CARH’S BROADCAST E-MAIL – Midyear Meeting

January 19, 2026

CARH’s Midyear Meeting is ONE week away! We are excited to see everyone and look forward to a successful conference!

As a reminder, the deadline for the  hotel room block at the Cheeca Lodge & Spa has passed. If you already have a room reservation and you must cancel, please contact Anne Stuart, CARH’s Meeting & Special Events Consultant, at astuart@verizon.net, before canceling your reservation.

Alternatively, if you need a hotel room for the CARH Midyear Meeting, please contact Anne as soon as possible.

For everyone attending the meeting, an email will be sent on Friday, January 23, with the information to download the meeting event app. We look forward to seeing you soon!

If you have any questions, please contact the CARH national office at 703-837-9001 or carh@carh.org.

The post Hotel Cancellations – Midyear Meeting first appeared on CARH.

December 18, 2025

On December 17, Rural Development issued a Stakeholder Announcement entitled, Rural Housing Service – Multifamily Housing New Reserve Request Submission Process.

The email distributed by RD when sending the Stakeholder Announcement states in full:

WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 17, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s Office of Multifamily Housing (MFH) is notifying borrowers, management agents, and lenders of upcoming modernization changes to the reserve request withdrawal process.

As part of the Administration’s priorities to streamline and modernize government services, the MFH Field Operations Division (FOD) has taken steps to automate and centralize reserve request withdrawals. The new central intake process will provide stakeholders with a consistent and timely review process of reserve requests, enhancing customer service, reducing administrative and cost burdens to customers, and lowering the impact to the American taxpayer.

Customers will transition to a new process which includes a few simple steps to submitting reserve requests in the future.

To learn more, read full Stakeholder Announcement.

For other news and information affecting the affordable rural housing industry, please visit the Newsroom on CARH’s website, www.carh.org.

The post Rural Housing Service – Multifamily Housing New Reserve Request Submission Process first appeared on CARH.

CARH Scholarship Foundation Accepting Applications for 2026 Scholarships!

Dear CARH Members:

The Scholarship Foundation is excited to announce that the application period is now open for the CARH Scholarship Foundation’s eight available scholarships and the deadline for completed applications is February 28, 2026.

We are especially thrilled to announce that starting this year, all applicants will be able to apply for the CARH scholarships online! Yardi Systems, an Advisory Trustee CARH member, volunteered their time and expertise and created an excellent scholarship application database that will allow applicants to more easily apply, and for the Foundation to more easily prepare the applications for the Selection Committee. Applicants can access the new site clicking here or visiting the Scholarship section of CARH’s website.

The Foundation is offering the eight scholarships to deserving students from CARH-member affordable rural housing properties. Each scholarship is $2,000 per semester for educational expenses, with a maximum of four years (eight semesters) of funding. This is the 21^st year that the Scholarship Foundation has awarded scholarships. Past recipients can be found here.

There are four different applications available:

• Application for Traditional Students – This application is for those students/individuals, that are currently a candidate for high school graduation or, within the past five years, received a high school diploma (or equivalent); and
• Application for Non-Traditional Students – This application is for students/individuals, with a high school diploma or equivalent, who have been out of school for five or more years.
• Application for Technical/Trade/Vocational Students – This application is for any students or individuals who are or will be attending an accredited technical, trade, or vocational school or program.
• Application for Graduate Students – This application is for any student that has a bachelor’s degree and who is or will be attending a graduate program at an accredited college or university. 

Qualified applicants for the Traditional, Non-Traditional, and Technical/Trade/Vocational applicants must be a resident of a CARH-member property; a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; hold or be a candidate for a high school diploma or equivalent; demonstrate scholastic or work achievement; demonstrate financial need; and be accepted at or currently enrolled, as a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university; or accepted at or attending an accredited technical, trade, or vocational school or program.

Qualified Graduate Student applicants must be a resident of a CARH-member property OR former recipient of a CARH Scholarship Foundation Scholarship; a US citizen or permanent legal resident; hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; and be accepted at or enrolled in a post-graduate program at an accredited university.

