Rural Housing Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Ch. 35, as amended), the Rural Housing Service (RHS) invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested. The intention is to request a revision for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 1927-B, Real Estate Title Clearance and Loan Closing.

This notice announces the timeframe to submit pre-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. This notice describes the method used to distribute funds, the application process, and submission requirements.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) published a document in the Federal Register of May 10, 2010, announcing the implementation of a demonstration program under the section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRHHP) for Fiscal Year 2010. A correction to the document is needed to extend the application obligation date of eligible applications. This action is to ensure that all applications that meet program criteria and have responded accordingly will be considered in the Demonstration Program.

The Rural Housing Service proposes two changes to its Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) regulation. This action is taken to achieve savings for the taxpayer, simplify regulations, and promote efficiency in managing the SFHGLP. The proposed changes are in accordance with the recommendations of the Inspector General in its Audit (Number 04601-0017-CH) of April 2009.

Through this Notice the Rural Housing Service (Agency) announces the implementation of a demonstration program under the section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) pursuant to 7 CFR 3565.4 and 7 CFR 3565.17 (Demonstration Programs) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. The Demonstration Program's purpose is to test the viability and efficacy of a continuous loan note guarantee through the construction and permanent loan financing phases of a project. Those applications that meet the Demonstration Program's qualifying criteria and are selected to participate will be offered one loan note guarantee upon closing of the construction loan that will be in effect throughout both of the project's construction and permanent phases without interruption.

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, which may include, 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 preapplications for HPG funds from eligible applicants. The intended effect of this Notice is to provide eligible organizations notice of these dates.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (Agency) administers the programs of the RHS. This NOFA announces the timeframe to submit applications for Section 515 Rural Rental Housing (RRH) new construction loan funds, including applications for the nonprofit set-aside for eligible nonprofit entities, set-aside for Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP), and the set-aside for the most Underserved Counties and Colonias (Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act).

The Rural Housing Service, USDA published a document in the Federal Register of February 2, 2010, concerning upcoming public forums and request for comments regarding the Section 523 Mutual Self-Help Housing Program. There has been a change in one of the forum dates.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Housing Service (RHS) invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested. The intention is to request a revision an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR Part 3550, Direct Single Family Housing Loans and Grants and its accompanying Handbooks.

This Notice is to inform the public that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development's Rural Housing Service, hereinafter referred to as Housing and Community Facilities Programs (HCFP) is discontinuing its annual publication in the Federal Register the combined notice of funds availability (NOFA) for some of its existing and continuing Multi-Family and Single-Family Housing programs for which it receives annual appropriations. For Fiscal Year 2010 and thereafter, it will provide funding availability information to the public through its Web site, https://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

Responding to President Obama's initiative for an open, transparent government, the Rural Housing Service, hereinafter referred to as the Agency, intends to hold public forums to solicit feedback from the public on whether the current method of delivering the self- help program is the most efficient and cost effective in terms of cost and program delivery.

This notice announces a series of teleconference and/or Web conference meetings regarding the USDA Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program, which are scheduled to occur during the months of January, April, July and October in 2010. This notice also outlines suggested discussion topics for the meetings and is intended to notify the general public of their opportunity to participate in the teleconference and/or web conference meetings.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for ``Section 515 Multi-Family Housing Preservation and Revitalization Restructuring Demonstration Program (MPR) for Fiscal Year 2006.''

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) and Rural Development, henceforth collectively known as Rural Development, or individually as Housing and Community Programs, Business and Cooperative Programs, and Utility Programs, to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other applicable environmental requirements.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the above-named Agencies to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of debt settlement of Community Facilities and Direct Business Program Loans and Grants.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of 7 CFR part 1942, subpart A, ``Community Facility Loans.''

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 3575, subpart A, ``Community Programs Guaranteed Loans.''

Through this Notice, the Agency announces the implementation of a demonstration program under the section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) pursuant to 7 CFR 3565.4 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 and 7 CFR 3565.17 demonstration programs. The Demonstration Program's purpose is to test the viability and efficacy of the concept of a continuous loan note guarantee through the construction and permanent loan financing phases of a project. Those applications that meet the Demonstration Program's qualifying criteria and are selected to participate will be offered one loan note guarantee upon closing of the construction loan that will be in effect throughout both of the project's construction and permanent phases without interruption.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS), Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published a document in the Federal Register on July 23, 2009, at 74 FR 36448. The document contained an error related to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number.

This Notice announces the availability of $6,256,000 of competitive grant funds for the RCDI program through the Rural Housing Service (RHS), an agency within the USDA Rural Development mission area herein referred to as the Agency. Applicants must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the Federal grant. These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. This Notice lists the information needed to submit an application for these funds.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS), Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) are administered through USDA Rural Development (RD). This Notice announces the availability of disaster assistance pursuant to Chapter 1 of Title I of Division B of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act 2009 (Pub. L. 110-329) (September 30, 2008).

This notice announces the timeframe to submit pre-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. This notice describes the method used to distribute funds, the application process, and submission requirements.

USDA Rural Development (Agency) which administers the programs of the Rural Housing Service (RHS) announces the timeframe to submit applications to participate in a demonstration program to preserve and revitalize existing rural rental housing projects financed by Rural Development under Section 515, Section 514, and Section 516 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended. A subsequent Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) will be published with specific funding information for fiscal year 2009 at a later date. The intended effect is to restructure selected existing Section 515 multi-family housing loans and Section 514 and 516 off-farm labor housing loans and grants 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 very low-, low-, or moderate-income residents. Expectations are that properties participating in this program will be revitalized and the affordable use will be extended without displacing tenants because of increased rents. No additional Agency rental assistance units will be made available under this program.

This NOFA announces the timeframe to submit initial applications for Section 515 Rural Rental Housing (RRH) loan funds, including applications for the nonprofit set-aside for eligible nonprofit entities, the set-aside for the most Underserved Counties and Colonias (Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act), and the set-aside for Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/ECs) and Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) zones, and a designated reserve for States with rental assistance programs. This document describes the methodology that will be used to distribute funds, the application process, submission requirements, and areas of special emphasis or consideration.