[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 83 (Monday, May 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10305]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 2, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and
Development
24 CFR Part 92
[Docket No. R-94-1648; FR-3411-N-03]
RIN 2501-AB50
HOME Investment Partnerships Program
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and
Development.
ACTION: Notice of waiver.
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SUMMARY: This document informs the public that the Department is
waiving a provision of the HOME Program rule at 92.2 on the current
definition of commitment. The Department on April 19, 1994, published a
rule that expanded the definition of commitment. However, that rule
will not become effective until May 19, 1994. In the interim, there are
participating jurisdictions (PJs) which could benefit by being able to
use the newly expanded definition of commitment. This document provides
a waiver of the provisions that are being amended, obviating the need
for individual waiver requests from the affected PJs.
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 20, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Kolesar, Director of the Program
Policy Division, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington,
DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2470, TDD (202) 708-2565. (These are not
toll-free numbers.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The HOME program statute and regulations give PJs 24 months to
commit their HOME funds. HOME funds not committed by the 24 month
deadline must be recaptured by the Department. The Department published
a rule on April 19, 1994 (59 FR 18626) which included a revision to the
definition of commitment. The Department believes greater flexibility
in the definition of commitment is required. In addition to commitments
to specific projects, the definition of commitment is expanded to
include legally binding agreements with State recipients,
subrecipients, contractors to produce affordable housing and
reservation of funds to Community Housing Development Organizations
(CHDOs).
II. Good Cause
In expanding the definition of commitment in the regulation, the
Department believed that additional flexibility was warranted because
of the slow start-up of the program and the significant statutory and
regulatory changes which have occurred in the program. With these major
changes in the program, the ability of the PJs to operate the program
effectively has substantially increased. Nonetheless, the Department
recognized that to build on the momentum of these changes, an expansion
of the definition would provide regulatory relief to allow funds to be
committed to state recipients, subrecipients and CHDOs in a more
orderly and equitable fashion. States can work with small cities and
newly formed CHDOs to build capacity without fear of losing funds.
Also, local PJs may tackle more difficult rental projects designed to
serve very-low income or special needs populations, which often require
longer development periods.
This good cause applies to PJs whose commitment deadline occurs
before the effective date of the April 19, 1994 regulation.
III. Waiver
Pursuant to the authority of Sec. 92.3, the Department waives the
definition of commitment at Sec. 92.2 for participating jurisdictions
whose 24 months commitment deadline will occur before May 19, 1994.
These jurisdictions may use the new definition of ``Commitment''
published in the Federal Register of April 19, 1994 (59 FR 18631).
Dated: April 25, 1994.
Andrew Cuomo,
Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 94-10305 Filed 4-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-29-P
