Disaster housing details, grants and more

- There's a grant available today from HUD to supply extra Sec. 8-type vouchers for the "mainstream" housing of tenants with disabilities. Applications are due Jan. 3 for $10.2 million available over five years.

- HUD's Public and Indian Housing (PIH) site has a new application processing guide posted for local officials connecting hurricane victims to the KDHAP disaster housing program. and HUD has published the Federal Register version of the Hurricane Rita housing program waivers that were at PIH a few days ago.

- HUD has introduced a "Universities America Rebuilding Partnership" for academic participation in the hurricane rebuilding efforts. Press release here. There are separate Federal Register announcements for the Community Design Program and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program. Secy' Jackson introduced the program at LSU.

- The folks at GAO are concerned about some agencies frequently issuing final (or "interim final," etc.) rules without first publishing proposed rules for public comment. HUD was included in the rules studied for the report though not singled out.

- HUDUSER offers advice on saving energy in mobile homes.