HUD

HUD published a final rule on its implementation of the Fair Housing Act’s disparate impact standard, which will become effective October 24. HUD’s office of Policy Development and Research issued a notice designating Difficult Development Areas (DDAs) and Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs) for 2021 LIHTC properties.

For the past ten years, the American Housing Survey (AHS) has been under the stewardship of Dr. Shawn Bucholtz. Shawn left HUD to become the chief data officer at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

HUD published Notice Housing H-2020-09/PIH-2020-26 on providing supplemental COVID-19 guidance for PHAs and owners converting properties through RAD. The Notice describes the availability of Operating Fund Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds for public housing properties that have converted or that will convert in calendar year 2020 and that are still supported through public housing appropriations.

The Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) will hold a virtual 2020 Application Workshop on September 30 from 9 a.m. to noon CT. This virtual forum will be open to applicants who wish to submit a 2020 application for Federal and State LIHTCs, HOME funds, National Housing Trust Fund, and MHDC Fund Balance. Anyone planning on submitting a 2020 Rental Production application should plan on attending.

HUD recently released Notice PIH 2020-23 outlining the eligible uses of Section 18 Disposition or Section 22 Voluntary Conversion funds Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) gain from the sale, transfer, ground lease or disposition of their properties.

HUD released an updated Policy Quick Reference Guide outlining significant multifamily operational requirements to assist owners following Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) assistance conversions to Section 8 Project Based Rental Assistance (PBRA). Information provided in this guide does not apply to conversions of assistance pursuant to RAD Section 8 Project Based Vouchers.

The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is offering online training sessions on DHCD subsidy program occupancy requirements.

RIHousing is utilizing $500,000 in funding from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) to establish the COVID-19 Emergency Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program.

HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing is encouraging owners to inform residents of the eviction protections under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order and the required declaration form. The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) is working with partners to translate the declaration form. The form is currently available in Spanish, Vietnamese and Arabic. A Virginia landlord filed a lawsuit on September 8 and requested a temporary restraining order against the CDC recent order.

HUD released a draft notice on ‘‘Guidelines for Certain HUD Approvals Regarding Properties Encumbered by HUD-Held Mark-to-Market Program Debt and Portfolio Reengineering Demonstration Program Debt.”

HUD recently published a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the FY2020 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant Program. Applicants may request up to $30 million for target housing projects with less than 250 public housing/assisted units or up to $35 million for target housing projects with 250 or more public housing/assisted units.

Opportunity Zones (OZ) led to Qualified Opportunity Funds raising $75 billion in capital by the end of 2019, according to a Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) report released on August 24.