
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC1490l]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
       CHAPTER 8A--SLUM CLEARANCE, URBAN RENEWAL, AND FARM HOUSING
 
                      SUBCHAPTER III--FARM HOUSING
 
Sec. 1490l. Processing of applications


(a) Priority

    Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, the 
Secretary shall, in making assistance available under this subchapter, 
give a priority to applications submitted by--
        (1) persons and families that have the greatest housing 
    assistance needs because of their low income and their residing in 
    inadequate dwellings;
        (2) applicants applying for assistance for projects that will 
    serve such persons and families; and
        (3) applicants residing in areas which are the most rural in 
    character.

(b) Preliminary reservation of assistance at time of initial approval of 
        project

    In making available the assistance authorized by section 1483 of 
this title and section 1490a(a) of this title with respect to projects 
involving insured and guaranteed loans and interest credits and rental 
assistance payments, the Secretary shall process and approve requests 
for such assistance in a manner that provides for a preliminary 
reservation of assistance at the time of initial approval of the 
project.

(c) Prioritization of section 1485 housing assistance

                           (1) In general

        The Secretary shall make assistance under section 1485 of this 
    title available pursuant to an objective procedure established by 
    the Secretary, under which the Secretary shall identify counties and 
    communities having the greatest need for such assistance and 
    designate such counties and communities to receive such assistance.

                       (2) Objective measures

        The Secretary shall use the following objective measures to 
    determine the need for rental housing assistance under paragraph 
    (1):
            (A) The incidence of poverty.
            (B) The lack of affordable housing and the existence of 
        substandard housing.
            (C) The lack of mortgage credit.
            (D) The rural characteristics of the location.
            (E) Other factors as determined by the Secretary, 
        demonstrating the need for affordable housing.

                           (3) Information

        In administering this subsection, the Secretary shall use 
    information from the most recent decennial census of the United 
    States, relevant comprehensive affordable housing strategies under 
    section 12705 of this title, and other reliable sources obtained by 
    the Secretary which demonstrate the need for affordable housing in 
    rural areas.

                           (4) Designation

        A designation under this subsection shall not be effective for a 
    period of more than 3 years, but may be renewed by the Secretary in 
    accordance with the procedure set forth in this subsection. The 
    Secretary shall take such other reasonable actions as the Secretary 
    considers to be appropriate to notify the public of such 
    designations.

(July 15, 1949, ch. 338, title V, Sec. 532, as added Pub. L. 98-181, 
title V, Sec. 521, Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1250; amended Pub. L. 104-
180, title VII, Sec. 734(f), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1604.)


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104-180, Sec. 734(f)(1), substituted 
``Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, the 
Secretary'' for ``The Secretary'' in introductory provisions.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104-180, Sec. 734(f)(2), added subsec. (c).
