February 2010 HUDLines

E-Briefs from the Richmond Office of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

HUD WORKS FOR YOU...
*** HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan reports on HUD's progress and outlines what lies ahead to keep America moving forward - view the video at www.hud.gov *** Secretary Donovan announces award of $4.6 million in Recovery Act funding to the Community Builders, Inc. under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP2) - will address multifamily rental housing crises in some of the 21 census tracts in Tidewater, Northern Virginia and Richmond metropolitan areas with the highest single family foreclosure rates. - view online. *** HUD and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issue guidance on identifying problem drywall in homes - view http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/hud10020.html *** Extended deadline - HOPE VI Main Street applications due 3/3 - view online. *** HUD's Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships "Organizational Development and Grantwriting Workshop" March 2 & 3 at Regent University, Virginia Beach - pre-registration required - contact Anne Davis at 1-800-842-2610, ext. 4802

FHA LEADS THE WAY...
*** New FHA Mortgagee Letters ... 2010-01 extends special authority for processing (multifamily) Pre-application Firm Invitation and Firm Commitment extension requests established by 2009-20... 2010-02 discusses increase in upfront mortgage insurance premium for FHA loans when case number is assigned on or after 4/5/2010 ...2010-03 extends procedures for terminating a mortgagee's authorization to underwrite single family loans... 2010-04 provides guidance to FHA lenders on loss mitigation for imminent default ... 2010-05 announces new Nonprofit Data Management System (NPDMS). *** FHA reminder... homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages dealing with problem drywall may be eligible for help to rehab their homes. FHA reminds approved lenders to offer special forbearance for borrowers dealing with effects of damaging drywall products, including financial hardships of related repairs. HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program may also help communities combat the problem. ***

HUD RICHMOND'S PARTNER IN THE HUDLIGHTS...
***It's Income Tax season - and the Virginia Cash Campaign is off and running. With programs to help Virginians get the most they can from tax returns through coalitions of free trained tax preparers and education about Earned Income Tax Credit and avoiding refund anticipation loans, the Virginia Cash Campaign has helped put millions into the hands of Virginians who need it most - view online at http://www.vaeitc.org/ ***

BRIEF BRIEFS...
*** Everyone counts...2010 is a Census year - in March, census forms with 10 short questions and a postage-paid envelope will be delivered to every residence in the United States and Puerto Rico - remember to fill yours out and send it back *** US Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) fund offering informational conference calls on CDFI Certification - visit http://www.cdfifund.gov/news_events/CDFI-2010-03-Informational-Conference.asp *** VA Dept..of Veterans' Services Wounded Warriors Program "Virginia is for Heroes" Conference scheduled for 2/18 in Richmond - registration through 2/8 (http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/wwconf/). *** Small business training and workshops offered through Virginia Main Street (http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/AboutDHCD/Newsletters/VMS-Oct09.pdf). ***Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLB) offering Affordable Housing Program workshops on April 7 at Virginia Housing Center - contact Ramona Chapman of Dept. of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for more information ramona.chapman@dhcd.virginia.gov or 804-371-7167 ***Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA), City of Norfolk and U.S. Small Business Administration hosting "We Care About the Success of Your Business" seminar 9am to 1pm on 2/25 - registration required - contact Joann Johnson, 757-314-1533 or ecoopstemp@nrha.us

GREEN NOTES...
*** Virginia Sustainable Building Network offers Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst Trainings, with certification to be completed in 30 days (http://www.vsbn.org/BPI_Training.shtml). *** Green building uses for Recovery funds examined in report from the U.S. Green Building Council - "Top 10 Ways to Use Recovery Funds for Green Building" & other resources are posted at http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1962 ***

BRIEF BRIEFS TO CHEER ABOUT...
*** Alexandria, Bristol, Chesapeake, Danville, Fairfax, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Richmond & Waynesboro Housing Authorities awarded Public Housing Self-Sufficiency grants to help residents reach economic independence. *** Piedmont Housing Alliance receives HUD grant to help fight housing discrimination. *** More than $4,600,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding awarded to Big Stone Gap, Honaker, South Hill, Emporia and York County for housing rehabilitation and downtown revitalization.

BRIEF BRIEFS TO LOOK INTO ...
*** National Endowment for the Arts' Universal Design National Leadership project - applications due 2/9- view www.grants.gov *** MetLife Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) announce grants for innovative partnerships between community groups and police for neighborhood safety and revitalization - preliminary applications due 2/26 - view www.lisc.org/section/ourwork/national/safety/awards *** Dept. of Justice Second Chance Act Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Demonstration Project grant applications from state, county, local and tribal governments due 03/04 (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/10BJA_JJ_SecondChanceDemonstrationSol.pdf). ***The M·A·C AIDS Fund U.S. Community Grants Program announces Food & Nutrition grants for agencies working with people who have HIV/AIDS - applications due 3/15 (http://macaidsfund.org/support/GrantMakingProgram_US.html). ***