The Foundation is encouraging submission of applications from eligible Graduate Students and Students attending Technical/Trade/Vocational schools. If there are qualified submissions, at least one of the scholarships will be awarded to each of these categories.

Please remind your onsite property management personnel to encourage residents to apply for these scholarships! Site managers play integral roles in the lives of residents who live in rural housing complexes. Due to the efforts of these managers, residents have been encouraged to submit scholarship applications in the past. As a recognition of this work, the Foundation will present $250 to the onsite manager of each property where there is a successful scholarship recipient!

Click here for a flyer that can be posted in property common areas or distributed to residents. Applications should be submitted no later than February 28, 2026. For more information, click here for the Scholarship application section of CARH’s website.

Scholarship recipients will be invited to join CARH at the 2026 Annual Meeting & Legislative Conference, June 22-24, in Arlington, Virginia. The CARH Scholarship Foundation will cover the travel expenses for each scholarship recipient and one guest (parent or guardian if under 18).

Thank you for your time and assistance in promoting the CARH Scholarship Foundation’s 2026 Scholarship application process!

Sincerely,

Rodney Corley
CARH Scholarship Foundation President

The post CARH Scholarship Foundation Accepting Applications for 2026 Scholarships! first appeared on CARH.

December 16, 2025

CARH’s 2026 Midyear Meeting, “Identify Opportunities: Collaborate and Expand Affordable Rural Housing,” is quickly approaching! The meeting will be held January 26-28 at Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada, Florida.

Meeting Brochure

The 2026 Meeting Brochure which includes the full agenda, partial list of featured speakers, and registration form can be downloaded by clicking here. If you have not yet registered, please click here for the Registration Form. Discounted registration is available through January 5. The educational sessions to be featured during the meeting include:

• Washington Report
• Strategies for Navigating Insurance Costs
• Emerging Trends from Rural Development
• Housing Strategies – State of the Markets
• Advancing AI in Affordable Housing
• Unraveling the Latest Regulatory and Compliance Issues
• Here Comes the Sun: Capitalize on Federal Solar Tax Credits Before They Expire
• The Oracle of 25%: Prophecies, Pitfalls and the New Age of 4% Bonds
• Exit Strategies and Aging Properties
• Emerging Trends from HUD

Additionally, CARH’s standing committees will meet on Monday, January 26, beginning at 8:00 a.m. All meeting attendees are encouraged to participate in any committee meeting that is relevant to their business. The committee chairs want to hear from you! If you are interested in placing a particular issue on the agenda for the following committee meetings, e-mail your suggestion to carh@carh.org.

• State Affiliated Association Committee
• Best Practices and Education Committee
• Lenders Committee
• Management Committee
• Developers and Owners Committee

Following the committee meetings, CARH’s Board of Directors will hold their meeting, at which all attendees are also welcome to attend.

Finally, during the meeting, the following special events will be held:

• Opening Luncheon with Exhibitors
• Opening Reception – Oceanside Pool at Cheeca Lodge & Spa
• Awards Luncheon at Cheeca Lodge & Spa
• Network Reception – Spa Island at Cheeca Lodge & Spa
• Industry Trade Show with Exhibitors

Click here to download the Meeting Brochure. Note, if you have dietary restrictions, please complete the appropriate section on the Registration Form, or email CARH at carh@carh.org.

Hotel Information

CARH is pleased to provide meeting attendees with preferred rates at Cheeca Lodge & Spa until January 5, 2026. Registrants will receive a special group rate of $449 per night for “run of house” rooms. Other room options are also discounted. Available rates for all room options are available when making your reservation. For reservations, please call the hotel at 844-489-9664 and provide the Group Code “9408.” Reservations can also be made online by clicking here. If you haven’t already done so, please make your room reservations as soon as possible as the room block is quickly filling up! If you contact the hotel and have an issue making a reservation, OR if you must cancel your hotel reservation, please contact Anne Stuart at astuart@verizon.net.

Sponsorship Information

Our conferences cannot happen without the generous sponsorships from our members and colleagues. We encourage you to become a meeting sponsor and help support this key event, please click here or visit www.carh.org.

