Policy

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.

 

HOTMA Implementation e-Briefing – Tomorrow

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!
HOTMA Implementation
A NAHRO Professional Development e-Briefing
Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 11, 2017
1:30 – 3:00 pm EDT

On July 29, 2016, President Barack Obama signed into law the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA), legislation that received unanimous, bipartisan support from Congress.

As HUD has begun the process of implementing the provisions in HOTMA, many local agencies are wondering how they will be impacted. Join National NAHRO’s in-house policy experts as they review the key provisions included in HOTMA, discuss HUD’s implementation notices and timeline, and explain what NAHRO is doing to help HUD move forward with implementation of this critically important reform legislation.

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!

Online registration closes TONIGHT (Monday, April 10) at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

HUD to Host MTW Listening Sessions

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

Earlier today, a NAHRO member forwarded an email sent by General Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryon of HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing announcing four listening sessions “for PHAs that are interested in applying to MTW and other industry partners.” Through the listening sessions, HUD hopes to hear feedback on its MTW Operations Notice. The MTW Operations Notice will govern the operation of PHAs that are selected to participate in the 100 PHA Expansion of the MTW Demonstration Program.

HUD is particularly interested in feedback on the following topics:

  • Evaluation and performance assessment;
  • Calculation of funding;
  • Statutory and regulatory waivers; and
  • Regionalization.

The listening sessions will be held in the following cities on the dates listed next to location (click on the location to register):

NAHRO’s comments on the MTW Operations Notice can be found here.

NAHRO Releases Preliminary Joint FY 2018 Budget Recommendations with PHADA and CLPHA

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

Yesterday, April 6, NAHRO released joint budget recommendations with industry groups CLPHA and PHADA. The document containing the recommendations states that the recommendations “are based on the best information available at this time. [The three groups] will submit revised funding recommendations to Congress when more detailed and timely information, such as the President’s FY 2018 budget request and Congressional Justifications, becomes available in May.”

These recommendations would fully fund the Operating Fund and provide enough funding for the Capital Fund for PHAs to begin addressing their capital needs backlog. Additionally, these recommendations would fully fund voucher renewals, fully fund the administrative fee formula, and fully fund project-based rental assistance contracts. The recommendations also provide sustainable funding for other important programs.

NAHRO / PHADA / CLPHA FY 2018 Funding Recommendations (in millions)
Public Housing Operating Fund $5,349
Public Housing Capital Fund $5,000
Emergency Capital Needs $21.5
Resident Opportunities and Supportive Services (ROSS) $35
Jobs Plus $15
Public Housing Financial and Physical Assessment Activities $10
Section 8 Tenant-Based Housing Choice Voucher HAP Renewal $19,390
Section 8 Ongoing Administrative Fees $2,284
Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance $11,400
Consolidated Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program $95
Choice Neighborhoods Initiative $200

The “Emergency Capital Needs,” “Resident Opportunities and Supportive Services (ROSS),” “Jobs Plus,” and “Public Housing Financial and Physical Assessment Activities” accounts are in addition to the amount requested for the Capital Fund and are not sub-accounts.

The entire document with the FY 2018 budget recommendations–which contains additional information about each of the accounts–can be found here.

HOTMA Implementation e-Briefing on April 11

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

NEXT WEEK!
HOTMA Implementation
A NAHRO Professional Development e-Briefing
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
1:30 – 3:00 pm EDT

On July 29, 2016 President Barack Obama signed into law the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA), legislation that received unanimous, bipartisan support from Congress.

As HUD has begun the process of implementing the provisions in HOTMA, many local agencies are wondering how they will be impacted. Join National NAHRO’s in-house policy experts as they review the key provisions included in HOTMA, discuss HUD’s implementation notices and timeline, and explain what NAHRO is doing to help HUD move forward with implementation of this critically important reform legislation.

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!

Online registration closes Monday, April 10, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Revised FY 2017 FMRs Posted

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

On March 30, HUD published a notice titled “Fair Market Rents for the Housing Choice Voucher Program and Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program Fiscal Year 2017; Revised.” The notice revises the Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for Portland, ME and Vallejo-Fairfield, CA. Additionally, the notice also responds to comments that were submitted by NAHRO and other interested stakeholders on how FMRs are calculated and what constitutes a “material change” in FMR estimation. While summarizing all the stakeholder comments and HUD’s responses is outside the scope of this blog post, listed below is one comment NAHRO articulated in its comment letter and HUD’s response.

