Author: Tushar Gurjal

HUD Publishes FY 2022 HCV Implementation Notice

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

On May 19th, HUD published the 2022 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Implementation notice (PIH Notice 2022-14). Titled “Implementation of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2022 Funding Provisions for the Housing Choice Voucher Program,” this notice details how HUD will allocate the money appropriated by Congress for the HCV program.

The notice notes how much money Congress has allocated for each voucher account for 2022; how the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) renewal formula is calculated; and discusses the administrative fee rate. It also notes how to apply for administrative fee special fees, HAP set-aside funds, and certain other fees. The notice also discusses each voucher account, and where applicable, notes if another notice will discuss it further. The notice states that the mobility-related services account of $25 million will have a Notice of Funding Opportunity at a later date and that the new $200 million in funding for vouchers will be allocated by a noncompetitive notice with an operational notice following soon afterwards.

Perhaps the biggest change in this notice from prior years is that eligibility for tenant protection vouchers (TPVs) is changed. HUD will no longer provide replacement TPVs for vacant units that were occupied by a family within the previous 24 months. At this time, HUD will only provide replacement TPVs for occupied units. If there are any additional TPV funds at the end of 2022, then HUD may decide to provide TPVs for the vacant units that were occupied within the last 24 months.

Interestingly, the notice hints that the eligible uses of administrative fees may be clarified. It states that “HUD intends to issue additional guidance on the use of administrative fees for other expenses of PHAs administering the HCV program in a forthcoming notice.” NAHRO applauds this forthcoming clarification of administrative fee uses as the current eligible uses are overly circumscribed and not required by any statutory language.

NAHRO members will receive additional information on this notice.

The full notice can be found here.

Administration Announces Housing Supply Action Plan

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ 1 Comment

On May 16, the administration announced a housing supply action plan that is intended to “ease the burden of housing costs over time, by boosting the supply of quality housing in every community.” The plan includes both legislative and administrative actions and is meant to align with other policies currently in effect (e.g., federal rental assistance) to create more affordable rents and make homeownership more affordable.

While the plan includes many specific actions, many of those actions can be grouped into the following categories.

  • Incentivizing jurisdictions to reform their zoning and land-use policies by giving higher scores to jurisdictions that do this in federal grant allocations.
  • Implementing new financing mechanisms to build and preserve housing, including manufactured housing; accessory dwelling units; two to four unit properties; and other multifamily buildings.
  • Improving existing federal financing for development and preservation, which includes making construction to permanent loans more available; promoting the use of COVID recovery funds for affordable housing; reforming the low-income housing tax credit and the HOME program.
  • Ensuring that more housing goes to owners that live in the units or non-profits that will rehabilitate them.
  • Addressing supply chain issues by working with the private sector.

The White House’s full announcement of their housing supply action plan can be found here.

Public Housing Residents and Section 8 Program Participants Eligible for Affordable Connectivity Program

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Public housing residents and Section 8 program participants are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The program provides a discount of up to $30 per month (and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying tribal lands) towards internet service for eligible households. Households can also receive up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute between $10 and $50 toward the purchase price.

To enroll in the program, a household has to do the following:

  1. Complete an online or mail-in application at ACPBenefit.org; and
  2. Contact a participating provider to select an internet plan and have the ACP discount applied.

There is a limit of one monthly service discount and one device per household.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has created a consumer outreach toolkit. The toolkit includes infographics, fact sheets, flyers, consumer handouts, audio public service announcements, videos, newsletter blurbs, press release text, and sample social media posts to help spread the word about the program. It also includes translations of some of the handouts, web resources, and a speaker request section.

Additional information on the Affordable Connectivity Program can be found here.

HUD’s guide to the program can be found here.

A program fact sheet can be found here.

The FCC’s ACP Consumer Outreach Toolkit can be found here.

MTW Expansion Cohort #4 – What Is It and How to Apply?

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Wednesday, May 18th at 2 pm ET

HUD recently announced that they are accepting applications for admission into the Asset Building Cohort of the Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration Program. The cohort will expand the overall program to an additional 30 PHAs with 6,000 combined units or less by the end of the year. NAHRO’s policy team will discuss the background to the MTW expansion, the asset building options for the new cohort, eligibility for the cohort, the application process, and the requirements of the application. There will be time to ask NAHRO staff questions.

