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Montana HOME Program

HOME Happenings

What's going on in the world of the Montana HOME Program: Publications, Announcements, Meetings and Other Current Events

Updated: 5/14/2012
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~WARNING~ Files may be large and slow to load. Most of the documents are available to be viewed/printed from the Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this reader, click on the "Get Acrobat Reader" graphic to download a free version (available on the Department of Commerce main page). If you receive errors when opening pdf files, make sure you have the latest Acrobat Reader version. For an alternative format, call 406.841.2820

 

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Round 2  - 2012 Competitive Application Deadline

The HOME Program did not receive a sufficient number of fundable applications to fully award the 2012 grant competitive funds. Therefore, the HOME program will hold a second application round for these remaining 2012 funds. There is approximately $4.8 million left to distribute; of that, no less than $450,000 is reserved for CHDOs. The application deadline for the second round of funding is Friday, September 7. Applications will be accepted for projects across Montana. The entitlement cities of Great Falls, Billings, and Missoula, and CHDOs and PHAs within the entitlement cities’ limits, are eligible to submit applications. Applications must follow the 2012 HOME Competitive Application Guidelines .

 
Single Family Noncompetitive Program Qualification Package for Homebuyer Activities
  • All SFNP contracts for homebuyer assistance expired on March 31, 2011. Qualified entities must complete a new Single Family Noncompetitive Program Qualification Package and execute a new contract with the MT Dept of Commerce in order to continue to offer homebuyer assistance after 3/31/11

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HOME Program Proposed Rule Highlights

The Proposed HOME Rule was published December 16, 2011. Public comments were due by February 14, 2012. The Proposed Rule contains changes addressing issues that HUD has been raising for several years, including participating jurisdictions (e.g., the MDOC HOME Program) accountability and oversight and CHDO performance and capacity. The Final Rule is expected to be published in Fall 2012.  

The MDOC HOME Program has prepared a document which lists the highlights of the Proposed Rule extracted from a January 2012 HUD presentation.

Click to read the HOME Program Proposed Rule Highlights

The document includes information about:

  • Policies and Procedures
  • Subsidy Layering and Underwriting
  • Project Completion Deadlines
  • Initial Occupancy of Rental Units
  • Homebuyer Unit Transfer Deadline
  • Homebuyer Program Design
  • Homeownership Value Limits
  • CHDO Capacity
  • CHDO Expenditure Deadline
  • Monitoring Fees
  • Financial Oversight of Rental Projects
  • On-Site Inspections
  • Property Standards
  • Troubled Rental Project Workouts
     
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2011 HOME Program Competitive Application - Round 2

The 2011 HOME Program Application deadline was Friday, February 11, 2011. Five applications were received and three applications were tentatively awarded funds. The HOME Program did not receive a sufficient number of fundable applications to fully award the 2011 grant competitive funds. Therefore, the HOME program held a second application round for the remaining 2011 funds.The application deadline for the second round of funding was Friday, August 12, 2011. Three applications were received and two applications were tentatively awarded funds (see HOME Program Newsletter, Volume 11, Issue 6).  

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NEW! 2012 HOME Rent and Income Limits

The 2012 HOME rent and income limits have been published and are EFFECTIVE February 9, 2012. You must continue to use the 2011 rent and income limits until February 9, 2012.

You may access the corrected rent and income limits from the following links:

Note: Any change in rents for HOME-assisted units is subject to the provisions of outstanding leases, and in any event, the owner must provide tenants of those units not less than 30 days prior written notice before implementing any change in rents. In addition, requests for any changes in rent levels/schedules must be submitted in writing to the HOME Program, by the Grantee, for approval at least 30 days prior to implementation/tenant notification.

Note: Income and Rent Limits for Carbon and Yellowstone Counties are included in the Billings, MT MSA; Cascade County is included in the Great Falls, MT MSA; Missoula County is included in the Missoula, MT MSA.

