The Department has posted a recording of the PIH stakeholder call for PHAs that the Department held on Friday, April 3rd. The recording can be found here (or see below). The slides from the call can be found here.
Month: April 2020
PHAs Make Coronavirus Requests of Congress
In partnership with our sister groups CLPHA, PHADA and the Moving to Work (MTW) Collaborative, NAHRO has drafted and sent a letter to the House and the Senate thanking them for the nearly $3 billion in affordable housing assistance in the CARES Act, and asking for substantial resources and flexibilities, including:
- An additional infusion of $8.5 billion for the Operating Fund and the Section 8 voucher program;
- An increased supply of Tenant Protection Vouchers;
- Additional rental assistance for families in need; and
- A $70 billion investment in public housing infrastructure.
Almost 800 PHAs and organizations joined NAHRO, PHADA, CLPHA, and the MTW Collaborative in signing the letter. You and your partners can also send the letter to your members of Congress through NAHRO’s Advocacy Action Center.
NAHRO continues to provide the latest information on the NAHRO Coronavirus page.
HUD Updates Guidance for CY 2020 HAP Set-aside Applications
The following email updating HAP set-aside application instructions was sent to PHA Executive Directors earlier today.
The deadline date for the following list of calendar year (CY) 2020 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Set-aside categories is being extended to no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Wednesday, July 15, 2020:
- Category 2a: Unforeseen Circumstances
- Category 2b: Portability
- Category 3: Project-Based Voucher
- Category 5: Lower-than-average Leasing
- Category 6: Disaster
Please refer to PIH Notice 2020-04 for details on the information and documentation required for eligibility consideration under each applicable category of the CY 2020 HAP Set-aside prior to submitting requests.
Additionally, for health and safety reasons during the pandemic, HUD will not accept regular mail or faxes for these applications; therefore, PHAs are required to submit their applications electronically to the 2020Set-AsideApplications@hud.gov email address. Electronic signatures will be accepted on Appendix F and respective supporting documentation.
Finally, this extension does not impact the deadline dates communicated through PIH Notice 2020-04 for Category 1: Shortfall as it remains open throughout the year, or Category 4: HUD-VASH as the deadline for applications is October 1, 2020.
Should you have any questions about this message, please do not hesitate to contact your FMC Financial Analyst, or the FMD staff at 2020Set-AsideApplications@hud.gov.
CPD Formula Allocations and CARES Act Supplemental Funding Released
HUD’s office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) has released it’s program formula allocations for FY 2020 and the CARES Act supplement funding. HUD has posted two spreadsheets. The first includes all CPD formula grant programs, including CDBG, CDBG Housing Recovery Program (RHP), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG). The second spreadsheet lists all CARES Act Grants.
The spreadsheets can be found here.
CoC, ESG, HOPWA Waivers Available
HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) recently released a memorandum highlighting the availability of certain regulatory requirements associated with the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program, and the Continuum of Care (CoC). HUD’s memo also announces a simplified notification process to use waiver flexibility to expedite the delivery of assistance. Waivers must be used to assist affected CPD program beneficiaries and program eligible households to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to mitigate against the economic impact caused by COVID-19. To use the waivers, recipients must notify in writing, either through mail or e-mail, to the CPD Director of the HUD Field Office serving its jurisdiction no less than two days before the recipient anticipates using the waiver flexibility.
Missed Our Virtual Convening? Recordings Now Available!
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, NAHRO remains committed to connecting members and others with industry leaders and important perspectives. In lieu of our cancelled Washington Conference, we put together a complimentary virtual convening on March 30-31, and are now pleased to provide links to both events.
Dr. Raphael Bostic, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, discussed the bank’s reaction to the COVID-19 crisis, presented on Inclusive Economic Development: Lessons and Challenges, and took questions from attendees. View this webinar here.
Dr. Mark Calabria, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, discussed FHFA’s reaction to the COVID-19 crisis, its mission, its role in the housing sector, and his thoughts on critical milestones ahead. View this webinar here.
Thank you to Yardi for sponsoring both events!
Watch out for more virtual events as NAHRO continues to provide its members with the news, analysis, and guidance they need.
Social Security Recipients Do Not Need to File a Tax Return to Receive COVID-19 Relief Payments
NAHRO has reviewed a press release from the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that announces Social Security beneficiaries will automatically receive their Economic Impact Payments. This announcement will allow many seniors and low-income individuals, that have not filed a tax return, to receive their Economic Impact Payment without requesting it. There was a previous concern that Social Security recipients, that did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019, would have to file a special simple tax return to receive their Economic Impact Payment.
NAHRO is maintaining a coronavirus resource page at www.nahro.org/coronavirus. The Treasury Department and IRS press release is reprinted below and is available at home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm967.
Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments
April 1, 2020
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service today announced that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive an Economic Impact Payment. Instead, payments will be automatically deposited into their bank accounts.
“We want to ensure that our senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and low-income Americans receive Economic Impact Payments quickly and without undue burden,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “Social Security recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return need to take no action, and will receive their payment directly to their bank account.”
The IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 and Form RRB-1099 to generate $1,200 Economic Impact Payments to Social Security recipients who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019. Recipients will receive these payments as a direct deposit or by paper check, just as they would normally receive their benefits.
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Census Day is Today!!
April 1, 2020 is Census Day and NAHRO would like to share the Census Day press release from the United States Census Bureau. An accurate count is essential to ensure the maximum amount of funding and resources are available to your local community!
Census Day Is Here – Make It Count!
April 1, 2020 – Today is Census Day, the day that determines who is counted in the 2020 Census and where they are counted.
The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. Responding to the 2020 Census is easy, safe and important, and is key to shaping the future of communities. Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and informs legislative district boundaries. They also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in public funds are allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers to communities for public services and infrastructure like hospitals, emergency services, schools and bridges each year over the next 10 years.
36.2 percent of households across the nation have responded to the 2020 Census since invitations began arriving in mailboxes March 12-20. Response rates are updated in the map daily seven days a week so that the public can see how well their community is doing compared to the nation and other areas.
The Census Bureau is strongly encouraging the public to respond to the 2020 Census online using a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet. You can respond online or by phone in English or 12 other languages. There are also 59 non-English language guides and videos (plus American Sign Language) available on 2020census.gov ensuring over 99% of U.S. households can respond online in their preferred language. It has never been easier to respond on your own — all without having to meet a census taker. This is really important with the current health and safety guidance being provided by national, state and local health authorities.
When you respond:
- Respond for where you live as of April 1 (Census Day).
- Include everyone who usually lives and sleeps in your home as of April 1, even if they are staying somewhere else temporarily. This includes relatives, friends, roommates and anyone else who lives and sleeps in your home most of the time — even children under age five and babies born on or before April 1, even if they are still in the hospital.
- Count college students where they live while attending school. If they live on campus in university/college housing such as dorms or fraternity/sorority houses, they will be counted by school officials and do not need to respond. However, if they live off campus in private housing or apartments, they should respond to the census on their own using their off-campus address even if they are currently staying elsewhere.
- Find additional answers about “Who to Count” at 2020census.gov.
You can use the Census ID from your invitation or provide your address when you respond. Then, please make sure your friends, family and social networks know about the importance of responding and encourage them to complete their census. Responding now will minimize the need for a census taker to follow up and visit your home later this year.
Some households — in areas less likely to respond online — have already received a paper questionnaire along with their first invitation. Households that have not responded online or by phone will receive a paper questionnaire April 8-16.
For more information, visit 2020census.gov.
Please note: Based on continuing assessments of guidance from federal, state and local health authorities, the Census Bureau is suspending 2020 Census field operations for two additional weeks to April 15, 2020. The Census Bureau is taking this step to help protect the health and safety of the American public, Census Bureau employees, and everyone who will go through the hiring process for temporary census taker positions. The Census Bureau continues to evaluate all 2020 Census field operations, and will communicate any further updates as soon as possible.
The 2020 Census is open for self-response online at 2020Census.gov, over the phone by calling the number provided in your invitation, and by paper through the mail.
FY 2020 HCV Funding Implementation Notice Published
Earlier today, HUD published a notice titled “Implementation of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2020 Funding Provisions for the Housing Choice Voucher Program” (PIH Notice 2020-04). The notice implements the funding provisions from the FY 2020 appropriations bill for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.
The notice discusses the following:
- Calculation of calendar year (CY) 2020 HAP Renewal Funding;
- Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Set-aside categories;
- Tenant Protection Vouchers;
- Funding for Administrative costs;
- HUD-VASH funding;
- Tribal HUD-VASH funding;
- Mainstream Program;
- Family Unification Program (FUP);
- Mobility Demonstration funding;
- Instructions for applying for HAP set-aside funding;
- Moving to Work Agencies;
- Excluded Programs (i.e., Mod. Rehab. and Single Room Occupancy);
- HCV Financial Management;
- HAP Disbursements and Frontloading;
- Use of HAP and HAP RNP/HUD-Held Program Reserves;
- Use of Administrative Fees;
- VMS/FASS Reporting and Data Integrity;
- Prohibition on Over-leasing; and
- Use of Outside Sources of Funds.
We will have additional details as NAHRO staff read through the notice.
The notice can be found here.
The NAHRO Blog: Legislative & Policy Updates from Washington, DC 