, identifies consumer protection concerns, and describes new challenges. It concludes that reverse mortgages are complex and hard for consumers to understand, misleading advertising and other scams occur, and the currently available consumer counseling may not be sufficient. It identifies roles for itself including regulation, education, and complaint resolution. Complaints on reverse mortgages can be submitted through CFPB’s website or by phone, 1-855-411-CFPB (2372).

DATA ACCESS COULD HELP USDA MONITOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS, GAO SAYS. To identify RA payment errors due to unreported tenant income, legislation is needed to allow USDA to match tenant data with federal income data collected by other departments, according to a new GAO report, Rural Housing Service: Efforts to Identify and Reduce Improper Rental Assistance Payments Could Be Enhanced (GAO-12-624). GAO also suggests internal improvements that do not require legislation. For print copies, contact GAO, 866-801-7077 (toll free).

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS USES OF AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA. The Census Project compiled “Eliminating America’s Playbook,” a collection of case studies and comments from a range of organizations about the ACS’s importance to both government and business. The House voted in May to eliminate ACS funding from the Commerce Department’s FY13 appropriations bill (see HAC News, 5/16/12); the Senate has not yet voted on its bill.

GUIDE DESCRIBES PROGRAMS OF ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. ACF is part of the federal Department of Health and Human Services. It offers Assets for Opportunity IDA grants and resources for economic development, health care, refugee assistance, and other needs. Its program guide also includes basics for those new to requesting federal funding from any agency as well as links to capacity building resources.

HAC PROVIDES MORE RURAL POVERTY RESOURCES. In addition to its decennial rural poverty map (see HAC News, 6/27/12) HAC has issued a Rural Research Note on “Poverty in Rural America” and posted a recording of a recent webinar on the subject.

SAVE THE DATE! 2012 NATIONAL RURAL HOUSING CONFERENCE!
PROMISES TO KEEP IN CHALLENGING TIMES
December 6-7 with pre-conference activities December 5
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
Registration information will be announced here and at www.ruralhome.org when available.

Poverty in Rural America

HAC has conducted extensive research on poverty in rural America, including:

Poverty in the United States – 2012 Map

June 26, 2012/in Infographics

Poverty in the United States Map

Download a PDF of the “Poverty in the United States” map (HAC recommends using Adobe Reader X or higher for optimal printing)

Taking Stock: Rural People, Poverty and Housing in the 21st Century

The increasing prevalence of poverty in the United States is an inexcusable shame on this great nation. More Americans are living in poverty today than at any other time since the Census Bureau began measuring its occurrence. The issue of poverty has many complexities, but it is much more than an abstract condition for the over 40 million Americans who face daily struggles with food security, access to health care, and lack of basic shelter.

Forty years ago the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) was created to address poverty and housing inadequacies in rural America. In 1984, HAC published Taking Stock, one of the first comprehensive assessments of rural poverty and housing conditions in the United States. A key component of that seminal report was HAC’s national poverty map detailing poverty rates for every U.S. county in 1980. As a companion to 2012 edition of Taking Stock: Rual People, Poverty, and Housing in the 21st Century, HAC presents our newly updated poverty map, entitled “Poverty in the United States.” The map shows county-level poverty data from 2010 Census counts.

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Download HAC’s Rural
Research Note: Poverty
in Rural America.

While some gains have been made in reducing poverty over the past several decades, poverty rates are still shockingly high for certain populations in rural America, namely minorities and children. HAC’s research also illustrates the continued persistence of high poverty within several predominantly rural regions and populations such as Central Appalachia, the Lower Mississippi Delta, the southern Black Belt, the Colonias region along the U.S.-Mexico border, Native American lands, and migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Often forgotten or hidden from mainstream America, these areas and
populations had poverty rates of 20 percent or higher in 1990, 2000, and 2010.

HAC’s poverty map presents the stark reality that too many Americans have been left behind or shut out of our nation’s economic promise and prosperity.

In the coming months, HAC will present additional research products highlighting social, economic, and housing characteristics of rural Americans.

Mapping Poverty in
Rural America Webinar

Download Powerpoint |

Download a PDF of the “Poverty in the United States” map

HAC News: June 13, 2012

June 13, 2012/in HAC News

HAC News Formats. pdf

June 13, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 12

• House subcommittees act on FY13 USDA and HUD funding • The House’s USDA appropriations bill • The House’s HUD appropriations bill • HUD, USDA RD, and the CDFI Fund announce new Border Community Capital Initiative • FHFA requests comments on housing goals and preservation impact • USDA examines immigration policy’s impacts on agriculture • USDA announces June is National Homeownership Month • HAC sets webinar on “Mapping Poverty in Rural America”

June 13, 2012
Vol. 41, No. 12

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEES ACT ON FY13 USDA AND HUD FUNDING. House appropriations subcommittees have approved both bills and the full House Appropriations Committee is expected to act on them in the next few weeks. The Senate bills (see HAC News, 5/2/12) still await consideration by the full Senate. Congress continues to move appropriations on a faster track this year than in the recent past, but final passage of most appropriations bills may not occur until a post-election lame duck session.

