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Notice2026-19659

Multifamily Housing Preservation Pilot and Multifamily Housing Guaranteed Loan Notice of Loan-to-Cost Percentage Change for Option 3 (Continuous Guarantee)

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Published
September 25, 2026

Issuing agencies

Agriculture DepartmentRural Housing Service

Abstract

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issues this notice to implement two related actions. The first action is the Multifamily Housing (MFH) Preservation Pilot (the Pilot). This action has 3 parts: MFH Rural Rental Housing Loan (MFH Section 515) and MFH Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (MFH Section 538) programmatic variations involving transfers; MFH Section 515 transfers utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC); and Variations specific to MFH Section 538 for the First 200 Transactions. The transfers for above address three types of preservation related transfers: MFH Section 515 ownership transfers that do not fall within the Simple Transfer Pilot; MFH Section 515 ownership transfers involving Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC); and MFH Section 538 transactions regardless of whether a transfer is involved up to the first 200 guaranteed loans. In addition to both the MFH 515 and MFH 538 programmatic changes and transfer changes, the Agency includes a DSCR change for the MFH 538 program, among other variations to that program, for the first 200 guaranteed loans in the Pilot. The Agency will use the Pilot to determine if it can improve program delivery efficiency for transactions that facilitate preservation of the low-income housing units in rural America while maintaining appropriate risk management of the portfolio. While the Pilot is active, the Agency will evaluate the Pilot's progress and identify opportunities to improve regulations, remove regulatory barriers, and reduce duplicative application requirements. These specific actions are critical for preserving assets in the MFH portfolio, which are aging and face significant delays and regulatory hurdles for transfers that significantly impact the assets long-term viability and overall portfolio risk; not only to the Agency but especially to the Rural population who reside in these assets. Therefore, for all parties involved, the Agency takes immediate action to ensure the Agency, owners and residents do not continue to struggle with the weight of government regulations slowing preservation of affordable, decent, safe and sanitary rural rental housing. The second action is Multifamily Housing Guaranteed Loan Notice of Loan-to-Cost Percentage Change. This action addresses a change to the loan terms for the MFH Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (MFH Section 538) under Option 3 (Continuous Guarantee) only. This action is not a part of the Pilot. Specifically, this action changes the maximum loan-to-cost percentage for loans guaranteed under Option Three (Continuous Guarantee) from 70 percent to 80 percent. The Agency is aligning with other federal agencies and the market to ensure demand for the guaranteed loans used for preservation and production of affordable, decent, safe and sanitary rural rental housing.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 185 (Friday, September 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 185 (Friday, September 25, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60930-60933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19659]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

[RHS-26-MFH-0298]


Multifamily Housing Preservation Pilot and Multifamily Housing 
Guaranteed Loan Notice of Loan-to-Cost Percentage Change for Option 3 
(Continuous Guarantee)

