Regulation

IMS/PIC Down Starting Tomorrow (3/13/2020 – 3/23/2020)

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

As previously mentioned on this blog, IMS-PIC will be down starting tomorrow (Friday, 3/13/2020) until the Monday after next (Monday, 3/23/2020). During this period, housing agencies are asked not to use the system so that a security-related patch may be applied. The Department is encouraging PHAs with programs with fiscal years that end prior to Dec. 31 to complete submission of their SEMAP certification prior to the system entering the shutdown phase. When the system resumes operation, the Department will publish step-by-step instructions for PHAs and Field Offices to address potential problems.

Questions may be directed to REAC_TAC@hud.gov.

Further updates may be found here.

The full letter explaining this process from HUD can be found here.

New Material on Infectious Disease Preparedness Guidance for Homeless Assistance Providers

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

The HUD Exchange sent an email of links to new material from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for Homeless Assistance Providers. The new materials include the following:

The email also provides a link to the CDC: Interim Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations for US Community Facilities with Suspected/Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Finally, HUD notes that it has portal where individuals can ask questions about preventing or responding to the threat of infectious diseases, which can be found here.

HUD Creates Online Guidance Portal

~ Tushar Gurjal ~ Leave a comment

Tomorrow, HUD will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the creation of a HUD guidance portal. In the process of complying with a presidential executive order, the Department conducted a review of all of its guidance and ensured that those documents that remain in effect were linked to a single website that could be searched. The single searchable database containing all of HUD’s guidance can be found at: http://www.hud.gov/guidance.

The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials applauds HUD for creating this searchable index and looks forward to further refinements.

The pre-publication copy of the notice announcing this portal can be found here.

Public Charge Rule Implementation Begins February 24, 2020

~ Georgi Banna ~ Leave a comment

Except for in the State of Illinois, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin applying the Public Charge Final Rule to immigration applications and petitions postmarked or submitted electronically on or after February 24, 2020.

As a reminder the Public Charge Final Rule primarily applies to individuals that are applying for entry into the United States and to individuals that are temporarily in the United States and are applying for permanent residency in the United States. NAHRO has also issued an informational one-pager on the Public Charge Final Rule to provide PHAs an overview of the rule. 

USCIS as issued a press release, Question and Answer Legal Resource, and updated the USCIS Policy Manual to provide additional information on the implementation of the Public Charge Final Rule. USCIS will provide additional information on implementation in Illinois if the injunction is lifted.