Rural Housing Service March 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Rural Housing Service, (RHS), an Agency under USDA Rural Development, announces the availability of funds and the timeframe to submit applications for loans to private non-profit organizations, or such non-profit organizations' loan affiliate funds and State and local housing finance agencies, to carry out a housing demonstration program to provide loans for the construction and rehabilitation of housing for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Housing that is assisted by this demonstration program must be financed by USDA Rural Development in accordance with its current housing loan programs as authorized by the Housing Act of 1949. This demonstration program will be achieved through loans made to intermediaries who will then make loans to ultimate recipients for the construction and rehabilitation of housing for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (as determined by the Native American Housing and Self Determination (NAHASDA) Act.)

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) announces that it is soliciting competitive applications under its Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program. The HPG program is a grant program which provides qualified public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and other eligible entities grant funds to assist very low- and low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas. In addition, the HPG program assists rental property owners and cooperative housing complexes in repairing and rehabilitating their units if they agree to make such units available to low- and very low- income persons. This action is taken to comply with Agency regulations found in 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N, which require the Agency to announce the opening and closing dates for receipt of preapplications for HPG funds from eligible applicants. The intended effect of this Notice is to provide eligible organizations notice of these dates.

This NOFA announces the timeframe to submit applications for section 514 Farm Labor Housing (FLH) loans and section 516 FLH grants for the construction of new off-farm FLH units and related facilities for domestic farm laborers. The intended purpose of these loans and grants is to increase the number of available housing units for domestic farm laborers. Applications may also include requests for section 521 rental assistance (RA) and operating assistance for migrant units. This document describes the method used to distribute funds, the application process, and submission requirements.

USDA Rural Development (RD) administers the programs of Rural Housing Service (RHS). RD announces the availability of funds and the timeframe to submit applications to participate in a demonstration program to preserve and revitalize existing rural rental housing projects financed by RD under section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949. The intended effect is to restructure selected existing section 515 loans expressly for the purpose of ensuring that sufficient resources are available to preserve the rental project for the purpose of providing safe and affordable housing for low-income residents. Expectations are that properties participating in this program will be able to be revitalized and extend affordable use without displacing tenants because of increased rents. No additional Rental Assistance units will be made available under this program.

Through this action, the Rural Housing Service (RHS) is proposing homeownership education requirements. The lack of homeownership education is a well-known barrier to successful homeownership for many families. The intended effect of this action is to assure that first time homeowners financed under the Section 502 Direct program are well prepared for homeownership by assuring that they receive homeownership education.