Month: September 2019

FY 2019 FSS Renewal Funding NOFA and FAQ Released

~ Eric Oberdorfer ~ Leave a comment

On September 26, HUD released the FY19 Renewal NOFA for the Family Self-Sufficiency Program. The application package can be found on grants.gov. The deadline for applications is October 28. HUD recommends that applicants check that their grants.gov, DUNS, and SAM registration and passwords are up to date now, so that all agencies eligible for renewal funding can proceed through the application smoothly.

HUD also recently released an FY19 FSS Renewal NOFA FAQ. The FAQ does not replace or supersede the FY19 FSS Renewal NOFA, but provides applicants with answers to frequently asked questions. The FAQ can be found here.

Complimentary Webinar!! 2020 Census & PHAs – October 1, 2pm EDT

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

On Tuesday, October 1, at 2pm eastern time, NAHRO will be hosting a complimentary webinar in preparation for the 2020 Census. Below is information on the session and the registration link. This session is for agencies of all sizes from the smallest to the largest and will discuss the 2020 Census and the interaction between Census and PHAs including first-hand PHA experiences.

2020 Census Key Partnership – Public Housing Authorities

The 2020 Census is right around the corner. The U.S. Census Bureau and Public Housing Authorities are working together to make sure every person will be counted. During this webinar you will hear from Carol Gore of the Cook Inlet (Alaska) Housing Authority and John Mahon of the Bayonne (New Jersey) Housing Authority. Carol and John will share their experiences working with the U.S. Census Bureau in addition to employment opportunities for PHA residents. Join us and bring all your 2020 Census questions!

Please register for 2020 Census Key Partnership – Public Housing Authorities on Oct 1, 2019 2:00 PM EDT at:

 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7438435157680047371?source=blog

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

HUD Updates HCV Two-Year Tool

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

An official at HUD has let me know that the Department has updated the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program Two-Year Tool. The Two-Year Tool allows PHAs to model HCV program behavior so that they can make informed decisions on how to manage their HCV programs.

To use the tool, PHAs should enter their PHA code and click “Open and Populate Tool.” End users may need to enable macros in Excel for the tool to work properly.

The following changes have been made to the tool:

  • An option to break out a PHA’s  program into its main components (e.g., tenant-based vouchers, regular project-based vouchers, Rental Assistance Demonstration project-based vouchers (RAD-PBVs), etc.);
    • This feature can be found in “Access Additional Tools”;
  • Options to take into account a growing PBV program (the Two-Year Tool now includes a PBV.RAD tab that examines a PHA’s PBV program in detail–including information from VMS, PIC, and other HUD administrative data sources);
    • If applicable, this tab will open automatically;
  • An option to look at prior years’ SEMAP scores; and
  • An option to look at historical UML, UMA, HAP, and PUC information for a PHA’s special-purpose vouchers.

Questions on the Two-Year tool can be directed to Patrick Hatch.

The tool can be found here.

New Resources for Foster Youth to Independence Initiative

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD or the Department) has posted several new resources for its foster youth to independence initiative (See Notice PIH 2019-20). The initiative allows for PHAs without a Family Unification Program to request tenant protection vouchers (TPVs) for youth aging out of foster care on an as-needed basis. The Department has posted several resources related to the initiative.

 

These resources include the following:

All of these resources can also be found on HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence website here.

HUD Webinars for new RAD Notice (Rev. 4)

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

The HUD Office of Recapitalization sent a RADBlast! email reminding those on the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) email list that HUD will be hosting live public webinars on sections of the new RAD notice. The webinars will be recorded and posted on the RAD Resource Desk.

The schedule can be found below:

  • Public Housing Conversions, September 19, 2019, 2 pm ET; Register here;
  • Section 202 Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC), September 26, 2019, 2 pm ET; Register here;
  • Moderate Rehabilitation (Mod. Rehab.), October 3, 2019, 2 pm ET; Register here;
  • Resident Rights in Public Housing Conversions, October 10, 2019, 2 pm ET; Register here;
  • Resident Rights in Section 202 PRAC and Mod. Rehab. Conversions, October 17, 2019, 2 pm ET; Register here.

