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HOTMA Signed by President, NAHRO Releases In-Depth Summary

~ Eric Oberdorfer ~ Leave a comment

On July 29, President Obama signed the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA/HR 3700) officially making it law. HUD is now in charge of implementation. The law provides common-sense reforms to our industry and contains numerous provisions supported by NAHRO. NAHRO will be working closely with HUD as they begin the implementation process.

On August 2, NAHRO released an In-Depth Summary (members only) of the law and the provisions found within. NAHRO also previously released a one-pager (members only) of the specific provisions NAHRO has supported and promoted over the years.

We encourage all NAHRO members to thank their Senators and Representatives for getting this important piece of legislation passed. More information on how to thank your members of Congress can found at NAHRO’s Advocacy Action Center as a part of our August Advocacy Month.

On a personal note, we’d also like to thank all of you for helping get this passed. Your outreach and efforts paid off, and we wouldn’t be at juncture without all of you!

HUD Holds MTW Expansion Teleconferences

~ Eric Oberdorfer ~ Leave a comment

HUD held its first two MTW Research Advisory Committee meetings on Tuesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 28. As stipulated by the FY 2016 Omnibus, the MTW Research Advisory Committee is tasked to advise HUD on how to move forward with the MTW expansion, especially with respect to specific policies to test in the expansion. The committee discussed potential policy proposals for each of the three statutory MTW objectives: cost effectiveness, self-sufficiency, and housing choice. On Tuesday, the committee discussed potential housing choice policies to implement through the expansion, and on Thursday, the committee discussed cost effectiveness and self-sufficiency. Thirty minutes per call were allotted to public comment. NAHRO staff commented on both calls, and transcripts of those comments can be found here and here (members only).

The committee will reconvene in person in Washington, DC sometime in mid-to-late August or early September. NAHRO staff plan to attend the in-person meeting.

Additional background information on the MTW Expansion can be found here (members only). NAHRO’s MTW policy proposals and research evaluation recommendations can be found here (members only).

HUD Revises Schedule for PHA Operating Subsidy Revisions

~ Georgi Banna

On July 20, HUD released an updated PIH Notice 2016-10 REV.1 “Public Housing Operating Subsidy Eligibility Calculations for Calendar Year 2016” that contains the 2016 Revision Schedule for the HUD-52723 (Opfund Subsidy) and HUD 52722 (UEL). The revised notice contains the revised schedule for the submission of PHA revisions. The time period for PHA submission of revisions has been extended for PHAs.

2016 Revisions Schedule:

Items: Finish lines:
PHA revisions due to FOs. 8/15/2016, COB Mon., Aug 15th
FOs due to FMD 8/29/2016, COB Mon., Aug. 29th
FMD publishes Final Eligibility Report 9/28/2016, COB Wed., Sept. 28th
Final Obligations before Nov. 1st 11/1/2016, COB Mon. Oct. 31

The revised PIH notice is available on the NAHRO Public Housing Resource Center (Login Required) and the HUD website.

Importance of Grade Level Reading, NAHRO Signs MOU

~ Georgi Banna

On Friday July 15, NAHRO and the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU.) NAHRO and CGLR are committed to ensuring that children living the communities that NAHRO members serve are set up for success in schools — by arriving ready to learn, maintaining consistent attendance and gaining access to enrichment over the summer so they don’t fall behind.

An important predictor of school success and high school graduation is grade-level reading by the end of third grade. Currently 80 percent of children from low-income families are missing a milestone that is a major predictor of high school graduation and success in life — reading proficiency by the end of third grade.

NAHRO believes that schools need a 24/7/365 partner and understands that Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and community development organizations are uniquely positioned to fill this role. Through our Housing and Education Task Force and our Housing America campaign, NAHRO raises national awareness of the need for and importance of safe, quality, affordable housing in addition to advocacy and ensuring that children receive the education they need and deserve. NAHRO shares the CGLR’s desire to help PHAs and community development organizations become learning enablers by ensuring that the young learners in affordable housing can read proficiently by the end of third grade and to promote grade-level reading as a step on the path to future success.

More information on the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is available on their website – www.GradeLevelReading.net. Updates on this new and exciting NAHRO – CGLR partnership will be posted on this blog and the NAHRO website – www.nahro.org – over the coming weeks and months.

HR 3700 Sent to President for Signature

~ Georgi Banna

In a huge victory for NAHRO and its members, the Senate today approved the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HR 3700) unanimously by a voice vote, sending the bill to the President for his signature.
The bill was approved using a process known as “hot-lining”, a procedure to quickly pass non-controversial legislation. It was passed by the House unanimously on February 2, 2016.

“NAHRO commends the House and the Senate for their work on this critical legislation. With the President’s signature, housing authorities across the country will be able to do their jobs more efficiently and serve their residents and communities better,” said NAHRO President Steve Merritt.

NAHRO thanks everyone involved in the passage of this important legislation, including legislators and their staff, NAHRO membership, and partner housing advocacy groups.

“This is a big deal. The passage of HR 3700 marks the culmination of years of work by members of Congress and their staff, NAHRO members and staff, and the housing community at large. It demonstrates that housing reform is a priority and can be accomplished, and that the legislative process does still work,” said NAHRO’s Acting CEO John Bohm.

MTW Advisory Committee Meetings Announced

~ Eric Oberdorfer

On Monday, July 11, HUD announced the schedule and proposed agenda for two MTW Advisory Committee meetings. The meetings will be held via conference call on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, and Thursday, July 28. The meeting is open to the public and is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Tuesday’s call will focus on increasing housing choices for low-income families. Thursday’s call will focus on cost-effectiveness and incentives to increase self-sufficiency for families with children.

