UPDATE, January 23, 2019

More of the many media reports related to the shutdown’s impact on USDA housing and rural residents:

• Ignore full-rent letter, Newport tenants told; 2nd notice says shutdown “not your fault,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, January 23, 2019
• How the shutdown is jeopardizing housing for rural Americans, NBC, January 22, 2019
• Some fear federal safety net is unraveling for those in need, AP News, January 22, 2019
• Tenants at Arkansas complex fret after notified rent aid held up; until shutdown ends, full payment up to them, tenants told, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, January 21, 2019
• Relief comes for low-income tenants threatened with rent hike due to shutdown, Huffington Post, updated January 23, 2019
• ‘We’re left in the dark’: As many industries get shutdown relief, those without political clout feel left behind, Washington Post, January 19, 2019
• Home buyers, low-income families likely feeling sting of shutdown, UPI, January 18, 2019
• Arkansas eviction scare is a preview of shutdown hell, Huffington Post, January 17, 2019
• Tribal members feeling the ripple effects of the shutdown, Center for Rural Affairs, NE, January 16, 2019

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As of January 16, 2019, parts of the federal government including USDA and HUD remain shut down. Limited functions are continuing at USDA’s national office in Washington, DC and the Customer Service Center in St. Louis, but loan closings are not taking place and applications are not being processed. RD staff provided a great service by getting December’s Section 521 Rental Assistance payments made on schedule in early January, and have unofficially assured HAC and others that January’s RA payments will be made in early February. RA payments each month are for the RA contracts that expired during that month, and obligate a full year of RA funding. It is HAC’s understanding that if the shutdown continues into February, RA contracts expiring that month will not be paid. It is not clear whether Section 542 vouchers will be paid for February.

Here are some recent reports related to USDA housing during the shutdown.This list was updated on January 16.

• Some renters are already facing eviction, thanks to the shutdown, Huffington Post, updated January 16, 2019 (updated again on January 23)
• As the government shutdown continues, would-be homeowners are stuck waiting on USDA aid, Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA, January 15, 2019
• One casualty of the government shutdown: low-income Texans who need housing assistance, Texas Observer, January 15, 2019
• The U.S. government shutdown: Its impact on Indian Country is deep, Center for Indian Country Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, January 14, 2019
• How the government shutdown is disrupting mortgage, real estate transactions, bankrate.com, January 14, 2019
• Government shutdown derails real estate deals in rural communities, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 14, 2019
• Housing market feels blowback of government shutdown, WHAM, Rochester, NY, January 13, 2019
• Government shutdown threatens certain home loans, Houston Chronicle, January 11, 2019
• What the government shutdown means for your mortgage, Chicago Tribune, January 11, 2019
• Bangert: Home buying ‘nightmare’ as family waits out shutdown in mother-in-law’s basement, Lafayette (Indiana) Journal & Courier, January 10, 2019
• U.S. government shutdown impacts USDA offices in Kentucky, Cincinnati Public Radio, January 9, 2019
• Food stamps, rent aid and the safety net for America’s poorest at risk as shutdown drags on, Washington Post, January 9, 2019
• Prospective homebuyers derailed by the government shutdown, CNBC, January 9, 2019
• Shutdown impacts rural housing, National Rural Housing Coalition, January 8, 2019
• Federal USDA home loans on hold during government shutdown, WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH, January 8, 2019
• How is the government shutdown affecting the local housing market?, KOTA TV, Rapid City, SD, January 8, 2019
• Government shutdown halts USDA housing loans and grants, KOMU, Columbia, MO, January 7, 2019
• Government shutdown affects USDA loans, Ozarksfirst.com, January 6, 2019
• Government shutdown 2019: Homebuyers with USDA mortgages can’t close on house sales, USA Today, January 3, 2019
• Shutdown struggles loom for localities in need of infrastructure, affordable housing funding, Route Fifty, January 3, 2019