Affordable Housing

Homeland Security’s Public Charge Rule Implementation Stopped!

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

On July 29, 2020, Judge George B. Daniels of the U.S District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction and temporary stay of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Public Charge rule. Judge Daniels’ order provides that DHS and U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) can not enforce, apply, implement, or treat as effective the Public Charge rule as long as “there is a declared national health emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.”

The preliminary injunction and temporary stay applies nationwide as Judge Daniels wrote, “Each infected individual that travels to Governmental Plaintiffs’ jurisdiction [States of New York, Connecticut, and Vermont; and City of New York] risks undoing crucial progress made in combating this disease. Discouraging noncitizens nationwide from obtaining necessary treatment and care certainly undermines those efforts. Issuing geographically limited relief would not meaningfully abate the public health risk, especially when applied to a population that represents a significant portion of essential workers who continue to work outside of their homes ans interact with the public at large.”

The Public Charge rule, that defined public charge to include individuals receiving federal housing benefits, took effect February 24, 2020; after previous injunctions and stays were lifted by the U.S. Supreme Court. It is anticipated that Judge Daniels’ preliminary injunction and temporary stay order will also be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The July 29, 2020 order can be view here. NAHRO’s Public Charge One-Pager provides additional information on the DHS Public Charge rule. NAHRO will continue to follow the implementation of DHS’s Public Charge rule and share additional information as we receive it.

How COVID-19 Sheds New Light on Lung Health and Smoke-Free Public Housing Webinar – Aug. 12 at 2pm EST

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

Clean Air for All invites you to join us for a complimentary upcoming webinar: How COVID-19 Sheds New Light on Lung Health and Smoke-Free Public Housing. We will discuss ways COVID-19 has impacted smoke-free public housing, learn about the link between smoking, secondhand smoke exposure, and COVID-19, and share resources and strategies to help PHAs manage smoke-free housing during the pandemic.

We are honored to be joined by Dr. Brian King, Deputy Director for Research Translation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for this discussion.

Webinar Objectives:

  • Describe the state of the science with regard to smoking, secondhand smoke exposure and COVID-19.
  • Illustrate ways the COVID-19 pandemic may impact smoke-free public housing and discuss potential adaptive strategies.
  • Outline existing resources to help public health authorities (PHA) improve smoke-free policies.
  • List smoking cessation support resources for public housing authorities (PHA).

Register today for our How COVID-19 Sheds New Light on Lung Health and Smoke-Free Public Housing Webinar!

Clean Air for All: The Smoke-Free Public Housing Project is a collaboration of Live Smoke Free (LSF) a program of the Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). This project is made possible with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Operating Fund Shortfall Application Released

~ Eric Oberdorfer ~ Leave a comment

On July 28, HUD released Notice PIH-2020-16 “Implementation of Public Housing Operating Fund Shortfall Funding from Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2020 Appropriations.” The 2020 Appropriations Act set aside $25 million of the Operating Fund to be allocated to public housing agencies that experience insolvency. This set-aside will be distributed via a need-based application process not subject to the Operating Fund formula. HUD may distribute any remaining funds to all public housing agencies on a pro-rata basis after all insolvency needs are met. The notice provides guidance regarding eligibility, the process for applying, and other requirements for the $25 million set-aside of Public Housing Operating Funds to assist PHAs experiencing financial insolvency. 

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Webinar for the HCV Mobility Demonstration

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials with our friends, CLPHA, is sponsoring a free webinar on HUD’s new mobility demonstration put on by Mobility Works, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and Opportunity Insights.

On July 15, HUD released a notice implementing the $50 million Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration. This important demonstration will enable selected public housing agencies to implement or expand programs that help families to use housing vouchers to locate in “high-opportunity” neighborhoods, which research shows can significantly improve adult and child well-being on several key measures, including children’s chances of attending college.

Housing agencies participating in the program will receive new housing vouchers as well as funding to provide robust mobility services to families with children. Agencies will also participate in a rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of their mobility programs.

Please join us for this free webinar on August 11, 2020 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ET to discuss the details of HUD’s demonstration notice, as well as the lessons that experienced practitioners and researchers have learned about developing effective housing mobility programs.

AGENDA

Moderator, Demetria McCain, Inclusive Communities Project

I. The requirements of the HUD NOFA:
● Doug Rice, Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
● Megan Haberle, Deputy Director, Poverty & Race Research and Action Council

II. Developing a regional housing mobility plan:
● Andrea Juracek, Executive Director, Housing Choice Partners
● Jeffery Patterson, CEO of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority

III. Reflections on working with researchers on a mobility evaluation:
● Sarah Oppenheimer, Opportunity Insights
● Andrew Lofton, Seattle Housing Authority

Registration for the free webinar can be found here.

