From the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA):

Held every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaboration between government and private industry to raise awareness about digital security and empower everyone to protect their personal data from digital forms of crime and malicious cyber actors. The month is dedicated to creating resources and communications for organizations to talk to their employees and customers about staying safe online.

This year marks the 20^th Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Like technology, Cybersecurity Awareness Month has grown rapidly. People now celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month all over the world! As we become more dependent on technology every day, though, we all know we have a long way to go to help us all stay safe online.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) needs your help to amplify messaging and get the Nation to take action throughout the month and year-round. This year, the organizations will will focus on four key behaviors everyone can take to reduce cyber risk:

• Turning on MFA
• Using strong passwords and a password manager
• Updating software regularly
• Recognizing and reporting phishing

Join CISA and the National Cybersecurity Alliance for a webinar on August 9th from 2-3pm ET to learn how you and your organization can get involved. To register, click here.

For more information, and to partner with CISA for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, contact us at AwarenessCampaigns@cisa.dhs.gov.

On July 26, HUD announced $370 million in Choice Implementation Grants set to be awarded to eight cities across the country. The new grantees join 44 other Choice Neighborhoods sites nationwide.

HUD Secretary Fudge visited Birmingham, Alabama, where she presented one of the eight grants in person. From August 1 through August 4 leadership from HUD will visit the remaining communities receiving awards.

The recipients include:

Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient (if applicable)	Amount
City of Tucson, AZ	$50,000,000
Housing Authority of the Birmingham District / City of Birmingham, AL	$50,000,000
Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta / City of Atlanta, GA	$40,000,000
Lake Charles Housing Authority / City of Lake Charles, LA	$40,000,000
Housing Authority of the City Pittsburgh / City of Pittsburgh, PA	$50,000,000
Miami-Dade County, FL	$40,000,000
Philadelphia Housing Authority / City of Philadelphia, PA	$50,000,000
Wilmington Housing Authority / City of Wilmington, DE	$50,000,000
Total Award Amount	$370,000,000

On July 27, HUD published a supplement to the RAD Notice (Notice H-2023-08/PIH 2023-19, Rev 4-b) which implements certain changes to the Rental Assistance Demonstration program. The notice will go into effect immediately following publication in the Federal Register. Major revisions in the notice include:

• RAD for PRAC initial contract rent setting to help implement funding provisions included in FY 22 and FY 23 Consolidated Appropriations Acts. The Notice allows additional rent-setting flexibility to promote and incentivize projects where the conversion supports long-term preservation of PRAC Section 202 units.
• Enhanced descriptions of resident engagement that must be submitted with the RAD application and modified resident meeting requirements.
• Raised minimum energy efficiency requirements and additional climate resilience planning.
• Harmonizing radon policies in RAD conversions by requiring all projects converting through RAD to be evaluated for radon.
• Additional information on the treatment of zero-HAP families in RAD conversions.
• Simplified Faircloth-to-RAD requirements where PHAs can secure conditional pre-completion approvals to convert newly developed public housing units to long-term Section 8 contracts through RAD.
• Additional clarification on the applicability of Housing Quality Standards (HQS) during the work period for occupied units and adds a certification requirement regarding the condition of the unit prior to the unit entering the HAP contract.  
• Additional waivers to RAD/Section 18 blends to facilitate uniform treatment of residents and units.

The Notice can be found here. HUD will also be hosting a live webinar to provide an overview of the RAD Supplemental Notice on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. Register here.  

On July 27, HUD announced the launch of a new $85 million grant program Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing). The program is focused on supporting communities who are actively taking steps towards removing barriers to affordable housing. Funds from the PRO Housing program are governed by statutes and regulations of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

Currently, HUD has released a preview copy of the fiscal 2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), with has an expected application deadline of October 30, 2023. HUD plans to make approximately 20 awards available ranging from $1 million to $10 million. The program would have a performance period of six years with an expected start date in January 2024 and end date in September of 2029.

The program is eligible to state governments, local governments (i.e., city and county governments), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and multijurisdictional entities.

For more information on the program please see here.

Join NAHRO today from 1:30 – 2:30pm ET for a members-only, extended repeat of our Washington Report from the 2023 NAHRO Summer Symposium and learn more about our new NAHRO 360 Report. Whether you were unable to join us at our symposium in DC or are interested in hearing more about appropriations and upcoming HUD regulations, this free for members session will let you hear directly from NAHRO staff. There is much to discuss including what’s happening with FY24 appropriations, new regulations and guidance, including AFFH, NSPIRE, HOTMA, BABA, and other topics. Come and learn about everything happening at HUD and in Congress! Register here.

Download necessary files by August 31, 2023

On July 26, HUD announced that files PHAs have uploaded to the Section 3 Performance Evaluation and Registry System (SPEARS) will be moved to an internal storage space. PHAs who have uploaded Section 3 documentation will lose access to these files as of September 1, 2023, so agencies should download any files they will need for their reference. Once moved on September 1, PHAs will need to reach out to their field office to request files.

This update comes after PIH Notice 2022-38 clarified that while Section 3 reporting will be conducted via SPEARS’ replacement system, S3R, it is not ready for use. Notice 2022-38 requires PHAs to comply with Section 3, store compliance  documentation internally, and wait to upload this documentation until further notice. See the July 31 edition of The NAHRO Monitor for more links and details.  

Requests due July 31, 2023

HUD has released PIH Notice 2023-17. This notice updates the prior 2022 guidance on the Rate Reduction Incentive program (RRI) in public housing and several related utility and Operating Fund programs by changing the request date to July 31 each year. The RRI allows PHAs to keep a portion of cost savings—generally half—from specific types of practices that decrease its utility rate to be used for Operating Fund purposes. The 2022 notice modified and made additions to the RRI eligibility, request, and calculation processes. It also described program requirements for participating PHAs. Notice 2023-18 maintains those requirements.

July 20 from 1-2pm ET

HUD is hosting a webinar concerning applications for the Capital Fund At-Risk / Receivership / Substandard / Troubled Program NOFO announced in June. Registration for this webinar is not required, but HUD asks that attendees use this link to join ten minutes early. Applications for this NOFO are due August 21, 2023.