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HUD Heartland NewsVolume 12, Issue 2 View the published version of the Newsletter with photos In this Issue:
Calendar of Events:March 6-7, 2018 March 8, 2018 March 20, 2018 April 9-11, 2018 Greetings from the Virgin Islands I am part of a team within HUD that assists communities in recovery when disasters strike. This past year, hurricanes, floods, fires, and mud slides disrupted thousands of lives, and in some instances caused fatalities. In the Virgin Islands they were struck twice by hurricanes Irma and Maria in a very short time. The hurricanes caused massive amounts of damage and displaced thousands of families. Arriving nearly four months after the disaster, a lot of the debris has been cleared and power has been reestablished to most of the islands, so I did not see the worst of the damage. Still, there is plenty of evidence of the destruction, homes damaged and destroyed, trees blown over, power poles destroyed, and general devastation. I have had the fortune/misfortune to work disasters in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Colorado. In some I worked with a team that assisted survivors in finding alternative and permanent housing. Here in the Virgin Islands, I am working with a team of other Federal agencies to work with the territory in identifying needs and finding solutions for those needs. As in all disasters that I have worked, finding safe, habitable housing can be challenging. The Virgin Islands is no different and, in reality, may be more challenging because of the location. There are still thousands of people recovering from all of the recent disasters. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Your Door to FHA Homeownership Phone toll-free (800) CALLFHA or Grants for Grads On December 29, 2017, the South Dakota Housing Development Authority announced the Grants for Grads program, aimed at keeping graduates in South Dakota. The program launched on January 2, 2018 and is open to first-time homebuyers who meet the income requirements, purchase a primary residence in-state, have not owned a home in the past 3 years, purchase price of $250,200 or less, and have earned a degree within the past 5 years. The program will be offered for a limited time through participating lenders, with per-beneficiary assistance at 5 percent of the loan amount. To apply for the program, participants must contact an approved lender. Homeownership Funding AvailableThe Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Des Moines has published its 2018 Affordable Housing Program Implementation Plan. They are accepting 2018 pre-applications from February 1, 2018 to February 28, 2018, with regular applications being accepted starting May 1, 2018. In 2017, the FHLB of Des Moines awarded $2.4 million to six rental and homeownership projects in South Dakota. The grants will help fund the building or rehabilitation of ninety-six units of affordable housing, a leveraged $9.6 million of total development costs. The FHLB of Des Moines is also making available to its members up to $100,000 each for its Native American Homeownership Initiative. Each eligible member will receive up to $10,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. The FHLB anticipates a total of $750,000 will be available this year. New Homeowners Guide to SuccessHUD's new Homeowners Guide to Success provides homeowners with information on the critical first steps to take if they are at risk of missing a mortgage payment or are facing foreclosure. The guide offers resources to help avoid foreclosure, such as consulting with a HUD-approved housing counselor. The guide helps homeowners and disaster victims understand mortgage options available and how to avoid scams. FHA Loan Limits IncreaseAs announced in a press release on December 7, 2017, FHA single family mortgage loan limits have increased. The increase is in effect for all case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2018. In South Dakota, the limits increased from $275,665 to 294,515. The change is due to an increase in median housing prices and required changes to FHA's floor and ceiling limits across the country. South Dakota Single Family FHA Information
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Roger Jacobs | Field Office Director |
Jacqueline Westover | Single Family Housing Specialist |
Lisa Wright | Customer Service Representative |
Funding to Promote Self-Sufficiency
The Sisseton Wahpeton Housing Authority was recently awarded $177,000 through HUD's Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency - Service Coordinators Program (ROSS-SC). ROSS-SC helps grantees hire or retain "service coordinators" who work directly with residents to assess their needs and connect them with education, job training and placement programs, and/or computer and financial literacy services available in their community to promote self-sufficiency.
Homeless Preference
HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing encourages assisted housing owners and property management companies to make their subsidized apartments available to those experiencing homelessness or who are transitioning out of permanent supportive housing designated for formerly homeless households. HUD has issued a Program Notice and Toolkit that provides step-by-step guidance to implement a homeless preference, allowing eligible, currently homeless households to move to the top of a waiting list.
Individualized technical assistance (TA) will be available through this Request for Interest (RFI). CoC's and housing providers may receive individualized coaching, education, and support. This TA will help housing providers streamline their internal processes and improve rates of success in admitting households who are experiencing homelessness or who were formerly homeless. TA will also include assistance in outreach to and relationship-building with local housing providers and homeless service agencies.
The short RFI application is due by March 5, 2018. The technical assistance will begin in April 2018 and end in October 2018. Eligible applicants include: Continuums of Care, multifamily housing owners and property management companies, state housing finance agencies, and state housing departments.
Multifamily Housing What's New
Find the most current multifamily housing information for our region at HUD's Multifamily Housing Region West.
Mission of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: To create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business.
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