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency) of the United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issues this notice to implement 
two related actions. The first action is the Multifamily Housing (MFH) 
Preservation Pilot (the Pilot). This action has 3 parts: MFH Rural 
Rental Housing Loan (MFH Section 515) and MFH Section 538 Guaranteed 
Rural Rental Housing Program (MFH Section 538) programmatic variations 
involving transfers; MFH Section 515 transfers utilizing Low Income 
Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC); and Variations specific to MFH Section 538 
for the First 200 Transactions. The transfers for above address three 
types of preservation related transfers: MFH Section 515 ownership 
transfers that do not fall within the Simple Transfer Pilot; MFH 
Section 515 ownership transfers involving Low Income Housing Tax 
Credits (LIHTC); and MFH Section 538 transactions regardless of whether 
a transfer is involved up to the first 200 guaranteed loans. In 
addition to both the MFH 515 and MFH 538 programmatic changes and 
transfer changes, the Agency includes a DSCR change for the MFH 538 
program, among other variations to that program, for the first 200 
guaranteed loans in the Pilot. The Agency will use the Pilot to 
determine if it can improve program delivery efficiency for 
transactions that facilitate preservation of the low-income housing 
units in rural America while maintaining appropriate risk management of 
the portfolio. While the Pilot is active, the Agency will evaluate the 
Pilot's progress and identify opportunities to improve regulations, 
remove regulatory barriers, and reduce duplicative application 
requirements. These specific actions are critical for preserving assets 
in the MFH portfolio, which are aging and face significant delays and 
regulatory hurdles for transfers that significantly impact the assets 
long-term viability and overall portfolio risk; not only to the Agency 
but especially to the Rural population who reside in these assets. 
Therefore, for all parties involved, the Agency takes immediate action 
to ensure the Agency, owners and residents do not continue to struggle 
with the weight of government regulations slowing preservation of 
affordable, decent, safe and sanitary rural rental housing. The second 
action is Multifamily Housing Guaranteed Loan Notice of Loan-to-Cost 
Percentage Change. This action addresses a change to the loan terms for 
the MFH Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (MFH 
Section 538) under Option 3 (Continuous Guarantee) only. This action is 
not a part of the Pilot. Specifically, this action changes the maximum 
loan-to-cost percentage for loans guaranteed under Option Three 
(Continuous Guarantee) from 70 percent to 80 percent. The Agency is 
aligning with other federal agencies and the market to ensure demand 
for the guaranteed loans used for preservation and production of 
affordable, decent, safe and sanitary rural rental housing.

DATES: The pilot will begin on October 9, 2026 and continues until 
September 25, 2028.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Bell, Director, Production 
and Preservation Division, MFH, Rural Development, United States 
Department of Agriculture, via email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1558535d65677a767066667c7b722455606671743b727a63"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6429222c14160b070117170d0a035524111700054a030b12">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or phone 
at: 202-205-9217.
    To submit an application for the Pilot, refer to ``Application and 
Submission Information'' section of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Sections 506(b), 515, and 538 of the Housing Act of 1949, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 1476(b), 1485, and 1490p-2).

Background

    The MFH Programs support the expansion and revitalization of rural 
rental housing by providing loans, loan guarantees, and grants to 
property owners. The MFH Programs promote rental housing affordability 
for low-income households, elderly individuals, domestic farm laborers, 
disabled individuals, and their families.
    The Housing Act of 1949, as amended (Act) (42 U.S.C. 1472 et seq.), 
authorizes USDA to provide MFH loan guarantees, direct loans, and 
grants to support the development of economically designed and 
constructed rural rental, cooperative, and farm labor housing. Owners 
must operate these properties as affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary 
housing for eligible very-low-, low-, and moderate-income households.
    The MFH Program utilizes a variety of tools to revitalize and 
preserve the physical and financial health of more than 12,000 
properties currently in USDA's rural rental housing portfolio. 42 
U.S.C. 1476(b) provides for the conduct of demonstration or pilot 
programs which may include procedures and requirements that differ from 
existing published standards, rules, regulations, or policies. Under 
the Pilot, the Agency will apply all program requirements that are not 
expressly waived by this Notice.
    The Agency commits to preserving affordable, decent, safe, and 
sanitary multifamily housing in its existing portfolio for very-low-, 
low-, and moderate-income households. In partnership with nonprofit and 
for-profit owners of Agency-financed or Agency-guaranteed properties, 
the Agency has provided affordable housing in rural communities for 
more than 60 years. The MFH Program provides affordable rental housing 
for rural low-income households comprising approximately 400,000 units; 
95 percent of which are in the MFH Section 515 portfolio. The Agency 
increasingly relies on third-party financed preservation efforts for 
existing properties financed with the MFH Section 515 loans. These 
third-party financed preservation efforts often are paired with 
ownership transfers to sustain the portfolio and maintain 
affordability. The MFH Program must increase and expedite transfer 
activity as properties age, mortgages approach maturity, and long-term 
owners engage in estate planning or heirs resolve