Please feel free to share this e-mail with other colleagues who may be interested in attending CARH’s 2026 Midyear Meeting. We hope to see you next month!

CARH would like to thank the following current sponsors of the upcoming Midyear Meeting:

The post 2026 Midyear Meeting Brochure and Information first appeared on CARH.

December 15, 2025

Today, Rural Development issued a Stakeholder Announcement entitled, Rural Housing Service – Management Interactive Network Connection (MINC) Technical Issues – UPDATE.

The announcement states in full:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s Office of Multifamily Housing (MFH) has corrected the technical issue within the MINC system which caused a disruption with the acceptance of tenant certifications and recertifications. The resolution allowed a significant number of pending certifications to process. However, manual processing will be required on a very small quantity of transactions. The manual processing requirements are a top priority and should be completed in the very near future.

Multifamily Housing continues to advise borrowers and management agents to submit information through MINC as normal.

Questions may be directed to the Servicing Office MFH Branch at RD.SO.MFH@USDA.GOV.

This update was issued based on the Stakeholder Announcement CARH sent a Broadcast Email about on December 12, 2025.

For other news and information affecting the affordable rural housing industry, please visit the Newsroom on CARH’s website, www.carh.org.

The post UPDATE – Rural Housing Service – Management Interactive Network Connection (MINC) Technical Issues first appeared on CARH.

December 12, 2025

On the evening of December 11, Rural Development issued a Stakeholder Announcement entitled, Rural Housing Service -Management Interactive Network Connection (MINC) Technical Issues.

The announcement states in full:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s Office of Multifamily Housing (MFH) has detected a technical issue within the MINC system which is causing disruption with the acceptance of tenant certifications and recertifications. Multifamily Housing is diligently working towards a resolution.

We recognize the importance of getting the issues resolved. Progress updates will continue to be provided through GovDelivery. Multifamily Housing is advising borrowers and management agents to continue to submit information through MINC as normal.

Questions may be directed to the Servicing Office MFH Branch at RD.SO.MFH@USDA.GOV.

For other news and information affecting the affordable rural housing industry, please visit the Newsroom on CARH’s website, www.carh.org.

The post Rural Housing Service – Management Interactive Network Connection (MINC) Technical Issues first appeared on CARH.

MULTIFAMILY HOUSING STAKEHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENT

Rural Housing Service – Multifamily Housing New Reserve Request Submission Process

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s Office of Multifamily Housing (MFH) is notifying borrowers, management agents, and lenders of upcoming modernization changes to the reserve request withdrawal process.

As part of the Administration’s priorities to streamline and modernize government services, the MFH Field Operations Division (FOD) has taken steps to automate and centralize reserve request withdrawals. The new central intake process will provide stakeholders with a consistent and timely review process of reserve requests, enhancing customer service, reducing administrative and cost burdens to customers, and lowering the impact to the American taxpayer.

Customers will transition to a new process which includes a few simple steps to submitting reserve requests in the future.

Beginning on the implementation dates listed below, borrowers must submit reserve requests via email to: RD.MFH.Submissions@usda.gov with the following information and materials. Submissions not containing the correct information or formatting will be returned and not processed.

The submitted email must contain:

Subject Line Format
Borrower ID (9-digit number) – Project Number (3-digit number) – Reserve Request – Property Name
Example: 123456789-123-Reserve Request-ABC Manor

Required Attachments

• Form RD 3560-12 (OMB No.: 0575-0189) submitted as a stand-alone attachment. The filename must include “3560-12”.
• Invoice(s) that match the reserve request, submitted as additional attachments.

Reference Materials
Reserve requirements are outlined in the HB-2-3560 MFH Asset Management Handbook, Chapter 4. 

Implementation Timeline

• Northeast Region: CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV – Effective January 15, 2026
• Midwest Region: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI – Effective January 15, 2026
• West Region: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY – Effective February 5, 2026
• South Region: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, PR, SC, TN, TX, VI – Effective February 5, 2026

Contact Information

Questions may be directed to your applicable regional Field Operations contact:

• Northeast:MFHFODNortheast@usda.gov
• Midwest:MFHFODMidwest@usda.gov
• West:MFHFODWest@usda.gov
• South:MFHFODSouth@usda.gov

Register to attend one of our two upcoming Stakeholder meetings to learn more at either 11:00AM EST January 15 at this link or 11:00AM EST February 5 at this link.

