HUD issues a Family Self-Sufficiency accounting brief and provides vouchers for people with disabilities and foster youth; the US Senate Committee on Finance discusses LIHTC; and Rhode Island dedicates a substantial percentage of ARPA funds to affordable housing and homeless assistance.

Recent News

PIH-REAC Issues Accounting Brief on FSS Program Financial Reporting

The PIH Real Estate Assessment Center has issued Accounting Brief #26, which provides information on properly reporting Family Self-Sufficiency program transactions in your PHA’s Financial Assessment Subsystem submission, including FSS Program Coordinator Grant Reporting; FSS Program Coordinator Grant Expense reporting; and FSS escrow activity reporting, including new reporting requirements and eligible uses of FSS escrow forfeitures, but not including the calculation of the FSS escrow. Read brief

 

Recap of Senate Finance Committee Hearing on the Role of Tax Incentives in Affordable Housing

NLIHC recaps a recent hearing held by the US Senate Committee on Finance, “The Role of Tax Incentives in Affordable Housing.” Senators discussed the impact of LIHTC, the affordable housing shortage, funding from ARPA, and the proposed “Eviction Crisis Act." Read article

 

Rhode Island Dedicates 23% of ARPA Funds to Affordable Housing and Homeless Assistance, Passes 10 Bills to Address Housing Crisis

Rhode Island’s 2023 budget allots $221 million to affordable housing and homeless prevention, building on an allocation of $29 million approved in January. NLIHC reports on budget details and the advocacy by Homes RI and Housing Network of Rhode Island that led to the investment in housing. Read article

On January 24, HUD published a notice in the Federal Register implementing and providing guidance on the provisions of the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities (FSHO) Act amendments. Changes were made to the assistance provided to eligible youth under the Family Unification Program (FUP), including those who received vouchers through the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) initiative.

As part of this notice, two major changes were made to the PBV program, effective back to December 27, 2020:

• FUP Youth (FUPY) and FYI vouchers that the PHA project-bases are counted as part of the 10% exception authority to the 20% program cap.
• The excepted units requirement for the PBV program has been amended to include units that house eligible youth receiving FUPY/FYI assistance.

Guidance from HUD and the Treasury on HCV budgeting, Section 3, commitment letters for prospective renters, and more.

Recent News

HUD Letter on 2022 HCV Program Renewal Awards

In a letter to PHA executive directors on January 18, HUD provided important information and guidance about planning 2022 budgets for the Housing Choice Voucher program. Read article

 

HUD Publishes Section 3 Guidebook

This new resource is intended to help HUD grant recipients, subrecipients, contractors, and Section 3 business that manage or implement the Section 3 provisions. In addition to the latest tools and resources for applying these provisions to HUD-funded projects and activities, the guidebook includes information on implementing the requirements of the Section 3 final rule that went into effect November 30, 2020. Read article

 

HUD Publishes Notice to Extend Length of Housing Support to Foster Youth

In a notice in the Federal Register, HUD implements and provides guidance on the provisions of the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities (FSHO) amendments to the Family Unification Program. Under FSHO, former foster youth may receive up to 60 months of voucher assistance. Eligible youth include those participating in family self-sufficiency programs, and those in specific situations precluding their participation in such programs. HUD seeks public comment on certain provisions. Read article

Last day for all PHAs to submit information to the CARES Act Waiver Report Tool, expedited regulatory waivers now available for public housing and HCV programs, and more.

Recent News

Today, Dec. 20, Is the Deadline to Submit CARES Act Waiver Adoption Information

Per HUD’s Notice PIH 2021-33, all PHAs must enter information to the CARES Act Waiver Reporting Tool (CAWRT) no later than today, Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. This includes those that did not adopt the discretionary COVID-19 waivers, although there is an expedited reporting process in place for these PHAs. Read article

 

PHAs May Apply for Expedited Regulatory Waivers for Public Housing and HCV Programs

In Notice PIH 2021-32, HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing advises PHAs that they may apply for certain regulatory waivers originally offered as part of the CARES Act. As long as a PHA follows the process set out by the notice, HUD will expeditiously respond to the request for these waivers. Read article

 

HHS and HUD Announce Expanded Partnership, New Housing and Services Resource Center

The US departments of Health and Human Services and of Housing and Urban Development are launching a national Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC) as the hub of a coordinated federal effort to improve access to affordable housing and community-based supportive services. Goals include advancing equity for people with disabilities, older adults, and people experiencing homelessness. Read article

 

Today at the third annual NMA and GoSection8 Housing Conference in Miami, Nan McKay and Associates announced the four winners of the 2015 NMA Housing Awards. We first launched these awards nearly a decade ago to recognize excellence and innovation in the affordable housing industry.