On August 14, HUD announced that they will be launching a series of webinars to explain the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the newly established program Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing). The program focuses on supporting communities who are actively taking steps to remove barriers to affordable housing.

The first webinar will take place on August 17, 2023 at 3pm ET. It will provide an overview of data resources and tools for applicants.

The PRO Housing program is governed by statutes and regulations of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. For those interested in viewing the NOFO, a preview version can be found on the HUD website. The official publication is expected for early September 2023 with an application deadline of October 30, 2023, at 11:59 pm ET.

For more information on the program please see here.

Those interested in attending the webinar can register here.

On August 14, HUD announced the availability of approximately $73 million in HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) funding, with up to $10 million of the appropriated funds to be utilized for administrative and other expenses of PHAs. The vouchers are administered in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and enable homeless veterans and their families to access affordable housing with an array of supportive services.

Eligible PHAs who are interested in receiving HUD-VASH funding are expected to register via an interest form located on the HUD website. The deadline to fill out the form is Friday, September 15, 2023 by midnight of the PHA’s time zone.

HUD anticipates issuing guidance on the availability of funding and the application process by Fall 2023. Additionally, HUD anticipates that this funding will support approximately 7,500 new HUD-VASH vouchers.

To fill out the Registration of Interest form, please see here.

To view the full notice, please see here.

The Department of Labor (DOL) scheduled the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations final rule for public inspection in The Federal Register on August 23, 2023. It is currently available on public inspection. The DOL emphasized that this rule is “the first comprehensive regulatory review in nearly 40 years” and responds to comments to the proposed rule received in 2022. NAHRO submitted comments emphasizing the need to facilitate the construction of affordable housing.

This final rule changes the methodology for calculating prevailing wages and other wage rates, expands and modifies definitions, and updates compliance and enforcement details.

In addition to the Final Rule, the DOL published a webpage including the text of the rule itself, a helpful Frequently Asked Questions document, comparison chart, and a registration link to informational webinars on September 13^th and 14^th.

See The NAHRO Monitor and upcoming NAHRO Direct News for further details.

HUD has released a list of policies related to Sections 102 and 104 of HOTMA that PHAs must update and include in their Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plans (ACOPs) and/or Administrative Plans (Admin Plans) by January 1, 2024. The list identifies specific regulations in HOTMA, the related HOTMA policy background, and the policies that have some discretion – policy choices that PHAs need to make and include in their ACOPs or Admin Plans. The list can be found here, though it may be subject to further revision based on additional guidance or other factors.  

Although Sections 102 and 104 of HOTMA will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, PHAs will have additional time to comply. PHAs should be in compliance as quickly as possible with Sections 102 and 104 once they go into effect, but no later than Jan. 1, 2025. This date will be established by HUD via a forthcoming notice, and the Department still needs to release additional guidance to help PHAs and software vendors implement these new policies.

From the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA):

Held every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaboration between government and private industry to raise awareness about digital security and empower everyone to protect their personal data from digital forms of crime and malicious cyber actors. The month is dedicated to creating resources and communications for organizations to talk to their employees and customers about staying safe online.

This year marks the 20^th Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Like technology, Cybersecurity Awareness Month has grown rapidly. People now celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month all over the world! As we become more dependent on technology every day, though, we all know we have a long way to go to help us all stay safe online.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) needs your help to amplify messaging and get the Nation to take action throughout the month and year-round. This year, the organizations will will focus on four key behaviors everyone can take to reduce cyber risk:

• Turning on MFA
• Using strong passwords and a password manager
• Updating software regularly
• Recognizing and reporting phishing

Join CISA and the National Cybersecurity Alliance for a webinar on August 9th from 2-3pm ET to learn how you and your organization can get involved. To register, click here.

For more information, and to partner with CISA for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, contact us at AwarenessCampaigns@cisa.dhs.gov.

On July 26, HUD announced $370 million in Choice Implementation Grants set to be awarded to eight cities across the country. The new grantees join 44 other Choice Neighborhoods sites nationwide.

HUD Secretary Fudge visited Birmingham, Alabama, where she presented one of the eight grants in person. From August 1 through August 4 leadership from HUD will visit the remaining communities receiving awards.

The recipients include:

Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient (if applicable)	Amount
City of Tucson, AZ	$50,000,000
Housing Authority of the Birmingham District / City of Birmingham, AL	$50,000,000
Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta / City of Atlanta, GA	$40,000,000
Lake Charles Housing Authority / City of Lake Charles, LA	$40,000,000
Housing Authority of the City Pittsburgh / City of Pittsburgh, PA	$50,000,000
Miami-Dade County, FL	$40,000,000
Philadelphia Housing Authority / City of Philadelphia, PA	$50,000,000
Wilmington Housing Authority / City of Wilmington, DE	$50,000,000
Total Award Amount	$370,000,000

On July 27, HUD published a supplement to the RAD Notice (Notice H-2023-08/PIH 2023-19, Rev 4-b) which implements certain changes to the Rental Assistance Demonstration program. The notice will go into effect immediately following publication in the Federal Register. Major revisions in the notice include:

• RAD for PRAC initial contract rent setting to help implement funding provisions included in FY 22 and FY 23 Consolidated Appropriations Acts. The Notice allows additional rent-setting flexibility to promote and incentivize projects where the conversion supports long-term preservation of PRAC Section 202 units.
• Enhanced descriptions of resident engagement that must be submitted with the RAD application and modified resident meeting requirements.
• Raised minimum energy efficiency requirements and additional climate resilience planning.
• Harmonizing radon policies in RAD conversions by requiring all projects converting through RAD to be evaluated for radon.
• Additional information on the treatment of zero-HAP families in RAD conversions.
• Simplified Faircloth-to-RAD requirements where PHAs can secure conditional pre-completion approvals to convert newly developed public housing units to long-term Section 8 contracts through RAD.
• Additional clarification on the applicability of Housing Quality Standards (HQS) during the work period for occupied units and adds a certification requirement regarding the condition of the unit prior to the unit entering the HAP contract.  
• Additional waivers to RAD/Section 18 blends to facilitate uniform treatment of residents and units.

The Notice can be found here. HUD will also be hosting a live webinar to provide an overview of the RAD Supplemental Notice on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. Register here.  

On July 27, HUD announced the launch of a new $85 million grant program Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing). The program is focused on supporting communities who are actively taking steps towards removing barriers to affordable housing. Funds from the PRO Housing program are governed by statutes and regulations of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

Currently, HUD has released a preview copy of the fiscal 2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), with has an expected application deadline of October 30, 2023. HUD plans to make approximately 20 awards available ranging from $1 million to $10 million. The program would have a performance period of six years with an expected start date in January 2024 and end date in September of 2029.

The program is eligible to state governments, local governments (i.e., city and county governments), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and multijurisdictional entities.

For more information on the program please see here.