The post Rural Development – Multifamily Housing New Reserve Request Submission Process first appeared on CARH.

Today, the Office of Multifamily Housing Programs is announcing that the Secretary has published a letter on screening criminal responsibilities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has rescinded:

1. Notice 2015-19, “Guidance for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and Owners of Federally-Assisted Housing on Excluding the Use of Arrest Records in Housing Decisions”;
2. 2016 memo from HUD’s Office of General Counsel on “Guidance on Application of Fair Housing Act Standards to the Use of Criminal Records by Providers of Housing and Real Estate-Related Transactions”; and
3. 2022 memo from HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity on “Implementation of the Office of General Counsel’s Guidance on Application of Fair Housing Act Standards to the Use of Criminal Records by Providers of Housing and Real Estate-Related Transactions” on background screening.

Please view the Screening Criminal Responsibilities Letter for additional information.

The post Secretary Publishes Letter on Screening Criminal Responsibilities first appeared on CARH.

November 26, 2025

The 2026 CARH Midyear Meeting will be held on January 26-28, at the Cheeca Lodge & Spa in historic Islamorada, Florida. Top industry experts will be among the speakers and panelists at the meeting, which is regarded as one of the premier affordable, rural housing meetings for quality content. Over two and a half days, you will be engaged in and learn more about key topics, industry trends, business practices, new and/or changing policies and regulations, and possible legislation affecting the affordable housing industry.

REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 30 TO RECEIVE THE “EARLY BIRD” DISCOUNT

The educational sessions will cover numerous key topics including:

• Equity Markets
• Tax Liability GPs
• Agency Updates
• Housing and Tax Credits
• AI and Housing
• And more!

A highlight of the meeting will be the presentation of the prestigious Member of the Year, and the State Affiliated Association of the Year Awards and announcement of the Harry L. Tomlinson Award. Be there to honor and celebrate your colleagues who have excelled in the affordable housing industry.

The CARH Standing Committees will meet on Monday, January 26, giving you the opportunity to promote issues you’d like CARH to advance through legislative or regulatory work, or benefits and services you would like CARH to offer the membership. There will also be ample opportunities to meet with our loyal vendors and service providers who are significant resources for the industry.

Our meeting headquarters hotel will be the breathtaking Cheeca Lodge & Spa, a boutique resort on Islamorada in the Florida Keys. Cheeca Lodge offers exceptional accommodations, endless activities, luxurious amenities, and an incomparable staff. The resort provides a welcome retreat with spacious rooms, suites, and private casitas. The tropical paradise setting includes an 1,100-foot-long private beach, three restaurants, full-service spa, a 525’ pier – the longest in the Keys – and a variety of watersports and fishing activities. It will also be the location of our two evening receptions where you will be able to relax with old friends and new colleagues!

• Register Now – You have until November 30, 2025, to take advantage of “early bird” meeting registration at a preferred rate! On December 1, registration prices will rise. To register click here or visit the Meetings Section at carh.org.
• Reserve Your Room Now – CARH is also pleased to provide meeting attendees with preferred rates at Cheeca Lodge & Spa until January 5, 2026. Registrants will receive a special group rate of $449 per night for “run of house” rooms. Other room options are also discounted. Available rates for all room options are available when making your reservation. For reservations, please call the hotel at 844-489-9664 and provide the Group Code “9408.” Reservations can also be made online by clicking here. Strong attendance is expected; therefore, we encourage all attendees to make your reservations as soon as possible and before the rooms within our meeting block sell out.
  
• Become a Meeting Sponsor Now– We encourage you to become a meeting sponsor and help support this key industry event! Please click here for the CARH Sponsorship Form or visit carh.org. The sooner you send in your Sponsorship Form, the earlier your logo will be part of CARH’s pre-meeting materials!