Registration for the webinar can be found here.

New Opportunities to Learn Asset Building Strategies

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Earlier today, the HUD Moving to Work (MTW) office sent an email with information about upcoming webinars on asset building strategies that PHAs can employ to help their residents. Asset building (as defined in PIH 2022-11–the MTW cohort on asset building) is defined as “activities that encourage the growth of savings accounts and/or aim to build credit for assisted households.” The information from the email is reproduced below.

  • Asset Building Opportunities for HUD-Assisted Tenants
    Tuesday, May 10, 2022 | 2:00-3:00 pm EST
    Join HUD and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Webinar to learn the key financial components for people trying to build assets & increase financial well-being.
    Link to Join | Access Code: KbnJzUPA?782
  • How to Apply – MTW Expansion Asset Building Cohort Webinar
    Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | 2:00 – 3:00 pm EST
    During this webinar, HUD will walk through the selection notice and application materials and give PHAs more information about this cohort.
    Link to Join | Join via telephone phone at 888-251-2949 | Access Code 3334803#
  • Rent Reporting and Credit Building Opportunities for PHA Residents
    Tuesday, June 7, 2022, 2:00-3:00 pm EST
    Join HUD and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Webinar to learn about strategies for helping public housing residents build positive credit histories.
    Link to Join | Access Code: 2SThfN6Zmj$2

MTW Notice on Fourth Cohort Application Process Published

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Earlier today, HUD published Notice PIH 2022-11 which states the process by which PHAs may apply to participate in the fourth cohort of the Moving to Work (MTW) Program. The notice is titled “Request for Applications under the Moving to Work Demonstration Program: Asset Building Cohort.” MTW allows PHAs additional flexibilities to customize and implement innovative solutions that best serve the needs of a PHA’s community. Applications for this cohort are due on July 28, 2022.

In addition to providing full MTW flexibilities to chosen PHAs, this cohort will also seek to answer research questions related to “Asset Building Initiatives.” The Department seeks to find PHAs to fill 30 remaining slots available in the MTW expansion. Selected housing agencies will participate in one of three asset building initiatives, which encourage the growth of savings accounts or aim to build credit for assisted households. The asset building initiatives are the following:

  • Opt-Out Savings Account Option – PHAs must deposit a certain amount of funds per month into an escrow account on behalf of an assisted household.
  • Credit Building Option – PHAs must report public housing rent payments to credit bureaus.
  • PHA-Designed Asset Building Option – PHAs must design their own local asset building program.

HUD will conduct an informational webinar on May 24, 2022 at 2 pm ET. The Department will discuss the notice and an MTW agency will share its experience with asset building initiatives.

To join the webinar, at the appointed time, click here. To access the webinar by phone, dial 888-251-2949 or 215-861-0694 and use the access code 3334803# at the designated time.

NAHRO members will receive additional information on this notice in the near future.

New Webinar on Using PBVs

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On April 21st, from 2 pm to 3 pm ET, HUD will host a webinar on how PHAs can expand their project-based voucher (PBV) portfolio. According to HUD, “[t]his webinar will review the PBV program requirement, highlight PBV resources, and provide case studies for how PHAs have used PBVs to improve HCV program utilization.”

Registration for the webinar can be found here.

HUD Extends Streamlined Waiver Requests for Certain HCV Waivers

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On April 11th, HUD published a notice extending the time in which certain Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) waivers could be applied for in an expedited manner. The notice is titled “Streamlined Regulatory Waivers for the Housing Choice Voucher (including Mainstream and Mod Rehab) Program” (PIH 2022-09).

The notice extends the deadline–until September 30, 2022–to apply for three specific waivers that apply to the Housing Choice Voucher program. These waivers were previously available through prior notices, but the deadline to apply through the expedited process had ended.

