What we're reading now: the latest housing reports and analysis
National Low Income Housing Coalition: Details of bipartisan HUD and USDA spending deal for FY19
Congress has enacted the omnibus spending package for HUD and other federal agencies. The 1,090-page bill had been approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on February 14, and the President signed the bill on February 15.
The bill provides more than $12 billion above the President’s request for HUD programs. Building on the 10 percent increase in HUD funding for 2018, $1.5 billion in new resources is now available for 2019—including modest increases for the public housing Capital Fund and Operating Fund, Section 8 HAP renewals and ongoing administrative fees, the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, and Healthy Homes, to name a few. The Choice Neighborhoods program has not been eliminated and has been funded at the same levels as last year. In addition, an amendment that would have barred people charged with certain crimes from receiving housing assistance has not been included over concerns regarding its implementation.
The National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) has posted an article detailing provisions of the bill and an updated chart comparing fiscal year (FY) 2018 funding levels to proposed and final levels for FY 2019.
In other news:
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: HUD funding bill will launch Housing Voucher mobility demonstration
- Congress recently passed the mobility demonstration to help PHAs plan and implement a housing mobility program to help low-income families gain access to low-poverty neighborhoods with higher-performing schools.
National Low Income Housing Coalition: THUD subcommittee holds hearing to review HUD’s performance during government shutdown
- An oversight hearing was held on Feb. 12 by the House THUD Appropriations Subcommittee to review HUD's management of project-based rental assistance contracts that expired during the partial government shutdown. The subcommittee hopes to use lessons learned from the shutdown to improve communication with Congress and housing stakeholders.
The Sault News: State to offer a new option for low-income housing
- Michigan is offering a new modular housing option to help low- and low-mid level income families buy homes. So far 55 cities and nonprofit organizations have expressed interest in the program.
Los Angeles Times: HUD Secretary Ben Carson announces job funds for Nickerson Gardens tenants
- U.S. Secretary of HUD, Ben Carson, announced on Feb. 20 a $3.7-million grant for a new job center at Nickerson Gardens. The grant will be applied to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' Jobs Plus Initiative Program, which helps citizens with job placement and getting employment.
