Rural Housing Service June 18, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Rural Housing Service (RHS), an Agency within Rural Development, 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 non- profit organizations including, but not be limited to, faith-based and community 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 RHS regulations found in 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N, which require RHS to announce the opening and closing dates for receipt of pre-applications for HPG funds from eligible applicants. The intended effect of this Notice is to provide eligible organizations notice of these dates.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Fiscal Year 2006 established the demonstration Rural Development Voucher Program, as authorized under Section 542 of the Housing Act of 1949 as amended, (without regard to Section 542(b)). This Notice informs the public that funding is available for the Rural Development Voucher Program and also sets forth the general policies and procedures for use of these vouchers for Fiscal Year 2013. Pursuant to the requirements in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, Rural Development Vouchers are only available to low-income tenants of Rural Development-financed multifamily properties where the Section 515 loan has been prepaid either through prepayment or foreclosure action, prior to the loan's maturity date and after September 30, 2005. RD Voucher issuance requested by eligible tenants will be made to the extent that funding may ultimately be made available to the Agency through appropriations.