Industry News

Annual Assessment Shows Three Percent Increase in Homelessness Nationwide

HUD released its 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, which found that 567,715 persons experienced homelessness on a single night in 2019, a three percent increase over 2018. Homelessness among veterans and families with children continued to fall, declining 2.1 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively, in 2019.

Treasury OIG Launches Opportunity Zone Investigation

The Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Treasury launched an internal investigation on abuse in the Opportunity Zone program. Rich Delmar, the department’s acting inspector general, said in a statement he expects “to complete our work and respond to the congressional requesters in early spring.”

FHA Reiterates Green Building Standards Program

In 2016, the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) Office of Multifamily Housing Programs introduced a voluntary green building standards program that allowed for a reduced annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) at the rate of 0.25 percent for properties that are committed to green building practices. The reduced MIP for industry-recognized green housing encouraged owners to adopt higher standards for construction, rehabilitation, repairs, maintenance and property operations.

Member News

Troubling Trends in Housing for the New Decade

NHP Foundation CEO, Richard Burns, published an op-ed in The Hill on “troubling trends in housing for the new decade” in which he identifies three data trends that are cause for concern. “In 2020, and over the next decade, everyone in the affordable housing equation will need to produce bolder ideas, speak louder to their representatives, foster greater thought leadership, and be more proactive and bullish in their mission to preserve and create more affordable rental units. If the status quo remains, conditions will continue to worsen and we will be unprepared and ill-equipped for our future affordable housing needs.”

CREA Raises Over $1.2 Billion in 2019

CREA announced its 2019 results, including a record $852.2 million in equity closed and an additional $354.6 million in equity raised. ontributing to the total equity raised, CREA closed its largest-ever national fund, Fund 74, with commitments of $351.3 million. The fund supported the development of 32 properties with capital from 20 investors. CREA also closed $230 million in 14 active proprietary funds.

Michelle Militello Joins Pennrose to Lead Asset Management

Pennrose announced the addition of Michelle Militello as Vice President of Asset Management. Michelle will focus on maximizing the financial performance and value of the Pennrose portfolio. She will be responsible for analyzing, measuring and reporting on property financial and operating metrics, and will work closely with the property operations team to improve outcomes.