General News

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced the appointment of Tiena Johnson Hall as the new executive director of the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA). 

Johnson Hall, a member of CalHFA’s Board of Directors since November 2014, has served as a senior vice president and manager of community development finance for BBVA Compass Bancshares Inc. since October 2014. Prior to that, she held various housing positions in both the private and public sectors. 

The fiscal year 2021/2022 Pennsylvania state budget includes funding for the development of affordable rental housing in three main program areas: 

On June 29, the Arizona state legislature passed a State LIHTC in S.B 1124. The state credit available to properties placed in service after June 30, 2022 is equal to at least fifty percent of the federal credit with a $4 million annual cap. Governor Doug Ducey (R) has until July 12 to sign or veto the bill, otherwise it will become law on its own. 

Governor Gavin Newsom (D) recently approved California’s 2021-2022 budget, which includes the following investments in affordable housing:  

A bill recently approved by California legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom (D) extends the state’s eviction moratorium through the end of September and will pay off 100 percent of all past due rent from April 2020 through September 30, 2021 for tenants making less than 80 percent of the area median income. The state will also assist with unpaid utility bills.

The Oregon legislature approved $896 million invested in housing solutions in Oregon Housing and Community Services’ 2021-2023 biennium budget, more than double that of the last biennium:  

A new property tax incentive passed the Illinois General Assembly in the landmark affordable housing omnibus and is now on to Governor JB Pritzker (D) for signature. The incentive establishes tiers of affordability and property tax relief

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh is encouraging applicants of its Affordable Housing Program (AHP) to initiate their application by July 9. Applicants will receive a link to the bank’s recorded AHP Tips Webinar. Applications are due by 5 p.m. ET on August 10. For more info, please see the Technical Guide for Sponsors or Technical Guide for Members. If you have questions about the AHP application process, please contact [email protected].

The Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) of Harvard University’s 2021 State of the Nation’s Housing report describes the K-shaped economic recovery in which higher-income households used wealth accumulated throughout the pandemic to purchase homes, while others struggled to stay in their homes as incomes dropped precipitously. 

The Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, as well as the Ohio Housing Council are leading a sign-on letter opposing a budget amendment that would require auditors to value LIHTC properties and other properties receiving federal subsidies to be valued as market-rate properties without regard to governmental use restrictions. 

Enterprise Community Partners is launching  Equitable Path Forward: Advisory Services (EPF AS), a 24-month program that will support up to eight Black, Indigenous and people of color- (BIPOC) led affordable housing organizations enhance their capabilities and strengthen their operations. 

The St. Paul Public Housing Authority (PHA) is offering up to 50 Project-based Vouchers through the Consolidated RFP with an additional 20 Project-based Vouchers specifically for HUD – Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH). Applications will be accepted through Minnesota Housing’s Multifamily Customer Portal. Applications are due by noon on July 15. For information on Project-based Vouchers, please visit the St. Paul PHA website or contact Dominic Mitchell, St. Paul PHA Housing Choice Voucher Programs Director at 651-292-6191 or [email protected].