HUD

Congress reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which included Promise Neighborhoods, a sister program to the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative.

HUD published materials from local preservation clinics for Section 236 (both FHA-insured and HFA-issued) and Section 202 Director Loan property owners and their partners.

FY 2016 funding includes level and higher funding from FY 2015 levels for many key HUD housing programs. In most cases, the funding levels stop short of fully funding the programs’ needs, but are better than expected. Congress approved the omnibus funding measure on Friday, December 18.

HUD finalized Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for fiscal year 2016. FMRs are used to set payment standards and rents for several HUD-assisted housing programs.

Several provisions related to federally-assisted housing, including a pay for success pilot to raise outside capital for energy and water retrofits, were signed into law with the FAST Act.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development adjusted Basic Statutory Mortgage Limits for the Multifamily Housing Section 207, 213, 220, 221(d)(4), 231, 234 programs. They have an effective date of January 1, 2015.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development released responses to frequently asked questions regarding the Section 8 Renewal Policy Guide.

California Governor Edmund Brown, Jr. appointed Ben Metcalf, former Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, to direct the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

HUD announced Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Action Grants, designed to spur the redevelopment of severely distressed public and HUD-assisted housing and transform surrounding neighborhoods. PHAs that are considering applying for RAD for demolition and new construction, or major rehabilitation or reconstruction, are encouraged to apply for a Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Action Grant.

An aging 200-unit property, owned by an affiliate of The Community Builders, will be demolished and replaced by modular, prefabricated homes. MassHousing provided $53 million in financing for the transaction, which includes Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and a renewed 20-year Section 8 HAP contract.

HUD designated the Difficult to Develop Areas (DDA) and Qualified Census Tracts (QCT) that will be effective July 1, 2016. This is the first year Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) were used to designate metropolitan DDAs instead of metropolitan-area Fair Market Rents (FMRs).

HUD answered frequently asked questions regarding the Section 811 project rental assistance program, including environmental review, fair housing, program administration, and requirements.