Policy

New Eviction Moratorium Resident Flyer Released by NHLP and NAHRO

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) have collaborated to produce a resident flyer on the federal eviction moratorium. The flyer is designed for Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher residents and simplifies the 120-day eviction moratorium that was included in the CARES Act when it passed in March by using a question and answer format along with descriptive case studies.

The eviction moratorium flyer is available here and on NAHRO’s COVID-19 Resource page at www.nahro.org/coronavirus.

Click to access NAHRO_NHLP_FinalTenantFlyer_2sided_6.12.2020.pdf

HUD PIH to Hold Conference Call on COVID-19 Best Practices for PHAs on June 16th at 3 pm ET

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

In an email sent earlier today, HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) stated that they will be holding a conference call on June 16, 2020 at 3 pm ET, which will feature 3 PHAs that will share PHA best practices during COVID-19. The Department invites PHAs to submit their own best practices and submit topics for future calls to PIH@hud.gov. Call in information is available below.

Step 1: Dial into the conference.
Dial-in: 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-668-3633
Access Code: 0576321##
If the automated recording indicates the conference is full, please use overflow information:
Dial In: 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-668-3633 Access Code: 0153620##
Step 2: Join the conference on your computer.
Entry Link: https://ems8.intellor.com/login/827974

A calendar invitation can be accessed by clicking here.

Congress Holds Hearings on Oversight and Rental Assistance

~ Chris Campbell - Jenna Hampton ~ Leave a comment

On June 9, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held a committee hearing on the oversight of housing regulators. The two witnesses at the hearing were Secretary Ben Carson of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Director Mark Calabria of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).    

Secretary Carson shared that HUD is working to meet all statutory requirements related to the distribution of CARES Act funds. Of the $12.4 billion that HUD received from the CARES Act, $9.1 billion has already been allocated. The remaining CDBG funds will be allocated by October 1st and the remaining ESG fund allocations were announced on the same day as the hearing. Regarding rent payments, Secretary Carson urged HUD-assisted renters to recertify their incomes with their local PHAs if they need lower rent payments due to COVID-19.   

A few Senators expressed their opinion that Americans need expanded rental assistance and unemployment benefits. Secretary Carson did not comment on any plans for future housing-related COVID-19 funding, other than to express that HUD will closely monitor the situation.   

This hearing was followed by a June 10 hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance which featured four witnesses speaking about the impact COVID-19 will have on evictions and rental assistance.  

Cashuana Hill, the Executive Director of the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, spoke of the role systemic racism plays in housing segregation, as well as the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on black and Latino workers. She called for rental assistance programs to consider equity concerns and reduce housing discrimination.  

Mike Kringsella, the Executive Director of Up for Growth, claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a pre-existing housing shortage of roughly 7.3 million units, and urged Congress to provide additional renter assistance.  

Ann Oliva, a Visiting Senior Fellow from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, linked housing availability to public health and spoke of the importance a stable housing situation can play in helping people protect themselves from COVID-19. 

Jennty Schuetz, a Fellow from the Brookings Institute, noted that the federal government plays a smaller role in rental housing regulation than in the mortgage market – rental housing oversight is instead left to states, resulting in a patchwork of regulations. She added that an eviction moratorium is not a long-term solution, as owed rent builds up over time and small-scale landlords forgo revenue.  

The Subcommittee’s questions centered around possible funding mechanisms to disburse rental assistance, how to best promote racial equity in the disaster response, and how to help small landlords navigate loss of income and maintenance demand during the pandemic. 

NAHRO continues to advocate for affordable housing funding and effective, community-based policy solutions. Learn about NAHRO’s 2020 Legislative and Regulatory Agenda and more about NAHRO advocacy at www.nahro.org/advocacy.  

