The Department has published a COVID-19 brochure designed to inform and address concerns of tenants living at multifamily properties. The brochure’s content applies to programs within the Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, but does not apply to Public Housing, Section 8 Mod. Rehab. (unless insured by the Federal Housing Administration), or the Housing Choice Voucher program (unless the voucher is used in a multifamily property with an FHA-insured mortgage).
The brochure can be found here.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) has updated their frequently-asked-questions (FAQ) document on COVID-19, created a chart detailing the new COVID-19 waivers, and posted the PowerPoint slides of their industry stakeholder call from Friday, April 17, 2020.
[4/29/2020 edit – HUD has made a copy of the April 17 PIH stakeholder call publicly available; see below.]
Earlier today, HUD conducted a webinar discussing the recently published chapter of its HCV Landlord Strategy Guide, titled “Education and Outreach.” In addition to HUD staff and HUD’s contractors, PHA presenters discussed some of the strategies that they employed to recruit and retain landlords for the housing choice voucher program. Department staff intend to post a recording of the webinar and slides from the webinar on the HCV Landlord Resources page.
On the webinar, HUD staff also discussed other resources currently posted on the site, including the following:
The HUD HCV Landlord Resources page can be found here.
On April 22, 2020, HUD published an FAQ on implementing the eviction moratorium found in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Titled “Eviction Moratorium COVID-19 FAQs for Public Housing Agencies,” the document answers commonly asked questions about how PHAs should be implementing the eviction moratorium. The moratorium is in effect for a 120-day period beginning on March 27, 2020.
The eviction moratorium applies to all public housing residents, including those living in mixed-finance public housing properties owned by a third party, and all housing choice voucher (HCV) holders (including tenant- and project-based vouchers). The eviction moratorium also applies to the HCV and public housing homeownership programs, but only if the families have a federally backed mortgage. Owners of LIHTC units should check with their local State Housing Finance Agency to see if they apply.
The moratorium applies to all tenants regardless of whether their employment has been impacted by COVID-19 or not. However, any missed rent will accumulate and still be due to the PHA at the end of the 120-day moratorium. PHAs may still send late notices to residents, but these notices must not include any fees or charges for the nonpayment of rent or any notice to vacate. Residents cannot be required to vacate a unit for missed rent payments until at least 30 days after the end of the moratorium unless eviction proceedings for the resident began before March 27, 2020. If a PHA believes that a unit has been abandoned, the PHA must take additional steps to ensure that the unit is in fact abandoned (as opposed to the family quarantining elsewhere, being hospitalized, or anything else that may be preventing the family from returning to the unit) before an eviction or termination of assistance is taken against the household.
PHAs can still proceed with evictions and collect fees issued prior to the passing of the CARES Act on March 27, 2020, however, PHAs should review state and local laws as many are also enacting their own moratoriums on evictions and fees that may include different restrictions. Fees issued before March 27 may still be collected, however, PHAs cannot assess interest on fees charged in January and February of 2020. PHAs cannot collect any fees for nonpayment of rent between March 27 and July 24, 2020.
PHAs are still allowed to evict or terminate assistance for drug abuse or other criminal activities and for other lease violations. HUD encourages PHAs to delay initiation or completion of evictions for non-drug or non-crime related reasons until after state and local emergencies are over. If the PHA is evicting a tenant for drug abuse or criminal activity and the local courts are closed, PHAs can still proceed with standard notifications, hearings, and program terminations. However, the PHA must wait until the court of jurisdiction reopens before the final eviction can occur.
HUD’s FAQ can be found here.
Earlier today, HUD published guidance on implementing the eviction moratorium found in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The guidance is titled “Eviction Moratorium COVID-19 FAQs for Public Housing Agencies” and is 5 page document answering commonly asked questions about how PHAs should be implementing the eviction moratorium. The guidance notes that the temporary eviction moratorium applies to the public housing program, the housing choice voucher program (including the project-based voucher program), and the moderate rehabilitation programs administered by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH). The moratorium is in effect for a 120-day period beginning on March 27, 2020.
The guidance document can be found here.
Earlier today, HUD published its initial chapter of its HCV Landlord Strategies Guide. The chapter is titled “Education and Outreach.” Topics included in the chapter include new landlord orientation, landlord outreach events, expanding your network, tenant education, information sharing, landlord focused customer service, technology, and partnerships. The Department is also planning a webinar on this chapter on April 22 at 1 pm.