The detailed meeting brochure will be available soon. For travel and planning purposes, the meeting will begin at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Monday, January 26 and end at approximately 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28. Register now to take advantage of the reduced meeting rate!

Please contact the CARH national office at carh@carh.org or 703-837-9001 if you have questions. We look forward to seeing you at the Cheeca in January!

For additional news and information affecting the affordable rural housing industry, please visit the Newsroom on www.carh.org.

CARH would like to thank the following current sponsors of the upcoming Midyear Meeting:

The post “Early Bird” Registration Discounts End November 30 for CARH’s 2026 Midyear Meeting first appeared on CARH.

November 14, 2025

On November 12, 2025, after 43 days of the federal government being shut down, President Trump signed into law legislation that temporarily reopens the government until January 30, 2026. The 43-day shutdown made history for the longest period that the federal government was not open due to a lapse of funding for federal agencies and their respective programs. During the shutdown, essential agency personnel were permitted to continue working under federal law, but without pay. The short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) provides that backpay will be given to employees.

A CR was needed prior to the start of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 on October 1, but because Congress could not pass any appropriations bills, a stopgap measure was required to avoid a shutdown. In September, the House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate a temporary CR that would have kept the government open through November 21. However, because 60 votes were required for passage, the Republican-led Senate needed backing from seven Democrats. In the end, eight Democrats supported the measure, and the CR passed. Most Senate Democrats objected to passage of the bill because they wanted the CR to include the extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are due to expire at the end of 2025. The enhanced subsidies were enacted temporarily as part of COVID-related legislation that passed the Congress four years ago. The bill signed by President Trump on November 12 does not contain extension of these subsidies. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-ND) has promised that a vote will be taken on the issue before the end of the year.

Final passage in the Senate for the temporary CR was 60-40 and in the House 222-209. While a majority of agencies will receive temporary funding until January 30, it was agreed that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) would receive full-year funding for all its programs, including those administered through the USDA’s Rural Development (RD). USDA, together with Military Construction programs and funding for the Legislative branch, will all be funded for the entire remaining months of FY 2026.

Funding for RD’s housing related programs include the following levels of funding:

• $1.715 billion – Section 521 Rental Assistance (RA). Language has been included that allows for RA contracts to be for 20 years, subject to annual appropriations.
• The Stand-Alone Rental Assistance (SARA) pilot program, which permits properties to continue receiving RA when a Section 515 mortgage matures, would continue. The program would be expanded from 1,000 units in FY 2025 to 5,000 units in FY 2026, allowing an owner to preserve properties, without the regulatory and servicing issues surrounding a Section 515 mortgage.
• $50 million – Section 515, of which $15 million can be used for new construction.
• $400 million – Section 538 Guaranteed Multi-Family Housing Loan program.
• $48 million – Section 542 Rural Housing Voucher program.
• $30 million – Multifamily Revitalization and Preservation (MPR) program.
• $75 million – IT expenses. This last item is of paramount importance for the multifamily portfolio and so that the SARA pilot program can be successful.

During the 43-day shutdown, employees at agencies were barred from responding to emails or performing work, including RD and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) transaction functions, resulting in a pause in deal closings. CARH is aware that there are many members who are facing end of the year deadlines. We have been told that agency staff are currently reviewing the pipeline of transactions to determine ability to close by year end. RD and HUD staff have already resumed responding to emails and we expect that both agencies should have more information for stakeholders in the coming weeks. CARH urges all members to follow up with your multifamily contacts as soon as possible.

Efforts are currently underway to garner agreements on other agencies’ appropriations bills. The HUD’s funding plays a crucial role in supporting and preserving rural housing properties throughout the country. CARH will be working with other housing groups to urge Congress to pass a full year funding bill so that programs will not be impacted by the January 30^th deadline set forth by the CR signed into law this week.

There will undoubtedly be detailed discussions about the shutdown’s impact on rural housing programs at CARH’s Midyear Meeting, scheduled for January 26–28, 2026, at the Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada, Florida.

The post Government Shutdown Ends After 43 days—USDA Receives Full Year Funding first appeared on CARH.