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With the hot, dry summer days behind us and the crisp fall days at hand--with Congress in the waning days of this session and our state preparing for transition to new leadership--with a new Governor and a new Legislature, we reflect on what the summer drought may have left in its wake and prepare for the Annual Housing Conference, "Housing Matters."
A takeoff on one of the three major sections of the Millennial Housing Commission Report, "Meeting Our Nation's Housing Challenges", the section "Why Housing Matters" presents a perfect annual theme for the South Dakota Housing Development Authority to analyze what works for South Dakota and where we can improve upon our programs and our efforts.
To examine the affordable housing needs in South Dakota, we are consulting with the firm, Mullin & Lonergan Associates, Inc. Representatives have been traveling throughout the state to analyze, first-hand, the issues and present them in tandem with the statistical measurements presented by the US Census data. Using the 1990 Housing Needs Analysis as a benchmark, we have asked the consultant to measure any progress, analyze the changes of the decade, identify any new and continuing needs, and make recommendations for the next decade.
We recently had the opportunity to meet with HUD Rocky Mountain Regional Administrator John Carson when he was in Sioux Falls for the Faith Based Conference. It is refreshing to hear that he recognizes the significant differences between urban and rural housing needs and is committed to improving HUD's affordable housing program delivery to local communities, private lenders, owners, and developers. He updated staff and Board Chairman Bill Earley on the Administration's recent accomplishments in clarifying the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act to ensure that persons receiving home mortgages understand what they are getting and how much they are paying.
Although it does not appear as though our quest for reasonable Purchase Price Limits for the First-time Homebuyer Program will be addressed in this Congress, we are analyzing an alternate method which would allow us to adopt higher limits, including the "statewide" existing purchase price limit which applies to all but the sixteen largest communities in the state.
As we look to next year, we wonder if the new Congress will use the Millennial Housing Commission Report as a basis to address the nation's housing challenges. With the uncertainty of possible military action, the economy, and the more local effects of the drought, we continue to believe that affordable housing resources may be scarce, and that we must continue to use them wisely.
As always, I look forward to November 19th and 20th and the opportunity to share with you and corroborate with you on the affordable housing matters of South Dakota. Please join us for the opening session which includes the unveiling of the Preliminary Housing Needs Analysis; and for a full second day on discussions from taking a look at South Dakota's economy; to keeping community banks alive; to fair housing matters; to vouchers for homeownership; to the basics for our housing programs.
I'll see you there! In the meantime, don't forget to VOTE!
Dar Baum, Executive Director
SDHDA
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