HUD has published PIH Notice 2023-24, “Implementation of a Voluntary and Anonymous HUD Inspection Feedback Survey for Incorporation into the National Standards for the Physical inspection of Real Estate Program.” This notice explains the role of resident feedback in NSPIRE inspections and includes the following key details.

• The residents of each unit inspected under NSPIRE will have the opportunity to provide feedback about the inspection experience and their unit’s physical condition;
• This feedback will not factor into NSPIRE scores but may inform future NSPIRE inspections;
• Residents will access this survey via a flyer left behind by inspectors, usually on the kitchen counter; and
• This feedback will commence with the implementation of NSPIRE inspections for each unit type (July 1, 2023 for all public housing units and Multifamily Housing that participated in the NSPIRE Demonstration, October 1, 2023 for all other programs).

See the September 15 edition of The NAHRO Monitor and Notice 2023-24 for more information.

Join the NAHRO Small Agency Advisory Committee for a webinar with two case studies focused on collaboration for small agencies. Hear from George Guy, Housing Authority of the City of Fort Wayne Executive Director and Carol Branham, former PHA Executive Director and current local government elected official. Both speakers will focus on strategies small agencies can use to collaborate with outside organizations.

Registration Link: https://nahro-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VZsMJPa2TY2TQn2mfeCgCw

On August 23, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a final rule titled “Guidance for Grants and Agreements” to support the implementation of the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA). This rule is directed toward federal agencies and will provide uniformity in how specific materials are considered. OMB will release additional information via a memo that will take effect on the same day as this new regulation, October 23, 2023.

Under BABA, iron and steel, construction materials, and manufactured goods must comply with the law’s Buy America Preference. This rule differentiates between the three categories and applies their definitions to certain products used in infrastructure projects.

NAHRO submitted comments in response to OMB’s proposed rule in March 2023 and will continue communicating with HUD or other agencies as BABA is implemented. For more discussion about this final rule, see the September 1 edition of The NAHRO Monitor.

PIH Notice 2023-23 “Public Housing Operating Subsidy Grant Eligibility Calculations and Processing for Calendar Year (CY) 2024” updates requirements for the upcoming year. HUD highlights the following changes in this notice since the previous version:

• Each year, form HUD-50058 must be submitted by July 30 for the reporting period ending June 30, and HUD uses calendar days throughout the notice;
• HUD-52722 and HUD-52723 have changed format; and
• There are additional details for using “actual costs” when making appeals based on project expense levels (PELs) and additional details concerning appeals.

Otherwise, PIH Notice 2023-23 covers the same requirements as PIH 2022-36.

The notice provides useful links, including the Operating Subsidy Grant Processing Webpage, Operating Fund Web Portal, and Operating Subsidy Grant Listserv. The grant processing webpage will house 2024 Operating Fund documents, the web portal provides deadlines as well as electronic tools and other resources, and the listserv webpage allows PHAs to sign up for mass emails as well as operating fund data from previous years.

For more information about this notice, see the September 1 issue of The NAHRO Monitor.

On August 14, HUD announced that they will be launching a series of webinars to explain the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the newly established program Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing). The program focuses on supporting communities who are actively taking steps to remove barriers to affordable housing.

The first webinar will take place on August 17, 2023 at 3pm ET. It will provide an overview of data resources and tools for applicants.

The PRO Housing program is governed by statutes and regulations of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. For those interested in viewing the NOFO, a preview version can be found on the HUD website. The official publication is expected for early September 2023 with an application deadline of October 30, 2023, at 11:59 pm ET.

For more information on the program please see here.

Those interested in attending the webinar can register here.

On August 14, HUD announced the availability of approximately $73 million in HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) funding, with up to $10 million of the appropriated funds to be utilized for administrative and other expenses of PHAs. The vouchers are administered in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and enable homeless veterans and their families to access affordable housing with an array of supportive services.

Eligible PHAs who are interested in receiving HUD-VASH funding are expected to register via an interest form located on the HUD website. The deadline to fill out the form is Friday, September 15, 2023 by midnight of the PHA’s time zone.

HUD anticipates issuing guidance on the availability of funding and the application process by Fall 2023. Additionally, HUD anticipates that this funding will support approximately 7,500 new HUD-VASH vouchers.

To fill out the Registration of Interest form, please see here.

To view the full notice, please see here.

The Department of Labor (DOL) scheduled the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations final rule for public inspection in The Federal Register on August 23, 2023. It is currently available on public inspection. The DOL emphasized that this rule is “the first comprehensive regulatory review in nearly 40 years” and responds to comments to the proposed rule received in 2022. NAHRO submitted comments emphasizing the need to facilitate the construction of affordable housing.

This final rule changes the methodology for calculating prevailing wages and other wage rates, expands and modifies definitions, and updates compliance and enforcement details.

In addition to the Final Rule, the DOL published a webpage including the text of the rule itself, a helpful Frequently Asked Questions document, comparison chart, and a registration link to informational webinars on September 13^th and 14^th.

See The NAHRO Monitor and upcoming NAHRO Direct News for further details.

HUD has released a list of policies related to Sections 102 and 104 of HOTMA that PHAs must update and include in their Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plans (ACOPs) and/or Administrative Plans (Admin Plans) by January 1, 2024. The list identifies specific regulations in HOTMA, the related HOTMA policy background, and the policies that have some discretion – policy choices that PHAs need to make and include in their ACOPs or Admin Plans. The list can be found here, though it may be subject to further revision based on additional guidance or other factors.  

Although Sections 102 and 104 of HOTMA will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, PHAs will have additional time to comply. PHAs should be in compliance as quickly as possible with Sections 102 and 104 once they go into effect, but no later than Jan. 1, 2025. This date will be established by HUD via a forthcoming notice, and the Department still needs to release additional guidance to help PHAs and software vendors implement these new policies.