[[Page 60931]]

succession issues. The current transfer approval and closing timeframes 
often exceed the timeframes of third-party lenders and funders. These 
delays potentially jeopardize transactions. While third-party financing 
has become more common, the Agency has and continues to use its MFH 
Section 538 as part of a preservation effort by the private sector.
    Not to be confused with this Pilot, the Agency previously 
implemented a separate Simple Transfer Pilot in 2022 (87 FR 75457, 
December 9, 2022, 91 FR 18275, April 9, 2026) to evaluate the existing 
regulations and remove regulatory barriers to reduce application 
requirements for change in ownership transfers when there is no third-
party financing involved. Building on the success of the Simple 
Transfer Pilot, the Agency expands removal of regulatory barriers and 
ownership transfers to include additional transfers. To reiterate, the 
Pilot applies to three types of transfers: (1) MFH Section 515 
ownership transfers that do not fall within the Simple Transfer Pilot; 
(2) MFH Section 515 ownership transfers involving Low Income Housing 
Tax Credits (LIHTC); and (3) MFH Section 538 transactions regardless of 
whether a transfer is involved up to the first 200 guaranteed loans.
    The Agency anticipates the Pilot will encompass approximately 10 
percent of its overall Section 515 portfolio.
    The Agency engaged stakeholders extensively to solicit feedback on 
current challenges and recommendations for reducing regulatory barriers 
to the transfer process and for supporting the long-term preservation 
of the MFH portfolio. Stakeholders identified challenges that include a 
lack of clarity around Agency requirements, processes, and timelines; 
inconsistencies and delays in Agency third-party report reviews; and 
duplicative or unnecessary Agency application requirements that 
increase costs and waste time. Stakeholders also identified additional 
Agency regulatory encumbrances that pose challenges to expanding and 
preserving the long-term affordability of rural housing.
    These stakeholders' concerns substantially overlap with issues 
identified in mixed-finance transactions involving programs of the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The substantial 
overlap consists primarily of duplicative capital-needs and review 
requirements. Accordingly, the Agency intends to test targeted 
alignment where permissible to reduce burden and improve preservation 
outcomes where these overlaps exist.
    As stated above, to address these issues, the Agency is 
implementing the Pilot. Throughout the Pilot, the Agency will evaluate 
the results and consider whether to incorporate successful elements 
into regulatory changes involving the MFH Section 515 and MFH Section 
538 regulations contained within the 7 CFR part 3560 and 7 CFR part 
3565 respectively.
    Separate from the Pilot, but in tandem with the Pilot, the notice 
announces an increase to the loan-to-cost-percentage from 70 to 80 
percent or less of the total development cost for MFH Section 538 
guarantees that meet the Agency's requirement for Option Three 
(Continuous Guarantee) in 7 CFR part 3565. The Agency expects this 
action to increase preservation and production applications.

Discussion of the Pilot

    The Pilot includes components the Agency anticipates will reduce 
processing times and support long-term preservation of the MFH 
portfolio. The Agency uses this Pilot to test adjustments to MFH 
Section 515 and MFH Section 538 servicing and transfer processes.
    Consistent with recent RHS modernization efforts, the Agency will 
emphasize practical changes that improve service delivery and align 
selected processes with comparable Federal housing programs where 
appropriate.

Pilot MFH Section 515 and MFH Section 538 Programmatic Variations 
Involving Transfers

Third-Party Appraisal Report Requirement Flexibility for MFH Section 
515

    The Agency has determined the requirements for obtaining third-
party reports and Agency review of these reports may add significant 
time and expense to transfer transactions. As a result, the Agency 
implements the following changes to transfers:
    The Agency may expedite appraisal reviews by temporarily foregoing 
the requirement in 7 CFR 3560.753(b) for a technical review by an 
Agency appraiser. Agency appraisers may conduct reviews only when the 
Agency determines that a review is necessary to protect the 
Government's interest. The Agency may conduct reviews at any time, 
randomly, or when an appraisal identifies select items such as 
Conventional Rents for Comparable Units (CRCU) rents that propose a 
significant rent increase or a significant building cost relative to 
market. The Agency will review these appraisals consistent with the 
Agency's mission to provide affordable, decent, safe and sanitary rural 
rental housing. The Agency will seek to ensure prompt reviews when 
these reviews occur.
    The Agency will expand the situations in which applicants do not 
need to obtain an appraisal under 7 CFR 3560.406(d)(3)(i) and 7 CFR 
3560.406(d)(3)(ii). For the duration of the Pilot, if the Agency holds 
the first lien position and the total value of the loans that the new 
borrower assumes as a part of an ownership transfer or sale equals 50 
percent or less of the property's current value, as reflected in 
current property tax records, or such other documentation approved by 
the Agency. The Agency will determine the security value of the housing 
project through either: (1) an Agency review of monitoring reports 
under Subpart H of 7 CFR part 3560 or (2) an appraisal paid for by the 
borrower and conducted in accordance with Subpart P of 7 CFR part 3560.

