On July 28, HUD released Notice PIH-2020-16 “Implementation of Public Housing Operating Fund Shortfall Funding from Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2020 Appropriations.” The 2020 Appropriations Act set aside $25 million of the Operating Fund to be allocated to public housing agencies that experience insolvency. This set-aside will be distributed via a need-based application process not subject to the Operating Fund formula. HUD may distribute any remaining funds to all public housing agencies on a pro-rata basis after all insolvency needs are met. The notice provides guidance regarding eligibility, the process for applying, and other requirements for the $25 million set-aside of Public Housing Operating Funds to assist PHAs experiencing financial insolvency.
Webinar for the HCV Mobility Demonstration
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials with our friends, CLPHA, is sponsoring a free webinar on HUD’s new mobility demonstration put on by Mobility Works, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and Opportunity Insights.
On July 15, HUD released a notice implementing the $50 million Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration. This important demonstration will enable selected public housing agencies to implement or expand programs that help families to use housing vouchers to locate in “high-opportunity” neighborhoods, which research shows can significantly improve adult and child well-being on several key measures, including children’s chances of attending college.
Housing agencies participating in the program will receive new housing vouchers as well as funding to provide robust mobility services to families with children. Agencies will also participate in a rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of their mobility programs.
Please join us for this free webinar on August 11, 2020 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ET to discuss the details of HUD’s demonstration notice, as well as the lessons that experienced practitioners and researchers have learned about developing effective housing mobility programs.
AGENDA
Moderator, Demetria McCain, Inclusive Communities Project
I. The requirements of the HUD NOFA:
● Doug Rice, Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
● Megan Haberle, Deputy Director, Poverty & Race Research and Action Council
II. Developing a regional housing mobility plan:
● Andrea Juracek, Executive Director, Housing Choice Partners
● Jeffery Patterson, CEO of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
III. Reflections on working with researchers on a mobility evaluation:
● Sarah Oppenheimer, Opportunity Insights
● Andrew Lofton, Seattle Housing Authority
Registration for the free webinar can be found here.
This Wednesday: NAHRO Legislator of the Year Todd Young Kicks off August Advocacy Campaign
This Wednesday at 2pm eastern time, NAHRO is hosting a complimentary webinar awarding NAHRO’s Co-Legislator of the Year and kicking off NAHRO’s August Advocacy Campaign.
NAHRO has an ambitious goal this August – send 8,501 letters to Capitol Hill during the upcoming Congressional August recess. NAHRO Legislator of the Year Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) will join NAHRO to receive his award and help us kick off our August advocacy campaign.
NAHRO Director of Congressional Relations Tess Hembree will also lead a conversation with members of the Legislative Network on their advocacy successes and how they plan to advocate for housing and community development this summer.
Don’t miss this critical conversation on how you can have your voice heard by lawmakers this summer.
Final AFFH Rule Released
Late last week, HUD published on its website a final rule titled “Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice.” This rule implements the Fair Housing Act’s duty to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH). Although the rule has not yet been published in the Federal Register, it will go into effect 30 days after its official publication.
Continue reading2020 FSS NOFA Released
HUD has recently published its FY 2020 Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). The NOFA is available at grants.gov. The 2020 Appropriations Act provided $80 million for the FSS program. Applications are due August 20, 2020. Applicants must have an up-to-date DUNS number, SAM.gov registration and grants.gov registration.
Only PHAs that were funded for FSS in at least one of the last years are eligible to apply for this NOFA. HUD will not have a NOFA for new applicants in FY 2020.
HUD will also be hosting a webinar on the FSS NOFA Monday July 27 from 1:30pm – 3pm Eastern. You can register here.
Choice Neighborhoods Program Presentation – 7/27
HUD will be hosting an online presentation on Monday, July 27 at 2pm ET on the use of Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Implementation Grants across the country. Hosted by Mindy Turbov, Director of HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Program, the presentation will focus on the successes and impacts of the program. Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants support the development of comprehensive community-driven neighborhood plans, which direct resources to address three core areas: Housing, People and Neighborhood. In each community, the plan becomes the guiding document for the revitalization of the severely distressed public and/or HUD-assisted housing units, critical improvements in the surrounding neighborhood, and positive outcomes for families.
