HUD

The Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC) announced recipients of the 2020 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Awards, recognizing some of the most outstanding affordable housing developments across the country. Congratulations to the four NH&RA members receiving awards!

HUD published a notice of fiscal year (FY) 2021 fair market rents (FMRs) for the Housing Choice Voucher program, Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program and other HUD programs. Comments on the notice are due September 30 and the FMRs will be effective October 1.

The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) issued updated compliance guidance for rental properties with LIHTC, HOME, state and national Housing Trust Fund and Neighborhood Stabilization Programs funding sources. IRS Notice 2020-53 allows income recertifications to be delayed for the remainder of the year. However, it does not delay or exempt owners/agents from ensuring LIHTC households are still meeting student eligibility requirements.

Louisiana Housing Corporation’s (LHC) Board of Directors approved $212 million to develop 1,633 affordable rental units across six Louisiana parishes. LHC’s Board of Directors also approved a resolution to adopt the state’s 2021 QAP.

HUD recently announced that Minnesota Housing was one of 12 housing finance agencies from around the country selected to receive a Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PRA) Program grant. Minnesota Housing is working with HUD to finalize the selection in the coming months. Eligible

Over the weekend, President Trump issued three COVID-19 related executive orders (EO) on “Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations,” “Providing Assistance to Renters and Homeowners” and “Other Needs Assistance Program.” The presidential action comes as Congressional and White House negotiations over the next COVID-19 aid package have stalled.

HUD announced that it will begin Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) inspections of HUD multifamily and public housing properties and units later this year. REAC will prioritize inspections in states and localities based on the latest COVID-19 data from Johns Hopkins University and health risk scoring methodology from the Harvard Global Health Institute.

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) posted the 2020 LIHTC Program Income and Rent Limits. DHCD also updated the FAQ document for the 2020 competitive funding round.

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced funding awards of $60,822,101 worth of grants and tax credits to build and preserve 802 homes through the federal nine percent LIHTC, HOME and General Housing Account Program (GHAP) resources. The Oregon Housing Stability Council recently approved the developments listed below; full details can be found here.

On July 31, HUD issued its first update of its Q&A for Multifamily Housing programs since May 21. HUD’s Q&A document relays HUD’s guidance on operational and procedural questions related to the safe administration of HUD-assisted programs during COVID-19. 

Last week the House passed H.R. 7617, which provides fiscal year (FY) 2021 funding for six appropriations subcommittees, including HUD. The House bill is expected to provide adequate appropriations to renew existing Housing Choice Vouchers and Project-Based Rental Assistance, and provides increases for most programs, including the Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Section 202 and Section 811, which would also receive additional funding through emergency infrastructure investments. The bill also contains two amendments that would block the Trump Administration’s recent regulatory action on the Disparate Impact Rule and the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH).

HUD released a fully updated set of NSPIRE Inspection Standards, version 1.3, which improves technical accuracy, relevance, clarity and better defines the applicability to HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program. HUD welcomes public comments on all aspects of the standards. Feedback on the revised list of standards can be submitted here.