Late Breaking News - Rural Housing Coalition

The New York State
Rural Housing Coalition, Incorporated
79 N. Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12207

Ph: (518) 458-8696
Fax: (518) 458-8896

Click below to e-mail us:

rhc@ruralhousing.org

Late Breaking News

Assisted Housing Stability and Energy and Green Retrofit Investments Stimulus Program

Late Breaking News Assisted Housing Stability and Energy and Green Retrofit Investments Stimulus Program
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NYS Rural Housing Coalition 31^st Annual Affordable Housing and Community Development Conference October 17, 18, 19 2010 at the Holiday Inn, Auburn, NY

Conference Brochure Now Available! Please Register using our online registration.

All registration for the 2010 Conference can be found online at http://www.acteva.com/go/conference2010

Looking for an EPA lead safe certified contractor? Search for certified contractors in your area.
For a List of Licensed Asbestos Contractors who can be hired to evaluate and remediate asbestos in homes and businesses in New York State, check here

Late Breaking News

Fair Market Rents have been Released for 2010

HUD Seeks Comments On Draft Guidelines For HQS Inspections

HUD is seeking comment from all interested persons on a draft Notice which provides Guidelines for Housing Quality Standard inspections including a list of published guidance which inspectors may rely upon in making determinations in their inspections, as well as, additional clarifying guidance regarding the inspection and standards for certain electrical receptacles. The Department is particularly interested in receiving comments on the potential impact the inspection guidelines regarding ungrounded three prong outlets will have on owners and the availability of housing to participants in the HCV program.

Commenters are requested to explain in detail the basis for all comments provided. All comments must be submitted electronically to the following mailbox HCVHQSComments@hud.gov by Wednesday, September 30th.

Reverse Mortgage Counseling Rules

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has just published specific written protocols to provide guidance to counselors on what must be covered during Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (reverse mortgage) counseling sessions. The new rules, which will go into effect September 11th, require that agencies provide prospective borrowers with an information packet prior to the counseling session and in enough time so the client has time to review the information and prepare questions. Counselors are also being instructed to withhold the completed counseling certificate if they believe that the homeowner does not have an adequate understanding of a reverse mortgage, its implications for their specific situation, and the responsibilities as a reverse mortgage borrower. They also must withhold the certificate if the client is being coerced into obtaining a reverse mortgage or is a potential victim of fraud. Ten general questions (provided by HUD) about reverse mortgages must also be asked and if the borrower cannot answer five of the ten questions correctly during the initial counseling session, the certificate must be withheld. All of these counseling rules are designed to provide seniors with the facts prior to making what for them is a lifelong commitment.

Small Businesses are the driving force behind job creation, yet many struggle to find the capital they need to survive and grow. Women and minority owned businesses face additional impediments. NCRC recently announced a new study, "Does CRA Small Business Lending Increase Employment: an Examination on a County Level." The study looks at over 500 counties around the country, exploring the national impact of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) on small business lending.

Bank of America Commits $10 Million to Spur Small Business Lending

Bank of America

has announced a $10 million commitment in support of microloans for small and rural businesses. The bank also announced it will purchase $10 billion in products and services from small, medium-size, and diverse businesses over the next five years. T

o help spur lending to small and rural businesses, BoA will award grants to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and nonprofit lenders looking to leverage funds from the US Small Business Administration and the US Department of Agriculture. The grants, which will be used as loan loss reserves, could unlock as much as $100 million in low-cost, long-term capital for small business microloans nationwide over the next year.

SBA and USDA microloans are made through local nonprofit lenders, which also provide business training and technical assistance. To access the capital, nonprofit lenders participating in the federal loan programs must set aside loan loss reserves at levels of up to 15 percent of the capital provided by the agencies. The economic downturn has made it difficult for most lenders to meet the reserve requirements, however, limiting their access to loan capital at a time when small businesses most need support. Through microloan programs, CDFIs can borrow for up to twenty years at rates of less than 2 percent -- twice as long and half the cost of other currently available CDFI lending programs

RHC co-sponsored a conference with USDA for buyers and sellers of Section 515 projects. If you missed this important event, you can still view presentations from the conference.

American Community Survey Overview and Affordable Housing Trends in the Capital District- presentation at the Capital District Peer-to-Peer Session. Check the Resources Tab for the powerpoint.

Meetings and Trainings

The Housing Assistance Council and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, New York Regional Office invite you to participate in Business Planning for CHDOs and Nonprofits on September 14-15, in Rochester, NY. Participants will learn to utilize practical tools to institute an organizational planning process and develop a sound business plan. Learn how to analyze a market, develop organization and financial plans, develop a market strategy, and conduct a risk analysis. Use
online registration. There is no registration fee for this event but space is limited, so please register beforehand. Limited travel scholarships are available.

Lead Safe Work Practices scheduled trainings

DHCR Affordable Housing Development Seminars

NOFAS and Funding Opportunities

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announces the availability of funds under the State’s 20010-11 State Operations and Aid to Localities Budget for the Supported Housing for Families and Young Adults (SHFYA) Program. SHFYA funds will be provided for services and expenses related to a supportive housing program for families and/or young adults age 18 to 25, who are eligible for benefits under the State plan for the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, whose incomes do not exceed 200 percent of the Federal poverty level and, unless in receipt of public assistance, whose participation in such a program would not constitute assistance under Federal TANF regulations.

The TD Bank Charitable Foundation is accepting grant applications from housing agencies in the TD Bank footprint in NY until early September. Grants are available in the Housing for Everyone grant competition. TD Bank is also making funds available on a rolling basis to allow staff of housing nonprofits to obtain education that they need to improve their ability to serve lower income individuals.

A new lending program from Enterprise and the National Housing Trus t Community Development Fund provides nonprofit owners and developers capital to jump-start green retrofits of older affordable rental communities

Boating Infrastructure Grants Available
Federal funds are available to develop facilities for recreational boating. Private agencies may apply through the state as a sub-recipient. A total of $10,000,000 is available in this competition. There is no minimum grant level. Applications are due on Sept. 22nd.

DHCR OCR Open Window for Economic Development CDBG Applications 2010 includes micro enterprise

DHCR Announces Open Window For Funding For Homes For Working Families Applications for site-specific projects funded under HWF may be submittedusing the Community Development Online (CDOL) System. Applicants are responsible for using the proper application for funding. Applicationsare available on the DHCR web site. Applications for HWF will be accepted on a continuous basis until 5:00 PM, Wednesday, December 1, 2010.