September 2010 HUDLines

HUD WORKS FOR YOU....
*** August Housing Scorecard shows progress with increased affordability and continued house price stabilization, and HUD is committed to doing the rest of the job *** HUD announces Notices of Funding Availability: Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, Round 1 due October, 2010 - website ... HOPE VI Revitalization due 11/22 - see website ... Section 202 Demonstration Pre-Development due 10/4 - see website *** HUD releases recommendations for updated & revised Federal Manufactured Home Construction & Safety Standards - Public comments due 9/13 - see http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-16724.htm *** Title VI Webcast training - 9/16, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST, Department of Justice, HUD's Offices of General Counsel and Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity discuss Site and Neighborhood Standards, Residency Preferences, Site-based Waiting Lists & Limited English Proficiency. Download materials at http://www.justice.gov/crt/cor/coord/invmanual.php ***

FHA LEADS THE WAY....
***It's Big - it's Bold - it's Brand New - a new web site for comprehensive information on all HUD Home sales launches 9/13 - and you can get a tryout starting 8/30 - see http://hudhomestore.com *** Starting 9/7, FHA will offer "Short Refi" for certain 'underwater' non-FHA borrowers - see HUD's website and Mortgagee Letter 2010-23*** New FHA Mortgagee Letters: 2010-23 provides additional guidance for lenders regarding the requirements and administration of the 3/26/10 enhancements to FHA's refinance program ... 2010-24 eliminates the unlimited Combined Loan-to-Value (CLTV) ratio introduced in Mortgagee Letter 2007-11 ... 2010-25 provides processing instructions & guidance to issue Mortgage Insurance for refinancing Cooperative Housing Projects under Section 207... 2010-26 provides additional guidance to implement the processing change introduced in Mortgagee Letter 2008-19 "Streamlined Processing of Multifamily Mortgage Insurance Applications Involving Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)" ... For all Mortgagee Letters, see HUD's website***

STAY READY, VIRGINIA...
*** September is National Preparedness Month (NPM), and Hurricanes Earl and Fiona are pretty good reminders of why we need to work together and act now for emergency preparedness. Get a kit, make a plan, stay informed - See http://www.readyvirginia.gov/ ***

BRIEF BRIEFS....
***Hanover Habitat for Humanity partnered with USDA/Rural Development's financing to develop a charming EarthCraft home, and its new owners have been selected as USDA's "2010 Homeowner of the Year." See http://www.hanoverrestore.org/in-the-news.htm *** Don't miss this - Governor's Housing Conference "Partnerships for the Future: Reinvesting in Communities," Richmond, 11/17 - 11/19. Earlybird registration ends 9/24 - see http://www.vagovernorshousingconference.com/ *** Save the Date - Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond is hosting "Community Land Trusts: A Shared Equity Model" 10/26, 9:00am - 2:00pm - stay tuned for registration information***

BRIEF BRIEFS, TOO....
*** 'Neighborhood Treasures: Capitalizing on Our Assets '-Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference - Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center 9/23 - 9/25. Earlybird registration discount ends 9/7 - see http://www.vsnc.org *** Housing Virginia moves affordable housing forward - see their most recent newsletter at http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs045/1102712869256/archive/1103644718286.html *** Revitalizing Neighborhoods Through Entrepreneurship: Virginia Microenterprise Network fall conference 9/30 - 10/1 in Staunton***

BRIEF BRIEFS TO LOOK INTO ....
*** Limited Seating - register now - Training for Part 58 - Environmental Review procedures for entities assuming HUD environmental responsibilities 9/15- 9/16; and Capital Fund & PIH programs subject to HUD's part 58 Environmental Regulations 9/17 - contact Kerry.Johnson@hud.gov or (804) 822-4803, *** Comments on proposed Fair Market Rent for Housing Choice Voucher and SRO programs due 9/4 - see http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-19084.htm *** Housing Assistance Council seeking nominations for Rural Housing Awards - see http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=14093 *** Brookdale Foundation offering mini-grants ($10,000) to encourage and promote the creation or expansion of services for grandparents and other relatives who have taken on the responsibility of surrogate parenting when the biological parents are unable to do so.*** EPA presenting training on Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule***

BRIEF BRIEFS TO CHEER ABOUT....
***They must be doing something right...A big "attaboy" to the Richmond Metro Continuum of Care as the numbers of people who are homeless in the Richmond metro area decreased by 16% from 2009 to 2010 - see http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/aug/05/coun052-ar-413483/ *** Fourth Annual Hampton Roads Housing Consortium Members' Awards Recipients Announced - congratulations to Frank A. Lofurno, Jr. - Executive Director Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority - HRHC Lifetime Achievement Award; Lynne Finding - Executive Director, LINK of Hampton Roads - HRHC Housing Warrior; Jessica Guglielmo - Chief of Operations, Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation - HRHC Housing Partner; and Shernita Bethea - Housing and Human Service Manager, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission - HRHC Across the Region Service Award *** Arlington County, Prince William County and Roanoke receive $1.3 Million+ for 131 Family Unification Vouchers to help families stay together - see website *** Holly Court Apartments in Kilmarnock, Wytheville Community Apartments, Laurel Court Apartments in Newport News, and The Russell House in Virginia Beach among the first 100 in the Nation to receive Green Retrofit awards to improve energy efficiency and create green jobs. *** Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk awarded $875,000 for the Healthy Homes Demonstration Grant Program - see http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-18909.htm***