Around Indiana   

Across the Nation 

Federal Funding for Community Development is Cut in Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations

Congress passed a conference report on November 17 that included the final FY12 budget for the Department of Agriculture, Commerce/Justice/Science (CJS) and Transportation/Housing and Urban Development (THUD).   The bill was signed by the President the next day and it will provide $128 billion for the included programs, with $43.8 billion directed to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs. The net total for HUD is only $37.3 billion; this is a $3.8 billion reduction from FY 2011 levels, and $4.7 billion below the President's request.

Funding levels that reflect significant reductions or eliminations include: 

• $1 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (38 percent decrease)
• $3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program (11.6 percent decrease)
• $1.875 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund (8 percent decrease)
• $3.96 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund (14 percent decrease)
• No funding for the Sustainable Communities Initiative.
• Project-based Section would receive $9.3 billion; it does not appear to fully fund renewals.
• Public housing would receive $1.85 billion for the capital fund and $3.96 billion for the operating fund, but the operating figure includes $750 million against PHA reserves.
• Section 202 Housing for the Elderly, which would drop to $375 million from $399 million in FY 2011

The Department of Agriculture's housing and community development programs received the following budget reductions in H.R. 2112: 

• $900 million for the Section 502 single-family subsidized direct loan program, $219 million less than in FY 2011.
• $64.5 million for the Section 515 rural rental housing program, $5 million less than in FY 2011.
• $11 million for the Section 542 rural housing voucher program, $3 million less than in FY 2011.
• Zero funding for the Rural Micro-entrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP).
• The Rural Business Enterprise Grants program was cut by 37 percent to roughly $24 million.
• Rural Business and Industry (B&I) loans program was cut by 17 percent, approximately $41 million will be available in FY 2012 for loan guarantees for local and regional food enterprises.

To read a comprehensive summary program changes and a review of the major cuts to the HOME program, click here to read our blog post on the legislation.

Help for America' s Veterans

This month, as we paid homage to the bravery and sacrifices of our Veterans, we were reminded of the numerous challenges many confront here at home. In Indiana, many IACED members work hard to raise awareness about these obstacles and ensure these men and women receive the support they need and deserve.  Below is a list of some of these challenges and resources in place to help our nation's heroes.

Unemployment:

According an October Bureau of Labor Statistics report, nearly 22 percent of veterans aged 18-24 were unemployed, compared to the national unemployment that stands at 9 percent.  Congress moved forward on legislation to give $5,600 in tax breaks to businesses that hire an unemployed veteran and $9,600 to those that employ a disabled veteran. The passage of these bills comes of the heels of the President's announcement earlier this month regarding a new Veteran Gold Card program that offers six months of personalized case management, assessments and counseling at 3,000 career centers nationwide. 

Homelessness:

Veterans are 50 percent more like to become homeless than other Americans and there are 75,000 homeless veterans on any given night. In June 2010, the Obama Administration unveiled the "Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness."  One main component of "Opening Doors" is an aggressive plan to end homelessness among veterans in five years through a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and requested.  The funding and programmatic changes included in that plan can be found in our earlier blog postings (see the links below).  

Mental Health Issues:

According to a report from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, one-third of 9/11 veterans receive a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or other mental illness. The VA now offers to a crisis hotline, a VA facility locator, information on PTSD and other mental illnesses, on-line counseling and information on health benefits.

For a comprehensive article that includes links to new, valuable resources for veterans, click here to read our post from Veterans Day. Click here for our earlier post on HUD-VASH resources in Indiana or here for information on the veteran-specific portion of the Administration's "Opening Doors" plan.

Energy Efficiency for Multifamily Housing Shows Potential and Challenges

An article in the summer issue of Evidence Matters addresses energy efficiency in multifamily rental housing and efforts underway to encourage more green retrofits.  The authors point out that multifamily housing is inherently more energy efficient than single-family housing due to size per unit, exterior exposure, and other structural differences.  Nevertheless, the 85% of multifamily units built before 1990 could experience energy savings of 30-75% by taking advantage of retrofits.   

New Hope Services (Jeffersonville, IN) 

Two years ago, New Hope Services was turning down good clients looking for senior housing because they had children.  While New Hope had three senior complexes, they were for seniors only, and not all the residents wanted children around.  Recognizing a need for a different kind of housing complex, plans began for a new development.  This new complex would house "senior families," households with children under 18 and at least one adult over 55, to provide affordable housing for seniors raising their grandchildren.

A realtor on New Hope's board soon identified a site that New Hope bought and named Aberdeen Woods.  The development is located near Jefferson's middle and high schools and is within two miles of the bus line, a grocery store, and other amenities, making it easy for younger residents to be involved with school activities and go out with friends.   For now, construction has begun on only the first ten units and there are already 16 families on the waiting list. The first clients should be moving in right after New Year's. New Hope Services is looking forward to opening doors to residents beginning in 2012.  For more information, check out their website at http://newhopeservices.org/.