In its FY 2016 Appropriations bill, Congress directed HUD to expand the MTW by 100 additional public housing agencies (PHAs) over the next seven years. Congress also called on HUD to establish a federal research advisory committee. The research advisory committee is responsible for advising HUD on specific policy proposals and methods of research and evaluation for MTW.

The public is invited to call-in to both meetings by using the following toll-free number in the United States: (800) 230-1766, or the following International number for those outside the United States: (612) 288-0329. Please be advised that the operator will ask callers to provide their names and their organizational affiliations (if any) prior to placing callers into the conference line.

More information can be found here. Background information on the MTW Expansion can be found here (members only). NAHRO’s MTW policy proposals and research evaluation recommendations can be found here (members only).

HUD Awards 10 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants

~ Jenny Hsu

On June 28, HUD awarded $8 million in Choice Neighborhoods Planning grants to 10 communities across the nation. The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) helps struggling neighborhoods with severely distressed public housing or HUD-assisted housing by comprehensively investing in the community’s housing, residents and neighbors. Planning Grants, which assist communities in developing their comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plan or “Transformation Plan,” is one of two types of grants offered through the Initiative. Implementation Grants, which support communities that are ready to implement their Transformation Plan, are also funded through this program.

HUD is awarding Choice Neighborhood Planning funds to the following grantees:

  • Asbury Park Housing Authority, New Jersey
  • Housing Authority of the City of Brownsville, Texas
  • Greater Dayton Premier Management, Ohio
  • Louisville Metro Housing Authority, Kentucky
  • Metropolitan Development and Housing Authority (Nashville, Tennessee)
  • City of Newport News, Virginia
  • City of Phoenix, Arizona
  • Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Sanford Housing Authority, Florida
  • City of Shreveport, Louisiana

Prior to the funding announcement for the FY 2015/FY 2016 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant last November, Planning Grant funds could only be used for the creation of a Transformation Plan. HUD has now introduced a new component called Planning and Action Grants that will allow communities to use grants of up to $2 million over three years to demonstrate a commitment to “doing while planning.”

During the planning process, communities will identify Action Activities to be carried out during the latter portion of the grant period that must build upon the planning for the target housing and neighborhood. Eligible Action Activities may include reclaiming and recycling vacant property into community gardens, pocket parks, farmers’ markets, or land banking; beautification, placemaking, and community arts projects; homeowner and business façade improvement programs; neighborhood broadband/Wi-Fi; fresh food initiatives; and gap financing for economic development projects. The inspiration for this new component comes from the 63 previously awarded Planning Grantees that showed “tangible, early actions help sustain community energy, attract new resources, and build momentum to turn that plan into reality.”

Read comprehensive summaries of the 10 Choice Neighborhoods Planning grants here.

HUD Announces HUD-VASH PBV Set-Aside Webinar

~ Eric Oberdorfer

On Tuesday, July 12, HUD will hold a webinar on the FY2016 HUD-VASH Project-Based Voucher Set-Aside Notice published on Friday, July 1. The webinar will run from 2-3PM, EST, and will allow time for questions. The webinar is intended for PHA staff, Department of Veteran’s Affairs staff, low-income housing developers, and other interested stakeholders. More information on the Notice can be found here.

Register for the webinar here.

HUD Announces Funding for Project-Basing HUD-VASH Vouchers

~ Eric Oberdorfer

On July 1, HUD released Notice PIH 2016-11 (HA) entitled, “Set-Aside Funding Availability for Project-Basing HUD-VASH Vouchers.” The Notice announces the availability of approximately $15 million in HUD-VASH funding that will support 2,000 units of project based voucher (PBV) assistance to enable homeless veterans and their families to access affordable housing with an array of supportive services. The vouchers are being made available from a set-aside contained in the 2016 omnibus that provided approximately $60 million dollars of funding for HUD-VASH vouchers.

Any PHA that administers a Housing Choice Voucher program may apply for up to 150 units to be placed under PBV HAP contract(s). Applications are due no later than midnight in the time zone of the PHA on September 9, 2016. All applications must be submitted electronically to VASH@hud.gov.

Please see HUD’s Notice for more information on application requirements and scoring.

For in-depth information on the 2016 omnibus’ Section 8 program funding, click here (members only).

 

HUD Releases Reentry Toolkit

~ Eric Oberdorfer

On June 30, HUD, in collaboration with the Federal Interagency Reentry Council, released the “It Starts with Housing: Public Housing Agencies are Making Second Chances Real,” toolkit. The toolkit highlights  innovative models that PHAs can use to improve housing opportunities for individuals that have been involved with the criminal justice system. The goal of the toolkit is to help PHAs improve housing opportunities, promote family reunification, and reduce recidivism. The toolkit discusses how to build a successful reentry program, determine who should be served,  outreach to potential participants,  service provision, and  collaborations to achieve the policy changes necessary to serve this population.

HUD has been actively promoting increased housing opportunities for individuals with criminal backgrounds. This includes recent HUD guidance prohibiting the use of arrest records  as the basis for denying admission, terminating assistance, or evicting tenants, and recent HUD OGC guidance on the use of criminal records to determine housing eligibility. Past NAHRO coverage on the arrest records guidance can be found here and past NAHRO coverage on the OGC guidance can be found here (members only). NAHRO’s letter to HUD regarding the use of arrest records can be found here (members only).