Streamlined Processing Authority for MFH Section 515 and MFH Section 
538 Low Risk Transfers

    The Agency may rely on qualified lenders, nonprofit preservation 
partners, or other Agency approved participants to process low-risk 
transfer applications using Agency-approved templates, certifications, 
and checklists. The Agency will make the final determination on all 
transfer applications. The Agency determines low-risk through 
considering factors such as physical condition, financial performance, 
compliance history, and transaction complexity. The Agency may suspend 
or revoke this authority when performance, compliance, or risk concerns 
arise.

Credit Report Submission Requirements for MFH Section 515 and MFH 
Section 538

    The Agency clarifies that, in accordance with 7 CFR 3560.852, MFH 
Section 515 applicants must submit a current (within 6 months) 
comprehensive credit report for: (1) the entity, (2) the general 
partner and/or managing member, and (3) all controlling sub-entities 
and/or natural persons. The Agency will accept current comprehensive 
credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, or Dun & 
Bradstreet.
    The Agency confirms no change, in accordance with 7 CFR 3565, MFH 
Section 538 applicants will continue to use credit reports for the 
borrower and for any individual who holds more than a 25 percent 
financial interest in the property, and the borrower must

[[Page 60932]]

provide those reports to the Agency. If the organization is newly 
formed and has not established organizational activity records, the 
lender must obtain credit reports for principal members, stockholders, 
and/or partners who each hold at least a 25 percent ownership interest. 
The Agency may request additional individual credit reports as needed. 
If the borrower organization has a substantial interest in another 
organization, such as a tax credit investor, the lender must obtain a 
credit report for that organization in the same manner. The borrower 
must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to meet the transaction 
requirements.

Construction and Design Flexibilities for MFH Section 515

    The Agency simplifies its construction-related requirements with 
the intention of providing greater flexibility and support for the 
long-term preservation of the MFH Program portfolio.
    The Agency adopts the following definition for Construction 
Monitoring only for MFH Section 515: the Agency's oversight of 
construction and/or rehabilitation to verify compliance with approved 
plans and program requirements and to protect the Agency's security 
interest in the property. Monitoring may include report reviews, 
certifications, and other documentation.
    Additionally, instead of relying on the standards in 7 CFR part 
1924, the applicant will design and construct Pilot projects to meet 
applicable Federal accessibility requirements, State and local codes, 
Agency required affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary standards, and 
any additional requirements deemed necessary.

HUD Environmental and Capital Planning Documentation Reliance for Both 
MFH Section 515 and Section 538

    The Agency may accept recent HUD environmental review 
documentation, capital needs assessments, or related third-party 
reports to satisfy overlapping MFH Program requirements for Pilot 
properties that also receive HUD financing, subsidy, insurance, or 
recapitalization support. The ``21st Century ROAD to Housing Act'' 
under Section 103 of H.R. 6644 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and 
other sections include environmental provisions and certain exemptions 
for MFH Program properties. The Agency may accept HUD environmental 
review documentation in accordance with 7 CFR part 1b and may require 
supplemental documentation as determined by the Agency.

Expanded Eligible Use for MFH Section 515 Transfers

    The Agency may allow borrowers to use MFH Section 515 subsequent 
loans to purchase a property as part of the transfer. The Agency will 
treat this property acquisition by a transferee as an eligible use 
under 7 CFR 3560.73(a) when the transfer supports the Agency's mission 
of affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary standards.

