General News

President Obama recently announced new commitments under the Better Buildings Initiative totaling nearly $4 billion in public and private investments. Unveiled by the Obama Administration in February 2011, the goal of the Better Buildings Initiative is to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings by 20 percent by 2020.

The Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund has issued a call for nominations for the 2012 Community Reinvestment Awards. The Community Reinvestment Awards annually recognizes the work of financial institutions that are advancing solutions to strengthen small businesses.

The Mississippi Housing Corporation (MHC) presented the Executive Summary of its proposed 2012 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) revisions during its November Board meeting.

HUD recently unveiled a new web tool to spotlight efforts to create opportunity and revitalize communities around the country though public/private partnerships and philanthropic support for strong community development plans.

The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) has announced changes to the application and funding round schedules for both the Housing Tax Credit Contribution (HTCC) and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs beginning in 2012.

The Connecticut Housing Finance Agency presented its draft 2012 Standards of Design and Construction at a Public Forum on November 22. The standards include guidelines for the project planning and technical review process, safety and sustainability guidelines, and are applicable for construction funding through 2012 CHFA Multifamily Underwriting and Asset Management financing programs.

HUD has released the 2012 Income Limits to be used by projects financed with low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) and tax-exempt bonds, effective December 1, 2011.

The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA) has issued an RFP to solicit one or more individuals or firms for calendar years 2012 and 2013 to produce a series of affordable multifamily rental real estate market studies for proposed tax credit projects.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has announced a meeting for the Rural Housing Workgroup. This meeting is being held in response the agency’s increased awareness of the unique challenges in serving rural populations.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released a Chief Counsel Advice (CCA) memorandum stating that the sale of certain Massachusetts state tax credits, including low-income housing and historic tax credits, to a third party by the original recipient is a taxable event.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs has announced the availability of up to $22,038,066 in funding from the HOME Investment partnerships Program for the development of affordable multifamily rental housing for low-income Texans.

The Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) has announced the launch of a new web site – the TAC Resource Center on Supportive Housing. The goal of the TAC Resource Center is to promote innovative supportive housing approaches and models which link affordable and accessible permanent housing resources with community-based supports and services for people with significant and long-term disabilities.