The new RAD notice (Rev. 4) can be found here.

New HOTMA Provisions to be Implemented

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

Tomorrow, HUD will publish in the Federal Register a proposed rule titled “Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016: Implementation of Sections 102, 103, and 104” (pre-publication copy). This proposed rule is the first regulatory step toward implementing certain provisions of the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). The Department is seeking comment on certain aspects of the implementation. Comments on the proposed implementation of these provisions will be due 60 days after official publication.

A brief, non-exhaustive list of the topics covered by the proposed rule can be found below. The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials will provide additional details as staff continue to examine the proposed rule.

Continue reading →

New RAD Notice, Revision 4 Released

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

Earlier today, HUD released the new Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) notice: “Rental Assistance Demonstration – Final Implementation, Revision 4” (Notice H-2019-09; PIH-2019-23 (HA)). The RAD program allows for units to be converted from certain Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding streams, such as public housing, to either a Section 8 project-based voucher (PBV) funding stream or a Section 8 project-based rental assistance (PBRA) funding stream. There are several major changes in this notice, including changes to the First Component of RAD (which allows public housing units to be converted to PBV or PBRA) and implementation of the 2018 Appropriations Act provision allowing Section 202 project rental assistance contracts (PRAC) to be converted to PBV or PBRA.

The changes to the First Component of RAD include the following:

  • A policy that RAD rents will be updated every two years (RAD awards after each update will use the updated rents);
  • A newly added “Concept Call” step to the RAD process, to allow PHAs to receive confirmation that project plans are sufficiently advanced to submit a Financing Plan;
  • More stringent notice requirements for residents in developments to be converted (the new notice details resident participation requirements at each step of the RAD process);
  • A policy that all households residing in regular PBV units will have the same resident rights extended to them as households that reside in RAD-PBVs in converted developments;
  • A mechanism for PHAs to enter into partnerships with each other to convert developments;
  • A policy allowing for rent increases in certain scenarios for PBRA conversions, such as developments located in Opportunity Zones;
  • Elimination of the requirement to submit the Capital Needs Assessment (CNA) tool in certain scenarios; and
  • Other changes (including changed requirements for portfolio awards, a change in how PHAs report debts owed, and broadening the use of “tiered environmental reviews”).

At this time, NAHRO staff are still reviewing the new notice. Additional analysis will be provided in future NAHRO publications.

The RAD Notice, Revision 4 can be found here.

[2:17 pm edit – The new notice can also be found on HUD’s RAD website here.]

First Set of NSPIRE Standards Posted

~ Eric Oberdorfer ~ Leave a comment

HUD has posted the first set of standards for the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Demonstration on HUD’s Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) website. HUD is looking for input and comments on the clarity of the deficiencies, the accuracy of the rationales, and the overall usability of the standards. These new standards will be used during inspections for agencies participating in the demonstration. Instructions on how to submit feed can be found here.

NSPIRE will change the way that public housing agencies, owners, and agents (POAs) inspect public housing properties for agencies that voluntarily participate in the demonstration. The NSPIRE demonstration aims to ensure that public housing units are adequately maintained through regular upkeep and maintenance of units throughout the year, rather than immediately before inspections. Agencies interested in pre-registering for the demonstration may do so here.

Notice on Rate Reduction Incentives Released

~ Eric Oberdorfer ~ Leave a comment

On September 3, HUD published Notice PIH-2019-24. The notice provides PHAs with guidance on the use and eligibility of the Rate Reduction Incentive (RRI). The RRI is a financial incentive for PHAs that take special steps and efforts beyond what is required by statute and/or regulation to reduce their utility rate. The Notice replaces Notice PIH-2014-18 (HA) and supplements information included within the current Energy Performing Contracting (EPC), Utility Partnership Program (UPP), and the Operating Fund Grant processing grant notices. The notice covers the RRI application process, activities that may be eligible for an RRI, actions that are not eligible to receive RRI, and RRI interaction with an EPC.

Continue reading →