Distressed Property Preservation Track for MFH Section 515 Transfers

    The Agency may designate a property as distressed or at risk of 
loss from the affordable housing stock based on physical condition, 
financial performance, compliance concerns, or recapitalization 
barriers. For these properties, the Agency will prioritize such 
transfers and apply accelerated review, expanded use of preservation 
tools, or modified documentation requirements to facilitate transfers 
that preserve the Agency's mission of affordable, decent, safe, and 
sanitary standards.

Pilot MFH Section 515 Transfers Utilizing Low Income Housing Tax 
Credits (LIHTC)

Developer Fee for MFH Section 515 Transfers

    The Agency will allow, for Pilot transactions, a developer fee 
consistent with the maximum amount that the State Housing Finance 
Agency's Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) permits for the LIHTC award 
or, where applicable, any lower maximum that other Federal or State 
funding sources require. The pilot developer fee will replace the 
developer fee set forth in 7 CFR 3560.63.

Return on Investment (ROI) for MFH Section 515 Transfers

    The Agency will not apply the additional ROI standards in 7 CFR 
3560.68(a) and (b). Instead, the owner's additional ROI will follow 7 
CFR 3560.68(c), provided the resulting rents do not exceed Conventional 
Rents for Comparable Units (CRCU). The Agency will carefully evaluate 
CRCU and urges all parties to carefully underwrite to ensure the Agency 
achieves its primary mission of affordable housing that does not exceed 
local market rental rates.

Replacement Reserve Requirements for MFH Section 515 Transfers

    The Agency revises the Capital Needs Assessment (CNA) requirements 
by allowing additional report types that evaluate a property's physical 
condition and eliminate the need for multiple assessments. In addition 
to the requirements set forth at 7 CFR 3560.406(d)(5), the Agency may 
accept a Physical Needs Assessment (PNA) or a CNA that a tax credit 
allocating agency has approved instead of an Agency prescribed CNA.
    The Agency may also accept the LIHTC allocating agency's 
underwriting amounts for annual reserve deposit requirements.
    For properties with HUD-assisted or HUD-insured financing, the 
Agency may accept a HUD-compliant or HUD-accepted CNA in satisfaction 
of MFH capital needs requirements when the report's scope, effective 
date, and methodology adequately address the property's preservation 
needs and risk profile. The Agency will consider HUD reserve analyses 
or lender certifications for reserve adequacy in establishing annual 
reserve deposits, while retaining authority to require additional 
reserves when MFH-specific conditions warrant.
    For all of the above Replacement Reserve Requirements for MFH 
Section 515 Transfers the Agency maintains the right in its sole 
discretion to ultimately accept or reject a CNA or PNA based upon its 
mission of affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary standards.

Standard Transfer Requirements

    Except as modified by this Pilot, the Agency maintains the standard 
transfer requirements in effect in 7 CFR 3560.406. The Agency may also 
determine that other servicing actions, such as reamortization, 
deferral or other preservation-oriented restructuring tools under 7 CFR 
part 3560, are more appropriate based on circumstances applying to a 
specific property.

Pilot Variations Specific to MFH Section 538 for the First 200 
Transactions

Debt Service Coverage Ratio for MFH Section 538

    The Agency reduces the MFH Section 538 debt service coverage ratio 
(DSCR) requirement set forth in 7 CFR 3565.303(d)(2) and (f)(2) to 1.11 
for the first 200 loans closed under MFH Section 538. The Agency may 
approve a lower DSCR for MFH Section 538, if appropriate, based on the 
lender's analysis of current market conditions and comparable 
properties in the project's market area. The Agency will publish any 
revisions to the DSCR through a notice in the Federal Register.

[[Page 60933]]

Financial Statements Requirements for MFH Section 538

    The lender must obtain financial statements from borrowers and, if 
requested by the Agency, the lender must provide certified financial 
statements from borrowers.

