Fair Housing

HUD Announces $38 Million for Fair Housing Grants

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

In a press release on Wednesday, HUD announced that it was making $38 million available in fair housing grants to fight housing discrimination. The grants are a part of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), which provides funding to non-profits and other fair housing organizations to help people who have encountered housing discrimination. The due date for these notices of funding availability is September 18, 2017. The grants announced are listed below.

  • Education and Outreach Initiative grants (EOI) – grants for organizations that educate the public about their rights under federal law and other organizations that enforce certain local fair housing laws. $7,450,000 available by searching FR-6100-N-21-A on Grants.gov.
  • Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) – grants to build “the capacity and effectiveness of non-profit fair housing organizations.” $500,000 available by searching FR-6100-N-21B on Grants.gov.
  • Private Enforcement Initiative grants –  grants for organizations that “conduct intake, testing, investigation and litigation of fair housing complaints.” $30.35 million available by searching FR-6100-N-21C on Grants.gov.

The entire press release can be read here.

Reasonable Accommodation e-Briefing on August 10 at 1:30pm ET

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On August 10 at 1:30pm, NAHRO Professional Development will present an e-Briefing on Reasonable Accommodation. NAHRO Faculty Member Dennis Morgan will answer many of questions – What is a “reasonable accommodation?” What are your responsibilities as a housing provider? What if a request would creat an undue financial burden, or fundamentally alter the nature of a program?

Reminder: Whether you're watching alone or with an audience of 100, only one registration per connected device is required, making NAHRO Professional Development's e-Briefings an outstanding value!

Register Online at www.nahro.org/training-calendar.

Senate Committee Votes Favorably on Three HUD Nominees

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

This morning the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs voted favorably and sent to the full Senate the HUD nominations of Mr. J. Paul Compton, Jr., to be General Counsel; Ms. Anna M. Farias, to be Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity; Mr. Neal J. Rackleff, to be Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.

The committee conducted individual voice votes for each nominee. Mr. Compton’s nomination went to a roll call vote (15 favorable, 7 opposed.) Sens. Brown and Menendez spoke after the vote. Sen. Brown voted “opposed” on all three HUD nominees because of concerns with the nominees’ application and enforcement of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. Sen. Menendez only voted “opposed” on General Counsel nominee, Mr. Compton, because of AFFH concerns where Mr. Compton’s written question answers backtracked on the support for AFFH Mr. Compton expressed during the hearing.

Reminder: Vera Institute of Justice Solicitation for Technical Assistance Application Due Friday (May 12)

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

The Vera Institute of Justice is still soliciting applications for technical assistance from PHAs, including those PHAs running Housing Choice Voucher Programs, who seek to implement reentry programs or to change their policies for the purpose of increasing access to housing for people with conviction histories. There are no financial commitments for PHAs.

Applications will be accepted until this Friday, May 12, 2017. To apply, interested PHAs should send (as a PDF) the following: (1) a letter of intent of commitment; (2) an application narrative; and (3) optional, but recommended, letters of support. All documentation should be sent to kfinley@vera.org.

Our previous blog post on this “Request for Proposals for Technical Assistance” can be found here.

The entire application can be found here.

Vera Institute of Justice Offering Technical Assistance for PHAs Implementing Reentry Programs

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

The Vera Institute of Justice is soliciting applications for technical assistance from PHAs, including those PHAs running Housing Choice Voucher Programs, who seek to implement reentry programs or to change their policies for the purpose of increasing access to housing for people with conviction histories.

PHAs of all sizes and in all geographies are invited to apply. Additionally, PHAs that are in the same geographic area may apply together in a single application, if they have common goals and coordination would facilitate achieving those goals.

The program is offering nine months of technical assistance. Technical assistance includes meeting with PHA staff; meeting with local stakeholders; data analysis identifying the number of potentially barred individuals; policy assistance changing or drafting a PHA’s policy towards individuals with records; access to local consultants; assistance implementing policy change; data analysis after implementation of policy changes; and potential opportunities to foster cross-site learning. PHAs are expected to identify a primary liaison and assist with developing a group of interested community stakeholders. There are no financial commitments for PHAs.

To apply, interested PHAs should send (as a PDF) the following: (1) a letter of intent or commitment; (2) an application narrative; and (3) optional, but recommended, letters of support. All documentation should be sent to kfinley@vera.org.

Applications will be accepted until May 12, 2017. Vera staff will conduct interviews with some applicants and selected sites will be announced in June.

The entire “Request for Proposals for Technical Assistance” can be found here.

Learn more about the Vera Institute of Justice here.

 

TPV Funding for FY 2016 Announced

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

Today, HUD published a list of funding awards for Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPVs) for FY 2016. These vouchers are funded non-competitively on an as-needed basis. They are funded on a first-come, first-serve basis for households that are displaced due to HUD program actions.

TPVS were awarded for the following actions:

  1. to assist families living in HUD-owned properties that are being sold;
  2. to assist families affected by the expiration or termination of their Project-based Section 8 and Moderate Rehabilitation contracts;
  3. to assist families in properties where the owner has prepaid the HUD mortgage;
  4. to assist families in projects where the Rental Supplement and Rental Assistance Payments contracts are expiring (RAD—Second Component);
  5. to provide relocation housing assistance in connection with the demolition of public housing;
  6. to provide replacement housing assistance for single room occupancy (SRO) units that fail housing quality standards (HQS);
  7. to assist families in public housing developments that are scheduled for demolition in connection with a HUD-approved HOPE VI revitalization or demolition grant; and (8) to assist families consistent with PIH Notice 2016-12, “Funding Availability for Tenant-Protection Vouchers for Certain At-Risk Households in Low-Vacancy Areas—Fiscal Year 2016” and PIH Notice 2015-07, “Funding Availability for Tenant-Protection Vouchers for Certain At-Risk Households in Low-Vacancy Areas—Fiscal Year 2015.”

In total, HUD awarded $86,970,667 for 9,606 housing choice vouchers. The notice lists the awardees alphabetically by state.

The full notice can be read here.

NAHRO Releases 2017 Legislative and Regulatory Agenda

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

2017 Leg Agenda CoverAs the 2017 Washington Conference begins this week, we are proud to present NAHRO’s 2017 Legislative and Regulatory Agenda.

This year’s agenda builds on our previous Transition 2017, Legislative and Regulatory Year in Review – 2016 documents. It also serves as an extension of our outreach to the new Congress, which introduces NAHRO and its positions. The 2017 Legislative and Regulatory Agenda provides specific priorities and positions that will guide the NAHRO legislative and regulatory roadmap for the coming year.

This agenda is not intended to catalogue all the efforts and policies that NAHRO will actively pursue in 2017. There are many issues — including ones that may rise in priority as federal policymakers act over the course of the year — that will feature prominently in NAHRO’s efforts on behalf of its members and the communities they serve.

Our most vulnerable citizens find a safe harbor and a place to call home in the work of public housing authorities and community development agencies. NAHRO members will continue to meet the challenge of building stronger communities and ensuring that all Americans have a stable, affordable place to call home in which they can live, grow and thrive.

Please read, review, and share NAHRO’s 2017 Legislative and Regulatory Agenda, and feel free to use it to develop and coordinate your agency, local, county, state and regional legislative and regulatory advocacy plans for 2017.

New and updated legislative and regulatory information is available on the Congressional Relations and Policy & Program Development webpages on the NAHRO website and on the NAHRO Blog.

Senate Confirms Dr. Ben Carson as HUD Secretary

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ 2 Comments

Earlier today, the United States Senate confirmed Dr. Ben Carson as the 17th Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. He was confirmed on a vote of 58 to 41. NAHRO has invited Secretary Carson to speak at the 2017 NAHRO Washington Conference. NAHRO has also invited the Secretary to listen to the concerns of PHAs and RDAs as part of the countrywide listening tour he mentioned during his confirmation hearing. We look forward to working with him.

[3/3/17 Edit – HUD’s press release can be found here.]

Upcoming NAHRO e-Briefing on HUD Year in Review

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

 

On February 7, 2017, img_0015NAHRO will present, Moving Forward: A Review of 2016 Regulation and
Legislation, part of NAHRO’s Housing Rules!! series.

The NAHRO Policy team will discuss
many areas that HUD and Congress addressed during 2016 and NAHRO reviewed in detail
in NAHRO’s Regulatory and Legislative Year in Review – 2016, which will provide a solid regulatory and legislative foundation as we work with the new Administration and new Congress to keep our affordable housing agenda moving forward.

Registration information for this e-Briefing and other professional development offerings is available through the NAHRO Professional Development calendar.

NAHRO Releases Regulatory and Legislative Year in Review – 2016

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

In 2016, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was very busy setting forth new rules and regulations and providing updated notices and guidances on many of the HUD administered affordable housing programs. The year has also been marked by many legislative victories and a few challenges.

img_0015NAHRO has drafted and compiled this Regulatory and Legislative Year in Review – 2016 to provide a primer of the topics on the forefront of the affordable housing industry. It can also provide you, your public housing agencies (PHAs) and local redevelopment agencies (LRAs) and your stakeholders with current information on many of the programs used and administered by HUD and the affordable housing community.

The full Regulatory and Legislative Year in Review – 2016, along with the individual topic one-pagers, is available on the NAHRO website. For the most up-to-date versions and information visit the NAHRO website and the NAHRO blog.

NAHRO Policy and Congressional teams are also conducting two e-Briefings through NAHRO Professional Development. The first is This Just in from Washington on January 31, 2017, where NAHRO’s Congressional team will give you an update on FY2017 appropriations, preview FY2018, outline potential legislative action on HCD programs, and discuss ways in which you can be the most effective advocate in this rapidly changing political climate. The second is part of the Housing Rules! Series, Moving Forward: A Review of 2016 Regulation and Legislation on February 7, 2017, where NAHRO’s Policy team will discuss many areas that HUD and Congress addressed during 2016 and NAHRO reviewed in detail in NAHRO’s Regulatory and Legislative Year in Review – 2016, which will provide a solid regulatory and legislative foundation as we work with the new Administration and new Congress to keep our affordable housing agenda moving forward. Registration information for both of these e-Briefings is available through the NAHRO Professional Development calendar.