As a reminder, applications for the FY20 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants are due September 14, 2020.
Join the Zoom Meeting on Monday, July 27 at 2 pm ET
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86135158689?pwd=NXF4dktBODJsYVZPWnB6NDVtdlIyQT09 |
Meeting ID: 861 3515 8689
Passcode: 478083
CARES Act Eviction Moratorium Ends This Week, Eviction Prevention Resources
Section 4024 of the CARES Act stopped non-payment of rent evictions (and stopped imposing fees and penalties for non-payment of rent) for 120 days beginning on March 27 for many tenants receiving Federal rental assistance including the Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, and Project-Based Voucher programs. The 120-day eviction moratorium expires this Saturday, July 25, meaning Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and landlords may begin issuing 30-day notices to vacate for non-payment of rent after July 25, 2020.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has encouraged tenants, landlords, and PHAs to work together to minimize the impact of the CARES Act eviction moratorium ending. Tenants should contact their PHA notifying them of any reduction of income due to the pandemic. Landlords and PHAs should reach out and coordinate with tenants concerning unpaid rent, including potential repayment agreements. PHAs should also consider implementing retroactive recertifications and informing their tenants of their availability.
Below are links to HUD and NAHRO eviction moratorium and eviction prevention resources:
- NAHRO Webinar – ReOpen: Eviction Prevention
- HUD Eviction Prevention and Stability Toolkit
- HUD COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (Revision 5)
- NAHRO / NHLP Information For Public Housing and Voucher Tenants on the Eviction Moratorium Flyer
NAHRO continues to provide the latest housing related COVID-19 information at www.nahro.org/coronavirus.
HUD PIH Posts Updated COVID-19 FAQ (Revision 5)
The Department’s Office of Public and Indian Housing has updated their COVID-19 frequently-asked-questions (FAQ) document to revision 5. This revision updates information related to the evictions moratorium, preventing evictions, PHA operational considerations, contacting HUD staff, use of disaster-related funding, retroactive reexaminations, whether to consider CARES act unemployment benefits in calculating income, HQS inspections, and many other topics.
The FAQ can be found here.
It can also be found on NAHRO’s coronavirus page.
Mobility Demonstration Notice to be Published Tomorrow
Tomorrow, a notice titled “Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers: Implementation of the Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration” will be published in the Federal Register. This notice implements $53 million worth of funding ($10 million for new vouchers, $40 million for services, and $3 million for research) to implement a mobility demonstration program. The purpose of the demonstration is to evaluate the effectiveness of mobility-related strategies in encouraging families to move to lower-poverty areas.
The notice states guidelines by which the demonstration will be governed. New vouchers–and the mobility-related services that will accompany those vouchers–must be provided to families with children. Services include pre-move services, housing search assistance, family financial assistance, landlord recruitment, and post-move services. Public Housing Agencies that are eligible to participate in the demonstration include PHA partnerships, consortia with high-performing Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) programs, consortia with small PHA(s), and certain single agencies. There are certain other eligibility requirements. The Department must submit a report to Congress within five years of implementation.
Applications will be due on October 13, 2020 before midnight ET.
Staff at NAHRO are still in the process of reading through the notice and NAHRO members can expect additional updates.
A pre-publication copy of the notice can be found here.
The Department’s Mobility Demonstration page can be found here.
Tomorrow, Wed., July 15th, Deadline to Apply for HCV Set-Aside Funds
Earlier today, HUD sent two emails reminding PHAs with Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) programs that tomorrow, Wed. July 15th, was the last day to apply for the following:
- HCV Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) set-aside funding;
- Additional administrative fees;
- Blended administrative fee rates; and
- Higher administrative fee rates.
These alternative funding options are described in HUD’s notice titled “Implementation of the Federal Fiscal Year (FYY) 2020 Funding Provisions for the Housing Choice Voucher program” (PIH 2020-04). These funds were allocated by the fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations bill. They are distinct from the emergency supplemental funding appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the majority of which HUD has not allocated nor announced distribution mechanisms for.
Public housing agencies with questions should contact their Financial Management Center (FMC) financial analyst or the Financial Management Division at 2020SpecialFees@hud.gov.
The NAHRO Blog: Legislative & Policy Updates from Washington, DC 