Developer Fee for MFH Section 538

    The Agency limits a developer's fee to 15 percent of total 
development costs when sources other than LIHTC or a Federal or State 
government program fund the fee, or if a project includes a MFH Section 
538 but no other Federal or State government program provides 
financing.

Rent and Income Standards Alignment for MFH Section 538

    For MFH Section 538 applications that also involve LIHTC and HUD 
financing or subsidy, the Agency may defer to the applicable Federal or 
State program requirements where doing so reduces duplicative 
administration and remains consistent with the Agency's statutory 
authority. Such alignment includes, but is not limited to, capital 
planning documentation or related program preservation requirements.

Risk-Tiered Underwriting and Documentation for MFH Section 538

    For MFH Section 538 transactions that the Agency processes under 
the Pilot, the Agency may apply risk-tiered underwriting and 
documentation standards. The documentation requirements will vary 
depending on the risk-tier of the transactions. The Agency will 
determine tiers by considering the presence of rental assistance, LIHTC 
equity, operating history, and market strength. The Agency will notify 
the public of the tiers and documentation requirements. In doing so, 
the Agency aligns its review standards with approaches that comparable 
Federal affordable housing programs use, while preserving RHS 
underwriting authority and lender accountability.

Application and Submission Information

    This Pilot applies to: (1) MFH Section 515 ownership transfers that 
do not fall within the Simple Transfer Pilot; (2) MFH Section 515 
ownership transfers involving Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC); 
and (3) MFH Section 538 transactions regardless of whether a transfer 
is involved up to the first 200 guaranteed loans. Applicants seeking 
transfers must follow the submission process that the Agency outlines 
on its website (<a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/multifamily-housing-programs/multifamily-housing-direct-loans#to-apply">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/multifamily-housing-programs/multifamily-housing-direct-loans#to-apply</a>). Click on 
the link, ``Transfer of Ownership Application Submission Process.'' 
Applicants seeking MFH Section 538 must follow the submission process 
that the Agency outlines on its website: <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/multifamily-housing-programs/multifamily-housing-loan-guarantees#to-apply">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/multifamily-housing-programs/multifamily-housing-loan-guarantees#to-apply</a>.

Pilot Evaluation and Metrics

    The Agency will track the Pilot outcomes, including processing 
times, report costs, preservation of affordable units, physical and 
financial performance indicators. The Agency will use this data to 
evaluate whether the Pilot improves service delivery, reduces 
unnecessary delay, and supports long-term preservation without 
increasing program risk. At the conclusion of the Pilot in 
{month{time}  2028, the Agency will make appropriate regulatory changes 
to incorporate the successful aspects of the Pilot. Under Section506(b) 
of the Housing Act of 1949, Pilot expenditures must stay within the 
statutory annual cap; if costs exceed that limit, RHS will end the 
pilot.

Public Notice of Programmatic Loan-to-Cost Percentage Increase for MFH 
Section 538

    A previous Federal Register Notice (84 FR 2487, February 7, 2019) 
set the loan-to-cost percentage requirement for the Continuous 
Guarantee to 70 percent or less of the total development cost. As set 
forth in 7 CFR 3565.52(c), the Agency will define the loan-to-cost 
percentage. With this Notice, the loan-to-cost percentage is now being 
increased to 80 percent or less of the total development cost for loan 
guarantees that meet the Agency's requirement for Option Three 
(Continuous Guarantee).

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The regulatory exceptions for this Pilot contain no new reporting 
or recordkeeping burdens under OMB control number 0575-0179 that would 
require approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35).

Non-Discrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights 
regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and 
employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA 
programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, 
national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, 
family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or 
local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the 
Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, 
program information may be made available in languages other than 
English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to 
File a Program Discrimination Complaint (<a href="https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint">https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint</a>) and at any USDA office 
or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of 
the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the 
complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or 
letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Mail Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or 
(3) email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f080829f9782919dde999e84919b95b085839491de979f86"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bfcfcdd0d8cdded291d6d1cbded4daffcaccdbde91d8d0c9">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

George Kelly,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-19659 Filed 9-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P


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