THE HOUSE’S USDA APPROPRIATIONS BILL would provide lower amounts than the Senate’s bill for almost all rural housing programs. It allocates slightly more to the Section 515 rural rental housing program than the Senate bill, although the House’s $31.3 million is less than half of the $64.5 million Section 515 received in FY12. The House bill also contains new language in every provision relating to housing programs and in some, but not all, provisions relating to other Rural Development programs, requiring USDA to provide detailed spending plans within 15 days of enactment. [tdborder][/tdborder]

USDA Rural Devel. Prog. (dollars in millions)	FY11 Approp.a	FY 12 Approp.	FY13 Admin. Budget	FY13 Sen. Bill (S. 2375)	FY13 House Subcomm. Bill
502 Single Fam. Direct (Self-Help Setaside) (Teacher Setaside)	$1,121 — —	$900 — —	$652.8 (141) (67)	$900 (5) 0	$652.8 0 0
502 Single Family Guar.	24,000	24,000	24,000	24,000	24,000
504 VLI Repair Loans	23.4	10	28	28	10
504 VLI Repair Grants	34	29.5	28.2	b	c
515 Rental Hsg. Direct	69.5	64.5	0	28.4	31.3
514 Farm Labor Hsg.	25.7	20.8	26	26	d
516 Farm Labor Hsg.	9.8	7.1	8.9	8.9	d
521 Rental Assistance (Preservation RA) (New Cnstr. 515 RA) (New Cnstr. 514/516 RA)	955.6 0 (2.03) (3)	904.7 0 (1.5) (2.5)	907.1 0 0 (3)	907.1 0 0 (3)	886.6^f 0 (1.5) (2.5)
523 Self-Help TA	37	30	10	30	15
533 Hsg. Prsrv. Grants	10	3.6	0	b	c
538 Rental Hsg. Guar.	30.9	130	150	150	150
Rental Prsrv. Demo. (MPR)	15	2	34.4	16.8	2
Rental Prsrv. Revlg. Lns.	1	0	0	0	0
542 Rural Hsg. Vouchers	14	11	12.6	11	10.8
Rural Cmnty. Dev’t Init.	5	3.6	8	6.1	3.5e
a. Figures shown do not include 0.2% across the board reduction. b. Total for 504 grants and 533 grants is $33.1 million. c. Total for 504 grants and 533 grants is $17 million. d. Total budget authority for Section 514 loans and Section 516 grants is $13.8 million, compared to the Senate bill’s total of $17.5 million. e. Of the $3.549 million total for RCDI, $3.302 million is directed to community facilities grants to tribal colleges. f. HAC originally reported the House subcommittee’s level for Rental Assistance was $866.6 million, but the correct figure is $886.6 million. HAC apologizes for any confusion.

THE HOUSE’S HUD APPROPRIATIONS BILL boosts funding for HOME, Section 202, CDBG, and SHOP above the levels in FY12 and in the Senate’s bill. The Rural Innovation Fund is not funded and seems dead after being left out of HUD’s budget proposal again. The Rural Housing Stability Program is funded as part of homeless assistance grants. Veterans housing vouchers are funded at $75 million and Native American Block Grants are at $650 million, maintaining 2012 levels for both programs. The House bill does not fund Choice Neighborhoods or Sustainable Communities.

HUD Program (dollars in millions)	FY11 Approp.a	FY12 Approp.	FY13 Admin. Budget	FY13 Sen. Bill (S. 2322)	FY13 House Subcomm. Bill
Cmty. Devel. Fund (incl. CDBG) Sustainable Commun. Init. Rural Innovation Fund	3,508 (100) 0	3,308.1 0 0	3,143 100 0	3,210 b 50 0	3,404 b 0 0
HOME	1,610	1,000	1,000	1,000	1,200
Tenant-Based Rental Asstnce. Vets. Affairs Spptve Hsg. Vchrs	18,408 (50)	18,914.4 (75)	19,074.3 (75)	19,396.3 (75)	19,134.3 (75)
Project-Based Rental Asstnce.	9,257.4	9,339.7	8,700.4	9,875.8	8,700.4
Public Hsg. Capital Fund	2,044	1,875	2,070	1,985	1,985
Public Hsg. Operating Fund	4,626	3,961.9	4,524	4,591	4,524
Choice Neighbrhd. Initiative	0	120	150	120
Housing Trust Fund	0	0	1,000	0	0
Native Amer. Hsg. Block Grant	650	650	650	650	650
Homeless Assistance Grants	1,905	1,901.2	2,231	2,146	2,000
Rural Hsg. Stability Prog.	—	—	5	c	c
Hsg. Opps. for Persons w/ AIDS	335	332	330	330	330
202 Hsg. for Elderly	400	374.6	475	375	425
811 Hsg. for Disabled	150	165	150	150	165
Fair Housing	72	70.8	68	68	68
Healthy Homes & Ld. Haz. Cntl.	120	120	120	120	120
Self-Help Homeownshp. (SHOP)	27	13.5	0	13.5	20
Housing Counseling	0	45	55	55	45
a. Figures shown do not include 0.2% across the board reduction. b. Includes $3.1 billion in Senate and $3.34 billion in House for CDBG. c. Funded under Homeless Assistance Grants.