The original notice publishing FY 2017 FMRs noted that The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA) required that HUD seek comment on “any proposed ‘material changes’ in methodology.” HUD sought comment on what should be considered “material changes.”

In its comment letter, NAHRO wrote the following:

HUD should take an expansive view of what constitutes a “material change” in FMR estimation methods . . . NAHRO’s rationale behind this recommendation stems from NAHRO’s belief in open, transparent government that clearly explains its reasoning behind changes and allows feedback, which NAHRO believes is in the best interest of program participants and all other interested stakeholders. (Page 3 and 4.)

HUD responded by writing:

HUD appreciates this comment and HUD is taking an expansive view on what constitutes a “material change” and intends to provide an opportunity for public comment on all FMR methodological changes in forthcoming proposed notices of material changes in FMR calculations.

This is welcome news because it ensures that HUD will not change the methodology for calculating FMRs without allowing NAHRO and other interested stakeholders to offer input.

The rest of HUD’s responses to NAHRO’s comments and the comments of other stakeholder can be found in the notice (along with the revised FMRs) here.

HUD Sends Supplementary Email to 2017 HCV Program Renewal Funding Letter

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

Earlier this morning, HUD sent an email to Executive Directors with hyperlinks to items mentioned in their 2017 HCV Program Renewal Funding Letter. Due to the brevity of the message, I’ve reproduced it completely below.

Dear Executive Director,

The purpose of this communication is to follow-up on the March 15, 2017 letter regarding the regarding the status of calendar year 2017 Housing Choice Voucher Program’s renewal funding.  The letter referenced links to the House and Senate 2017 Bills as well as the Field Offices’ Two-year Forecasting Tool, and it has come to HUD’s attention that the links were not active.  Below you will find the links to the House and Senate Bills and to the Two-year forecasting tool.

TBRA Senate Report

TBRA House Report

Forecasting tool link

Thank you for your participation in the HCV program.

The original letter can be found 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.

HUD Sends 2017 HCV Program Renewal Funding Letter

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

Today, March 15, HUD sent a letter to Executive Directors about 2017 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) renewal funding. The letter purports to provide guidance in HCV Program planning.

The letter notes that the Department would normally have 60 days to calculate a PHA’s funding level after a full-year budget or a full-year Continuing Resolution (CR), but currently the Department has neither a full-year budget nor a full-year CR and is operating under a CR that is a few months long. It is operating under a CR that lasts until April 28, 2017.  This partial-year CR makes planning difficult. HUD believes that they will only have definitive budgetary information for FY 2017 in June 2017.

Despite this, HUD has evaluated several situations to provide PHAs with potential guidance in HCV Program planning. The letter notes that in calculating national voucher costs a significant inflation factor was applied. There was at least a 2.58% inflation factor applied to all PHAs. Forty percent of PHAs received a higher inflation factor.

  • Scenario 1 – Full Year CR (FY 2016 Appropriation Levels):
    • HAP proration – 94% and
    • Administrative Fee proration – 77%.
  • Scenario 2- Full Year budget passed:
    • Using Senate Appropriations bill numbers:
      • HAP proration – 97.5% and
      • Administrative Fee proration – 80%.
    • Using House Appropriations bill numbers:
      • HAP proration – 97.5% and
      • Administrative Fee proration – 75%. [4:03 pm edit – number corrected.]

The letter states that “a full year CR seems to be the responsible starting point for program operations . . . [and] PHAs should assess their projected leasing and spending starting with the 94% proration . . . [and] model alternative scenarios.” HUD also recommends using the HCV Forecasting Tool and modeling different proration scenarios (the forecast tool defaults to 94% currently).

NAHRO agrees that it is safe assumption to assume a full year CR for FY 2017 in program planning.

The full letter can be read here.

HUD Issues Notice on Temporary Census Income

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

On March 7, HUD issued a Notice PIH 2017-5, “Income exclusion under temporary Census employment and Census access.” The notice emphasizes the importance of accurate census data to the HUD programs and discusses how PHAs and other certain HUD grantees must handle a family’s temporary census income along with providing census workers access to buildings.

HUD regulations require temporary, sporadic, nonrecurring income not to be included in the family income calculation. The notice states, “Under this exclusion, PHAs exclude temporary income payments from the U.S. Census Bureau, defined as employment lasting no longer than 180 days per year and not culminating in permanent employment.” This provision applies to all PHAs and HUD grantees that calculate family income under 24 CFR 5.609.

This notice also reminds building managers to provide census workers access to properties. Specific mention of providing census workers access to properties with federally assisted tenants is also made in the notice.