The chapter can be found here.
The HCV Landlord Resources webpage can be found here.
While HUD’s Offices of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) and Community Planning and Development (CPD) have provided a number of waivers and flexibilities for the Public Housing program, Housing Choice Voucher program, HOME Investment Partnership program, Community Development Block Grant, and Continuum of Care (CoC) program, HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) has not waived any of the Section 3 statutory and regulatory requirements.
[Updated Text Begins] On April 17, 2020, FHEO released updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) for Section 3 Covered Recipients which addresses 13 questions on how COVID-19 affects Section 3 compliance. Question 2 specifically asks “Are Section 3 Compliance requirements waived during the virus condition?” and FHEO’s answer is “No, the Section 3 statutory and regulatory requirements have not been waived.” Updated questions are also asked about Section 3 SPEARS reporting requirements and deadlines. In response, FHEO states that the Section 3 reporting requirement is not waived and Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and community development agencies have an extension until July 31, 2020. Additional extensions are not addressed in the updated FAQ but generally PHAs and community development agencies may request extensions beyond July 31, 2020 but must provide justification and any extension request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. [Updated Text Ends]
[Removed Text Begins] On April 3, 2020, FHEO released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) for Section 3 Covered Recipients which addresses 13 questions on how COVID-19 affects Section 3 compliance. Question 2 specifically asks “Are Section 3 Compliance requirements waived during the virus condition?” and FHEO’s answer is “No, the Section 3 statutory and regulatory requirements have not been waived.” Questions are also asked about Section 3 SPEARS reporting requirements and deadlines. In response, FHEO states that the Section 3 reporting requirement is not waived and Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and community development agencies have an extension until June 1, 2020 but “must clearly demonstrate how COVID-19 precluded timely reporting.” PHAs and community development agencies may request extensions beyond June 1, 2020 but must provide justification and any extension request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.[Removed Text Ends]
FHEO has not waived or reduced the Section 3 requirements and reporting so PHAs and community development agencies must continue to create employment, training and contracting opportunities to Section 3 residents and Section 3 businesses. The Safe Harbor requirements have not been reduced either. PHAs and community development agencies should continue to hire staff and procure contracts, if possible, and if unable to meet the Safe Harbor requirements, they should document their efforts “to make every possible effort ‘to the greatest extent feasible’ to make employment and contracting opportunities available to” Section 3 residents.
NAHRO is relaying information from our members on the unprecedented operational and economic concerns affordable housing providers are facing to HUD and is requesting maximum flexibility for PHAs and community development agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.
NAHRO will continue to provide the latest information from HUD and Congress on the COVID-19 emergency response to our members and the public through our communication tools including the NAHRO coronavirus webpage and the NAHRO blog.
The Distressed Cities Technical Assistance (DCTA) program supports small units of general local government (UGLGs) that are distressed and have recently been impacted by a natural disaster. Specifically, the Distressed Cities Technical Assistance program is designed to improve the fiscal health and administrative capacity of small units of general local government.
The DCTA program page can be found here.
The DCTA resources page can be found here.
As previously mentioned on this blog, HUD’s HCV Landlord Task will host a free webinar titled “Education and Outreach Strategies for Landlord Participation.” The webinar will take place on April 22, 2020 at 1 pm to 2:30 pm ET. The webinar will walk through the first published chapter of the HCV Landlord Strategy Guidebook. The webinar will also feature representatives from PHAs.
Additional information can be found here.
Registration for this webinar can be found here.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) will host a conference call at 3:30 pm ET on Friday, April 17th, 2020, to provide an overview of their recent notice of COVID-19 waivers. The call will be limited to 2,500 participants. It will be recorded and shared.
Call in information can be found below.
Step 1: Dial into the conference.
Dial-in: 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-668-3633
Access Code: 0551998##
If the automated recording indicates the conference is full, please use overflow information:
US Toll Free: 1-877-369-5243 or US Toll: 1-617-668-3633 Access Code: 0626917#
Step 2: Join the conference on your computer.
Entry Link: https://ems8.intellor.com/login/824736
An Outlook invitation can be found here.
The COVID-19 waiver notice can be found here.
NAHRO’s analysis can be found here.
The NAHRO Blog: Legislative & Policy Updates from Washington, DC 