The three waivers that are still available for the HCV program are the following:

  • Increase in Payment Standard During HAP Contract Term – this waiver would allow the PHA to increase the payment standard for a family at any time after the effective date of the increase, rather than waiting for the next regular reexamination.
  • Term of Voucher: Extensions of Term – this waiver would allow PHAs to grant extensions of the initial voucher term, irrespective of what is written in the PHA’s administrative plan.
  • Voucher Tenancy: New Payment Standard Amount – this waiver would allow PHAs to establish payment standards from 111 to 120 percent of the Fair Market Rent (FMR).

In requesting a waiver, the PHA must articulate a good cause justification. The good cause justification must include three elements: 1) why the PHA needs the waiver; 2) the impact on PHA operations or applicants if the waiver is not provided; and 3) the proposed waiver duration. The waiver may not extend past Dec. 31, 2022. The notice provides examples of good cause.

To request a waiver, PHAs should email PIH_Expedited_Waivers@hud.gov. The notice provides instructions on the information required and the proper formatting of the email request.

The full notice can be found here.

New HUD Notice Provides Opportunity for Additional Mainstream Vouchers and Additional Administrative Fees

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In April, HUD released a notice providing an opportunity for PHAs to access additional Mainstream vouchers. The notice is titled “Mainstream Vouchers – Non-Competitive Opportunity for Additional Vouchers Authorized by the CARES Act and Extraordinary Administrative Funding” (Notice PIH 2022-07). The notice provides an opportunity for PHAs to receive new Mainstream vouchers and extraordinary administrative fees. The Department will make up to $35 million available for these vouchers. The deadline to apply for these vouchers and additional administrative fees is no later than May 6, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET.

Housing agencies that are eligible for these vouchers must meet certain requirements. Those PHAs that have previously received Mainstream vouchers from certain notices and that have a Mainstream voucher utilization rate of 80% or higher as of Nov. 2021 are eligible.

To receive an allocation of new Mainstream vouchers, a PHA, through its Executive Director (or equivalent position), must submit a form HUD-52515, according to instructions in the notice, via email to MainstreamFunding@hud.gov. The subject line of the email must include the PHA’s unique identifying number and the words “Request for Mainstream Award for COVID-19 Response.” Outstanding civil rights matters must be resolved before the Department will award additional Mainstream vouchers under this notice.

The Department will award vouchers by granting either the number of vouchers the PHA requests or number of vouchers determined by the PHA’s size, if the number the PHA requests is larger than the number allocated by size. HUD may, at its discretion, grant fewer vouchers. The maximum number of vouchers HUD will grant according to PHA size is detailed below:

  • PHAs with more than 5,000 vouchers – Up to 50 Mainstream vouchers under this notice;
  • PHAs with more than 1,000 vouchers, but fewer than 5,000 vouchers – Up to 30 Mainstream vouchers under this notice; and
  • PHAs with fewer than 1,000 vouchers – Up to 10 Mainstream vouchers.

The deadline for to apply for these vouchers is no later than May 6, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET.

Additionally, extraordinary administrative fees will also be made available. The Department will make available $500 dollars per voucher awarded in certain prior Mainstream voucher notices and this notice. Applications for these administrative fees must be received no later than May 6, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET. To apply for the funds a PHA’s Executive Director, or equivalent position, must send an email to MainstreamFunding@hud.gov, with a subject line that includes the PHA’s unique identifying code and the words “EAF Mainstream Application” and includes a statement printed in the notice. The notice also contains certain other details about what should be included in the application email.

The full notice can be found here.

Afghan Arrivals and USCIS SAVE Program Training

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A recent email from HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing states that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and HUD will be holding training sessions for HUD staff and HUD-funded housing providers–including PHAs. The trainings will provide information and resources regarding Afghan arrivals, including federal benefits for which they may be eligible, documentation they may present to apply for benefits, and information on how to verify their immigration status using the SAVE program. These Afghan arrivals are people who entered the country through Operation Allies Welcome.

While USCIS and HUD will not record the training or distribute a copy of the presentation, much of the content can be found here.

Links to register for both training sessions may be found below. (Please note: although the registration links appear to sign the person registering for the webinar for an email newsletter, the links will actually register an individual for the webinar.)

  • Session 1: Thursday, April 7, 2022, 1:00 – 2:00 PM EDT 
  • Session 2: Thursday, April 14, 2022, 2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT