Month: April 2021

Mobility Demonstration PHAs selected

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

In a press release, HUD has selected PHAs to participate in its new mobility demonstration. The mobility demonstration serves as a research evaluation to demonstrate the efficacy of a bundle of mobility-related interventions (i.e., services offered to families that help remove barriers moving to areas of opportunity). Recent research has shown that moving to areas of opportunity has positive impacts on health and the future lifetime earnings of children.

Program participants will be divided into three groups: a control group; a treatment group which receives comprehensive mobility-related services; and a second treatment group which receives selected mobility related-services. The Department, PHAs, and researchers will then evaluate the efficacy and cost of the bundles of mobility-related services provided.

The PHAs selected for the demonstration can be found below.

PHA CodePHA NameTotal Mobility-related Services AwardTotal Vouchers AwardedTotal Voucher Funding Awarded
NY041Rochester Housing Authority$4,089,54074$724,106
NY110New York Housing Preservation and Development$4,013,10074$1,501,480
MN002Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (Lead PHA)$4,013,10037$637,341
MN163Metropolitan HRAPartner to MN00237$585,649
CA004Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles$4,013,10037$812,372
CA002Housing Authority of the County of Los AngelesPartner to CA00437$761,339
PA006Allegheny County Housing Authority$4,089,54056$565,805
PA001Housing Authority of PittsburghPartner to PA00618$249,419
OH003Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority$4,089,54074$881,419
LA001Housing Authority of New Orleans$4,089,54074$1,114,333
PA046Housing Authority of Chester County$3,461,85018$249,803
PA007Chester Housing AuthorityPartner to PA04656$803,120
TN005Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment$4,013,10074$971,554
Total$35,872,410666$9,857,740
Taken from https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_21_076.

The Department’s full press release can be found here.

2021 HCV Implementation Webinar Added to Youtube

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has uploaded their 2021 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Implementation webinar. This presentation focuses on Notice PIH 2021-10 and discusses how the funding for the voucher program in 2021 will be implemented along with key deadlines for additional funding (e.g., housing assistance payment [HAP] set-aside funding and special administrative fees).

The video can be found here or below.

Landlord Strategy Guidebook for PHAs Updated

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has updated their Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Landlord Strategy Guidebook for PHAs. New chapters have been posted on monetary incentives and reimbursement funds, inspections, matching local rental markets, and partnerships. The guidebook provides suggestions and ideas for PHAs looking to recruit new landlords and retain current landlords to the HCV program.

The guidebook has the following chapters:

The Department’s HCV Landlord Resources webpage can be found here.

The full HCV Landlord Strategy Guidebook for PHAs can be found here.

Guidance on Public Housing Fund Shortfall Funding Released

~ Eric Oberdorfer ~ Leave a comment

On April 26, HUD released Notice PIH-2021-12, “Implementation of Public Housing Operating Fund Shortfall Funding from Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2021 Appropriations.” The FY 2021 Appropriations Act included $25 million for PHAs that experience, or are at risk of, financial shortfalls. The funding was provided to mitigate the risk of financial shortfalls among PHAs and was directed to prioritize the funding to PHAs with 249 or fewer public housing units that are determined to be experiencing shortfalls and have less than one-month of reserves before allocating funds to larger PHAs. MTW Agencies are eligible to apply as well.

For the purposes of this Notice, HUD defines having a financial shortfall as having less than two months of operating expenses held in reserve. The eligibility for the Shortfall Funding Program will be based on the amount of Monthly Operating Reserves (MOR) a PHA has according to their most recent audited or unaudited FDS submission. A list of agencies that fit this shortfall definition can be found here.

PHAs that are included on the list of eligible PHAs described above may apply for Shortfall funding by completing the Shortfall Funding Application found in Appendix A of the Notice and submitting it via e-mail to 2021ShortfallFunding@hud.gov no later than midnight (Eastern Time) on June 4, 2021. The application must be submitted by the PHA’s Executive Director or other authorized representative and include the PHA name and PHA code (e.g., CA001), as well as the contact information for HUD follow-up if necessary.

The Notice can be found here.

HUD Updates HCV Dashboard

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

The Department has updated the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) dashboard. The HCV dashboard presents visualizations of HCV program statistics based on most recently available data taken from, among other places, the Voucher Management System (VMS). The updated dashboard now includes pages on leasing changes, percentages of HCV programs devoted to special purpose vouchers, leasing potential, project-based voucher portfolios, comparing budget and reserves between two programs, and comparing leasing and per unit cost (PUC) between two programs.