This Wednesday: NAHRO Legislator of the Year Todd Young Kicks off August Advocacy Campaign

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

This Wednesday at 2pm eastern time, NAHRO is hosting a complimentary webinar awarding NAHRO’s Co-Legislator of the Year and kicking off NAHRO’s August Advocacy Campaign.

NAHRO has an ambitious goal this August – send 8,501 letters to Capitol Hill during the upcoming Congressional August recess. NAHRO Legislator of the Year Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) will join NAHRO to receive his award and help us kick off our August advocacy campaign.

NAHRO Director of Congressional Relations Tess Hembree will also lead a conversation with members of the Legislative Network on their advocacy successes and how they plan to advocate for housing and community development this summer.

Don’t miss this critical conversation on how you can have your voice heard by lawmakers this summer.

Click here to register!

Final AFFH Rule Released

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

Late last week, HUD published on its website a final rule titled “Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice.” This rule implements the Fair Housing Act’s duty to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH). Although the rule has not yet been published in the Federal Register, it will go into effect 30 days after its official publication.

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2020 FSS NOFA Released

~ Eric Oberdorfer ~ Leave a comment

HUD has recently published its FY 2020 Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). The NOFA is available at grants.gov. The 2020 Appropriations Act provided $80 million for the FSS program. Applications are due August 20, 2020. Applicants must have an up-to-date DUNS number, SAM.gov registration and grants.gov registration.

Only PHAs that were funded for FSS in at least one of the last years are eligible to apply for this NOFA. HUD will not have a NOFA for new applicants in FY 2020.

HUD will also be hosting a webinar on the FSS NOFA Monday July 27 from 1:30pm – 3pm Eastern. You can register here.

Choice Neighborhoods Program Presentation – 7/27

~ Eric Oberdorfer ~ Leave a comment

HUD will be hosting an online presentation on Monday, July 27 at 2pm ET on the use of Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Implementation Grants across the country. Hosted by Mindy Turbov, Director of HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Program, the presentation will focus on the successes and impacts of the program. Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants support the development of comprehensive community-driven neighborhood plans, which direct resources to address three core areas: Housing, People and Neighborhood. In each community, the plan becomes the guiding document for the revitalization of the severely distressed public and/or HUD-assisted housing units, critical improvements in the surrounding neighborhood, and positive outcomes for families.

As a reminder, applications for the FY20 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants are due September 14, 2020.

Join the Zoom Meeting on Monday, July 27 at 2 pm ET

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86135158689?pwd=NXF4dktBODJsYVZPWnB6NDVtdlIyQT09

Meeting ID: 861 3515 8689

Passcode: 478083

CARES Act Eviction Moratorium Ends This Week, Eviction Prevention Resources

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

Section 4024 of the CARES Act stopped non-payment of rent evictions (and stopped imposing fees and penalties for non-payment of rent) for 120 days beginning on March 27 for many tenants receiving Federal rental assistance including the Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, and Project-Based Voucher programs. The 120-day eviction moratorium expires this Saturday, July 25, meaning Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and landlords may begin issuing 30-day notices to vacate for non-payment of rent after July 25, 2020.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has encouraged tenants, landlords, and PHAs to work together to minimize the impact of the CARES Act eviction moratorium ending. Tenants should contact their PHA notifying them of any reduction of income due to the pandemic. Landlords and PHAs should reach out and coordinate with tenants concerning unpaid rent, including potential repayment agreements. PHAs should also consider implementing retroactive recertifications and informing their tenants of their availability.

Below are links to HUD and NAHRO eviction moratorium and eviction prevention resources:

NAHRO continues to provide the latest housing related COVID-19 information at www.nahro.org/coronavirus.

HUD PIH Posts Updated COVID-19 FAQ (Revision 5)

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

The Department’s Office of Public and Indian Housing has updated their COVID-19 frequently-asked-questions (FAQ) document to revision 5. This revision updates information related to the evictions moratorium, preventing evictions, PHA operational considerations, contacting HUD staff, use of disaster-related funding, retroactive reexaminations, whether to consider CARES act unemployment benefits in calculating income, HQS inspections, and many other topics.

The FAQ can be found here.

It can also be found on NAHRO’s coronavirus page.