HUD Posts new FAQ on PBVs and Repositioning

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

HUD’s Office of Housing Choice Vouchers has published a Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) document about project-based vouchers (PBVs) and public housing repositioning. Topics covered in the document include the following (taken from the table of contents):

  • Overview of Public Housing Repositioning Options;
  • Project-basing TPVs: General;
  • Project-basing TPVs: SAC Removal Tool Differences;
  • TPVs and Voucher Management System Reporting;
  • Project Basing: Existing Housing;
  • Competitive and Noncompetitive Selection;
  • Public Housing-Only Agencies;
  • PBV HAP Contract;
  • New Construction/Rehabilitation;
  • PBVs and PHA Annual Plan;
  • PBV General;
  • PBVs and Section 18;
  • PBVs and Section 22; and
  • Traditional PBVs in RAD Covered Projects.

Additionally, the document cites the appropriate statutory, regulatory, or guidance (e.g., PIH Notices) authority in its answers.

The FAQ may be found here.

Mainstream HCV Two-Year Tool Now Available

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

I received word from a HUD official that the Mainstream Two-Year Tool is now available. For PHAs with Mainstream voucher programs, the Mainstream Two-Year Tool is within the regular Two-Year Tool and can be accessed by clicking the “Access Additional Tools” button. Additionally, the tool provides information on cash management to be used to assess the need for additional disbursements. “Reserve reconciliations” will be sent this week for PHAs with Mainstream programs.

The Two-Year Tool may be accessed here.

Chairwoman Maxine Waters joins NAHRO’s Managing During COVID-19: Congressional Response webinar: Tomorrow at 12noon eastern

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 12noon eastern time NAHRO is hosting a webinar: Managing During COVID-19: Congressional Response.

Join us for a very special conversation with Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Cali.), Chairwoman of the Financial Services Committee. Congresswoman Waters has been a dedicated advocate for affordable housing throughout her entire career, a priority that has taken center stage during the COVID-19 crisis. For this reason, NAHRO leadership will honor her with our Legislator of the Year award.

Help NAHRO thank the Congresswoman for the CARES Act and for her commitment to affordable housing and community development programs!

Register for tomorrow’s webinar: Managing During COVID-19: Congressional Response!

HUD PIH Updates COVID-19 FAQ for PHAs (Version 4)

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

Earlier today, HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing published its update to its Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) document on COVID-19. This updated brings the document to version 4. NAHRO staff is still in the process of reading through the document.

The updated PIH FAQ for COVID-19 (version 4) may be found here.

COVID-19 CDBG Eviction Moratorium Q&A Released

~ Chris Campbell ~ Leave a comment

Earlier today, HUD released a Q&A to address questions concerning the eviction moratorium established by the CARES Act. Section 4024 of the Act imposes a 120-day moratorium on evictions, ending July 24, 2020. The moratorium extends to units in projects receiving funding from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Neighborhood Stabilization Programs (NSP) or Disaster Recovery.  

The Q&A clarifies which units are covered by the eviction moratorium, and which fees landlords may charge tenants for accrued costs after the moratorium ends. The full Q&A can be found here. For additional guidance, please visit the CDBG COVID-19 Resources page.  

NAHRO provides additional COVID-19 resources at www.NAHRO.org/coronavirus.

RAD COVID-19 FAQ Updated

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

In a RADBlast! email earlier today, HUD noted that they have updated one of their COVID-19 FAQs with additional information on RAD conversions during the COVID-19 event. According to the email, this update includes “further guidance on completing environmental reports when professionals may not be able to access the interior or exterior of the site . . . [and] provides an option that would give PHAs more time to execute new Section 8 leases at the point of conversion.”

The updated FAQ may be found here.

[5/21/2020 – edited for clarity.]

Two Additional HCV Guidebook Chapters Published

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) guidebook continues to be updated by HUD. Most recently, chapters on Utility Allowances and Special Housing Types have been added. Currently available chapters include the following:

The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials is excited that HUD is continuing to update its HCV guidebook. We enthusiastically await future chapters and the regular and timely updating of the guidebook.

The full guidebook may be accessed here.