HUD, USDA RD, AND THE CDFI FUND ANNOUNCE NEW BORDER COMMUNITY CAPITAL INITIATIVE. Community development lenders and investors, which can include local rural nonprofits and federally recognized tribes, will be eligible for funds and technical assistance to support their lending or investing related to affordable housing, small businesses, and community facilities in the colonias along the U.S.-Mexico border. The collaboration may later be extended to other persistent poverty regions of the country. The announcement does not indicate when a NOFA may be issued. Contact Russell Quiniola or Thann Young, HUD, 1-877-787-2526.

FHFA REQUESTS COMMENTS ON HOUSING GOALS AND PRESERVATION IMPACT. The Federal Housing Finance Agency proposes continuing the existing structure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac housing goals (with no rural goals or subgoals) for 2012-2014, with new benchmark levels. FHFA also seeks comments on whether the regulation should address the possibility that Fannie or Freddie would receive credit under the housing goals for purchasing a multifamily mortgage that facilitates conversion of the property from affordable rents to market rate. Comments are due July 26, 2012. Contact Paul Manchester, FHFA, 202-649-3115.

USDA EXAMINES IMMIGRATION POLICY’S IMPACTS ON AGRICULTURE. As Congress considers possible changes in immigration laws, an Economic Research Service study finds that an increase in H2-A temporary workers would increase U.S. agricultural production and reduce wages. A decrease in the undocumented workforce would decrease production and raise wages. The study does not address impacts on housing.

USDA ANNOUNCES JUNE IS NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH.

HAC SETS WEBINAR ON “MAPPING POVERTY IN RURAL AMERICA.” As a prelude to the 2012 edition of Taking Stock – HAC’s decennial report on social, economic, and housing conditions in rural America – HAC is releasing an updated poster map showing county-level poverty data from 2010 Census figures, as well as information on historic, regional, and persistent poverty in the United States. Register now for a webinar presentation of the poverty map and a discussion of poverty in rural America on Thursday, June 28, 2:00-2:45 pm (EDT).

Mapping Poverty in Rural America

June 13, 2012/in Event Updates

To have an event posted on our calendar*, please e-mail Dan Stern. Or send event description or brochure to:

Housing Assistance Council
Attn: Dan Stern
1025 Vermont Avenue, NW
Suite 606
Washington, DC 20005

Or fax to (202) 347-3441
Attn: Dan Stern

[addthis2][/addthis2]

*Calendar Posting Guidelines:

HAC’s calendar posts announcements about periodic conferences, training sessions, audioconferences, and the like. Topics must be relevant to professionals in the rural housing and community development arena. HAC reserves the right to accept or decline any request to post an item. We do not include sessions provided by entities (for-profit or nonprofit) that offer numerous regularly scheduled training events; links to such entities are provided below.

IPED
HUD Calendar
NeighborWorks
Novogradac and Company

Back to Trainings

MAPPING POVERTY IN RURAL AMERICA

Date: Thursday, June 28, 2012
Time: 2:00 – 2:45 PM EST
Registration Form: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=4gwjr54kul2g
Materials: powerpoint presentation

Presenters:

Moises Loza – Executive Director, Housing Assistance Council

Lance George – Director of Research & Information, Housing Assistance Council

More Americans are living in poverty today than at any other time since the Census Bureau began measuring its occurrence. Poverty is particularly acute in urban cities and rural communities, as well as in several distinct regions across the nation.

As a prelude to the 2012 edition of Taking Stock — HAC’s decennial report on social, economic, and housing conditions in rural America — we are releasing our newly updated poverty map. HAC’s map details county-level poverty data from 2010 Census figures, as well as information on historic, regional, and persistent poverty in the United States.

Please join us for a webinar presentation of the HAC poverty map, and a discussion of poverty in rural America on THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012 – 2:00pm -2:45pm (EDT).

Register Now! Space is limited so please register early.

For information, contact: Dan Stern, 202-842-8600 or dan@ruralhome.org.

Rural Voices: Initiatives in the Mississippi Delta

April 15, 2000/in Rural Voices

The Spring 2000 issue of Rural Voices focuses on the Delta – not so much on its problems, which are well documented, but on what is being done and what can be done to improve its future.

The Mississippi Delta region has made significant contributions to our nation, yet it remains one of the poorest parts of the country. The Spring 2000 issue of Rural Voices focuses on the Delta – not so much on its problems, which are well documented, but on what is being done and what can be done to improve its future.

The issue begins with Representative Bennie Thompson urging us to make a national commitment to improving housing and opportunity, not only in the Delta but in all of rural America, and President Bill Clinton promising federal assistance for the Delta. Most of the magazine contains descriptions of initiatives working to improve housing and to enhance community and economic development in the Delta, written by the people who are actually undertaking the efforts described.

The new Administrator of the Rural Housing Service speaks up in this issue of Rural Voices as well. In a “Q&A” session, James C. Kearney addresses important topics facing his agency in the year 2000. The Administration’s new housing budget for 2001 is mentioned in that interview, and is covered in more detail in our View from Washington department.