The dashboard shows data both in the national aggregate and by individual PHA.

In addition, the Department has also updated the “HCV Dashboard User Guide & Data Dictionary.”

Finally, the Department has posted a YouTube video discussing and explaining the expansion.

The HCV Data Dashboard can be found here.

HUD Posts CY 2021 Admin. Fee Rates

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

Earlier today, HUD posted to its Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) website, the HCV administrative fee rates. These rates determine the amount of administrative fee a HCV program receives from HUD. There are two rates. The second rate applies after the first 7,200 unit months.

HUD Restarts Inspections in June

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

On April 23, HUD announced that the department plans to begin inspections for public housing and project-based rental assistance (PBRA) properties starting June 1. HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge noted that HUD “must take steps to ensure the whole health and well-being of the households we serve—including the conditions and quality of housing. We look forward to working with residents to ensure safe and successful inspections.”.

HUD will focus on properties that are considered “high priority” – those that have not been inspected for a significant amount of time or those that have failed their last inspection. Most of the PHA properties on HUD’s high priority inspection list have inspection scores below 60. HUD will also begin inspecting agencies participating in the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Demonstration. HUD will inform PHAs if any of their properties fall on the list of targeted inspections for 2021 on Monday, April 26. HUD will further provide notice to PHAs and owners 28 days before any inspection takes place at a property. HUD inspections will include enhanced safety protocols as established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and HUD has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to allow contracted inspectors to access COVID-19 vaccinations through the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, if they inspector so chooses.

If a resident does not feel comfortable with an inspector entering their unit, the resident may opt out from the inspection. In those instances, another unit will be selected for an inspection.

HUD will not be issuing inspection scores to PHAs in 2021 unless the agency specifically asks for one. Rather, inspectors will only be looking for life threatening deficiencies on the property. Life threatening deficiencies must be fixed within 24 hours of the inspection. HUD will be relying on NSPIRE standards to determine what constitutes a life-threatening deficiency. HUD recently posted an NSPIRE Life-Threatening Deficiencies fact sheet here. Multifamily properties will be inspected using UPCS and the inspections will be scored.

HUD will no longer be using the heat-map created last fall to determine which coronavirus hot-spots in the country to avoid. Rather, HUD will be inspecting units in all parts of the country, although attention will be paid to places that are seeing upticks in their COVID-19 case numbers.

HUD’s announcement can be found here.

HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge Testifies at Appropriations Hearings

~ Jenna Hampton ~ Leave a comment

This week, HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge testified at two appropriations hearings in Congress. On April 20, she joined three other Biden administration officials for a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the American Jobs Plan. On April 21, she was the sole witness for a Fiscal Year 2022 hearing in the House Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) Appropriations Subcommittee.

Senate Appropriations Committee

The Senate hearing focused on the funding included in President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan, including the $213 billion designated for housing infrastructure. In her testimony, Sec. Fudge stated, “Nearly 2 million people across the country live in public housing – including families, seniors, and people with disabilities… The American Jobs Plan calls for an investment of $40 billion to improve our public housing infrastructure and address critical safety concerns for residents.”

Several Senators questioned Sec. Fudge about the housing-related sections of the bill. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) asked whether any of the $213 billion in funding would go toward homeless families. Sec. Fudge responded that the American Rescue Plan had already included $5 billion for emergency housing vouchers and $5 billion for homeless assistance programs. She explained that HUD will continue responding the homelessness across the nation.

When Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) expressed concern about a grant program that would incentivize jurisdictions to make changes to their local zoning laws, Sec. Fudge emphasized that the program is voluntary and would support local efforts to develop equitable, affordable housing.

House Appropriations, T-HUD Subcomittee

In the House, the T-HUD Subcommittee hearing served as an initial discussion on the Fiscal Year 2022 budget request for HUD. Sec. Fudge outlined the HUD funding included in President Biden’s discretionary request, including $30.4 billion for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. The increase in HCV funding would expand voucher assistance to an estimated 200,000 households.

Representatives on both sides of the aisle questioned Sec. Fudge about specific HUD programs and priorities. Subcommittee Chairman David Price (D-NC) asked about Section 202 and Section 811 funding for seniors and people with disabilities. Sec. Fudge provided details on the NOFAs for both programs, recognizing the importance of providing housing for vulnerable populations.