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HOME Newsletters
  • Vol. 12, Issue 2 (PDF); May 14, 2012: 2012 Competitive Applications Received; Second 2012 Application Round; Uniform Physical Condition Standard (UPCS) Training Offered
  • Vol. 12, Issue 1 (PDF); February 9, 2012: Comments on the HOME Program Proposed Rule Changes Due February 14, 2012; 2012 Home Rent and Income Limits Posted by HUD; 2012 Competitive Application Deadline Extended to April 13, 2012; 2012 HOME Allocation
     
  • Vol. 11, Issue 6 (PDF); December 20, 2011: Plan Year 2012 Funds Available; Plan Year 2011 Amendment and Plan Year 2012 Change; 2011 Round 2 Tentative Grant Awards 
  • Vol. 11, Issue 5 (PDF); November 15, 2011: HOME Investment Partnerships Program Plan Year 2012 Changes
  • Vol. 11, Issue 4 (PDF); September 28, 2011: HOME Investment Partnerships Program Plan Year 2011 Amendment and Plan Year 2012 Proposed Change (comments accepted through 10/31/11)
  • Vol. 11, Issue 3 (PDF); September 14, 2011: Plan Year 2012 Clarifications and Proposed Changes (comments accepted through 10/31/11) 
  • Vol. 11, Issue 2 (PDF); July 6, 2011: 2011 Home Rent and Income Limits Posted by HUD; 2011 HOME Allocation; 2011 Second Application Round Reminder
  • Vol. 11, Issue 1 (PDF); May 13, 2011: 2011 Tentative HOME Allocation; 2011 Round 1 Tentative Competitive Grant Awards; 2011 Round 2 Application Due Date; New Reporting Requirements for Lead Based Paint; HOME Grantee (Subrecipient) Reporting Requirements under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA)
     
  • Vol. 10, Issue 9 (PDF); November 15, 2010; updated 11/17/10: Competitive Applications; Applications for FFY 2010 Second Round of Competitive HOME Funds; Loans & Match for Homebuyer Assistance Projects; EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Program Rule Reminder; 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
  • Vol. 10, Issue 8 (PDF); October 15, 2010: Home Investment Partnerships Program Plan Year 2011 Proposed Changes
  • Vol. 10, Issue 7 (PDF); July 21, 2010: FHA-designated Instrumentality of Government; New Web Addresses
  • Vol. 10, Issue 6 (PDF); June 18, 2010: Program Year 2011 Proposed Changes and Clarifications; 2010 Round 1 Tentative Competitive Grant Awards
  • Vol. 10, Issue 5 (PDF); June 1, 2010: Second 2010 Application Round; New HOME Program Rent and Income Limits Published-Effective 6/26/2010
  • Vol. 10, Issue 4 (PDF); April 26, 2010: Updated Checklist and Additional Certification Form for Homeowner Rehabilitation Activities; 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule
  • Vol. 10, Issue 3 (PDF); March 12, 2010: EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule; Effective Date: April 22, 2010
  • Vol. 10, Issue 2 (PDF); January 20, 2010: New Request for Payment Forms Are Now Required
  • Vol. 10, Issue 1 (PDF); January 7, 2010: SAFE Act Impact on HOME Grantees
  • Vol. 09, Issue 3 (PDF); December 29, 2009: Upcoming EPA-Authorized Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Courses
  • Vol. 09, Issue 2 (PDF); July 22, 2009: Housing Rehab Requirement; Soft Costs; Second 2009 Application Round
  • Vol. 09, Issue 1 (PDF); March 19, 2009: New Staff; Income Certs; New LBP Requirements; MTHousingSearch.com

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Lead Based Paint Requirements:

The lead based paint (LBP) regulations for housing built before January 1, 1978 have changed. EPA issued a new LBP pamphlet, Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools (Exhibit 2-AA.5, Chapter 2) that must be provided to renters, homeowners and homebuyers. Accordingly, the disclosure statements (Exhibits 2-AA.1, AA.2 and AA.3, Chapter 2) that must be signed by renters, homeowners, and homebuyers have also been updated. The LBP notification items have been noted on the documentation checklists in Chapter 3 (Exhibits 3-A.1 through 3-A.6).

As of April 22, 2010 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Program Rule applies to paid renovators who work in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, including: renovation contractors, maintenance workers in multi-family housing, painters, and other specialty trades. Under the rule, child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis. CONTRACTORS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A CERTIFIED RENOVATOR ON BOARD FOR EACH JOB taking place in a home or facility defined by the rule.

There are some differences between the EPA RRP Rule and the HUD Lead Safe Housing Rule (LSHR). A major difference is that the LSHR requires clearance examinations. All housing receiving federal assistance must still comply with the LSHR. Read more about complying with the LSHR and RRP.

EPA-Authorized Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Courses are offered by the Montana Weatherization Training Center at MSU-Bozeman, the only EPA accredited training provider in Montana.

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 Webinar Guidance from the HOME Program: Preparing the Environmental Review Record, February 16, 2011, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Click here to link to the updated slides from the presentation, as well as the audio file.

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