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RCAC self-help housing federal funding status Summer 2011 update

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the National Rural Self-Help Housing Association (NRSHHA), National Rural Housing Coalition (NRHC) and others, funding for both the self-help housing program and the 502 direct loan program was restored for the current federal fiscal year. Furthermore, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee included nearly $850 million for the 502 direct loan program and $22 million for the 523 mutual self-help housing program for next federal fiscal year. This is a very hopeful sign that the Congress is supportive of the rural housing programs. However, we are not out of the woods yet; amendments to strip the funding from the budget have been offered in every committee hearing. Although the program can work with this level of funding, hopefully the Senate will step up and at least restore the programs to this year’s levels.

According to Russ Huxtable, President of the NRSHHA, the association is in dialogue with the USDA national office on such topics as the 502 set asides for self-help grantees, possible funding for new grantees, self-help rehab, the importance and challenge of reaching 40 percent very-low income borrowers, underwriting guidelines and the need to create more uniformity across offices on the interpretation of the 3550 Handbook. They also are discussing a Self-Help National Conference. There may even be an invitation to participate in a panel discussion during a USDA Policy Meeting to be held in August 2011. Administrator Treviño promised to let the state and area offices know that they are open for business with the self-help housing program.

So keep up the good work promoting the program to the public and our representatives. Keep the membership of our two organizations, NRSHHA and NRHC strong, and “Save America’s Best Homeownership Program.” 

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