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX) both questioned Sec. Fudge about funding for rural housing. She noted that President Biden has a plan to provide $2 billion for rural housing and that HUD will partner with USDA to improve rural housing programs.

The written witness statements and a recording of the full hearing are available online:

Senate Hearing

House Hearing

NAHRO Launches Congressional Contacts Initiative

~ Jenna Hampton ~ Leave a comment

The Congressional Relations team at NAHRO has officially launched our Congressional Contacts initiative. We are recruiting NAHRO members to connect with their members of Congress on a consistent basis. Your voice is needed – offices on Capitol Hill want to hear from agencies that serve residents in their districts.

Each year, Congress appropriates funding to the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). They also introduce legislation to improve the implementation of housing and community development programs. NAHRO wants to make it easy for you to influence your members of Congress as they make decisions that impact your programs and communities.

When advocacy opportunities arise, NAHRO will ask you to send a pre-drafted letter from our online Action Alert Center. The letters are open to members and non-members who support NAHRO’s policy priorities. However, with the launch of Congressional Contacts, our goal will be to use our contacts to reach all the offices we are targeting during an advocacy campaign with someone from their district.

We also plan to offer exclusive advocacy trainings for our Congressional Contacts. The Congressional Relations team is available to support contacts who want to develop ongoing relationships with their members of Congress.

If you are interested in becoming a Congressional Contact, please complete the online form at www.NAHRO.org/contacts. Reach out to the Congressional Relations team at THembree@NAHRO.org or JHampton@NAHRO.org with any questions. Only active NAHRO members are currently eligible to become a Congressional Contact.

Senate Banking Hearing on the Legacy of Racial Discrimination in Housing

~ Jenna Hampton ~ Leave a comment

Today, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee held a virtual hearing titled “Separate and Unequal: The Legacy of Racial Discrimination in Housing.” In their opening statements, Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Ranking Member Pat Toomey (R-PA) both acknowledged the broad history of housing discrimination in the United States.

Chairman Brown explained the purpose of the hearing, stating, “On this Committee, we have an opportunity to address the legacy of housing discrimination. And we have an obligation, under the law that this body passed 53 years ago” (the Fair Housing Act of 1968).

Richard Rothstein, author of The Color of Law and Senior Fellow Emeritus of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, was the first witness to testify. He outlined the history of government-sponsored discrimination in housing and homeownership. For example, he mentioned the role of redlining, racially restrictive covenants, and segregation in federal public housing.

Ms. Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Fair Housing, and Dr. Jason Reece, Assistance Professor of City and Regional Planning at The Ohio State University explained how America’s legacy of housing discrimination continues through current practices. Ms. Rice cited 2019 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HDMA) data showing that 19.01% of Black applicants were denied mortgage loans compared to only 10.15% of White applicants. Dr. Reece pointed out that the legacy of housing discrimination has produced neighborhoods with concentrated poverty and a lack of recourses, which are largely populated by people of color.

Two witnesses from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) also joined the hearing. Mr. Howard Husock, AEI Adjunct Fellow and Contributing Editor for the Manhattan Institute’s City Journal, proposed changes to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. Mr. Tobias Peter, Research Fellow and Director of Research at the AEI Housing Center, pointed to racial discrimination in residential zoning policies and foreclosure-prone affordable housing polices as two major causes of racial disparities in housing.

Following the testimonies, several Senators discussed these housing issues with the witnesses. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) asked whether additions to credit reporting, including reports on utility payments, would help to qualify more Black households for homeownership. Ms. Rice said she believes that those changes would help and that the GSEs (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, etc.) could help to collect that information.

Senator Van Hollen (D-MD) asked Mr. Rothstein about the “race neutral” policies he mentions in his book. Mr. Rothstein described how policies that are superficially race neutral can still have a disparate impact due to the history of racial discrimination. An example of that phenomenon is exclusionary zoning laws that, at least on the surface, do not explicitly mention race.

Senator Warnock (D-GA) asked how to address ongoing discrimination in the appraisal market. Ms. Rice responded that Congress and the administration should enforce the Fair Housing Act, fund fair housing organizations, and re-staff the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Several other Senators from both parties attended the hearing to question the witnesses. All witness testimonies and a recording of the hearing are available at www.banking.senate.gov/hearings