Join NAHRO today from 1:30 – 2:30pm ET for a members-only, extended repeat of our Washington Report from the 2023 NAHRO Summer Symposium and learn more about our new NAHRO 360 Report. Whether you were unable to join us at our symposium in DC or are interested in hearing more about appropriations and upcoming HUD regulations, this free for members session will let you hear directly from NAHRO staff. There is much to discuss including what’s happening with FY24 appropriations, new regulations and guidance, including AFFH, NSPIRE, HOTMA, BABA, and other topics. Come and learn about everything happening at HUD and in Congress! Register here.
Section 3 Files Leaving SPEARS
Download necessary files by August 31, 2023
On July 26, HUD announced that files PHAs have uploaded to the Section 3 Performance Evaluation and Registry System (SPEARS) will be moved to an internal storage space. PHAs who have uploaded Section 3 documentation will lose access to these files as of September 1, 2023, so agencies should download any files they will need for their reference. Once moved on September 1, PHAs will need to reach out to their field office to request files.
This update comes after PIH Notice 2022-38 clarified that while Section 3 reporting will be conducted via SPEARS’ replacement system, S3R, it is not ready for use. Notice 2022-38 requires PHAs to comply with Section 3, store compliance documentation internally, and wait to upload this documentation until further notice. See the July 31 edition of The NAHRO Monitor for more links and details.
HUD Publishes Rate Reduction Incentive Guidance
Requests due July 31, 2023
HUD has released PIH Notice 2023-17. This notice updates the prior 2022 guidance on the Rate Reduction Incentive program (RRI) in public housing and several related utility and Operating Fund programs by changing the request date to July 31 each year. The RRI allows PHAs to keep a portion of cost savings—generally half—from specific types of practices that decrease its utility rate to be used for Operating Fund purposes. The 2022 notice modified and made additions to the RRI eligibility, request, and calculation processes. It also described program requirements for participating PHAs. Notice 2023-18 maintains those requirements.
HUD Announces Public Housing Capital Fund NOFO Webinar Happening Today
July 20 from 1-2pm ET
HUD is hosting a webinar concerning applications for the Capital Fund At-Risk / Receivership / Substandard / Troubled Program NOFO announced in June. Registration for this webinar is not required, but HUD asks that attendees use this link to join ten minutes early. Applications for this NOFO are due August 21, 2023.
HUD Sends Update on HOTMA Implementation (Sections 102, 103, and 104)
On July 18, HUD sent an email to Executive Directors of PHAs providing additional information on the implementation of certain provisions of the Housing Opportunity Through the Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). Specifically, the email provides information on the over-income provisions (section 103), the income review provisions (section 102), and the asset limitation provisions (section 104) of HOTMA.
Over-income Provisions (Section 103) – All PHAs with public housing should have taken appropriate steps to implement the over-income provisions of HOTMA. The Department published Notice PIH 2023-03 (HA), which details the exact requirements and steps to implement the provisions.
Income Review and Asset Limitation Provisions (Sections 102 and 104 respectively) – These provisions will still take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, but PHAs will have additional time to bring their systems into compliance as quickly as possible, but no later than Jan. 1, 2025. This compliance date will be established by HUD via a notice. Despite the later compliance date, PHAs must have updated their Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policies (ACOPs) and Administrative Plans to reflect the changes made by these HOTMA provisions by Jan. 1, 2024. Once a PHA is ready to transition to the HOTMA rules, it must do so in all affected areas of operations. Once the new Housing Information Portal (HIP) is in place, HUD will monitor HIP submissions and reach out to PHAs that are not submitting through HIP to check on their status.
The full email can be found here.
New Small Area FMR Dashboard
On July 6, HUD sent an email to Executive Directors announcing the posting of a new Small Area Fair Market Rent (FMR) dashboard. The Dashboard lists PHAs that have either adopted the use of Small Area FMRs or the use of an exception payment standard that allows a PHA to raise its payment standard up to 110% of the small area FMR. The dashboard also lists the number of units under small area FMRs, the number of PHAs that use small area FMRs or exception payment standards that can be raised up to 110% of small area FMRs, and the total number of units categorized by Small Area FMR type.
Additionally, the website containing the dashboard also contains links to resources about Small Area FMRs.
The website can be found here.
Continuum of Care and Youth Homeless Demonstration Program 2023 NOFO Released
On July 5, HUD published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for fiscal year 2023 Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition and renewal or replacement of Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP) grants. More than $3.1 billion is available in total for state and local governments, nonprofits, PHAs and tribal entities. Award amounts will range from grantee to grantee with a minimum award amount of $2,500 to a maximum amount of $15 million.
HUD will prioritize funding for CoCs that have demonstrated the capacity to reallocate
funding from lower to higher performing projects. Project applications for YHDP renewal and replacement must be completed in full and in accordance with the application processes outlined in the NOFO.
The application deadline for this NOFO is September 28, 2023, no later than 8 p.m. ET. The application can be found on grants.gov to apply and the full NOFO can be found here.
For more information on the NOFO, please see our next edition of The NAHRO Monitor on July 18th.
Public Housing Operating Fund Shortfall Notice Published
Shortfall applications due August 7, 2023
On July 7, HUD published PIH Notice 2023-18, “Implementation of Public Housing Operating Fund Shortfall Funding from Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2023 Appropriations.” This notice updates PIH Notice 2022-17 with requirements relevant to the $25 million provided under the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. These changes include agencies with shortfall grants from multiple years, budget submission requirements, budget approval processes, and grant restrictions based on specific MTW flexibilities. All PHAs with public housing—including MTW agencies—may apply.
HTF Allocation Notice Released for 2023
On July 11, HUD published allocation information for Housing Trust Fund (HTF) grantees. The notice lists the formula allocation amounts for each eligible HTF grantee–this covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
In total, more than $382 million has been allocated for HTF grantees. For the full list please see below:
| Grantee | FY 2023 allocation |
|---|---|
| 1. Alabama | $3,468,011.94 |
| 2. Alaska | 3,066,413.23 |
| 3. Arizona | 6,176,374.12 |
| 4. Arkansas | 3,000,537.12 |
| 5. California | 62,249,056.21 |
| 6. Colorado | 5,587,889.02 |
| 7. Connecticut | 4,510,424.81 |
| 8. Delaware | 3,066,413.21 |
| 9. District of Columbia | 3,066,413.21 |
| 10. Florida | 18,860,872.74 |
| 11. Georgia | 9,289,519.74 |
| 12. Hawaii | 3,066,413.47 |
| 13. Idaho | 3,066,413.21 |
| 14. Illinois | 14,528,243.51 |
| 15. Indiana | 5,391,554.02 |
| 16. Iowa | 3,066,413.85 |
| 17. Kansas | 3,066,413.77 |
| 18. Kentucky | 3,515,069.07 |
| 19. Louisiana | 4,515,321.38 |
| 20. Maine | 3,066,413.21 |
| 21. Maryland | 5,428,248.81 |
| 22. Massachusetts | 8,664,497.83 |
| 23. Michigan | 8,567,551.32 |
| 24. Minnesota | 4,881,842.62 |
| 25. Mississippi | 3,000.537.07 |
| 26. Missouri | 5,346,517.90 |
| 27. Montana | 3,066,413.21 |
| 28. Nebraska | 3,066,413.24 |
| 29. Nevada | 3,992,364.65 |
| 30. New Hampshire | 3,066,413.21 |
| 31. New Jersey | 12,237,784.01 |
| 32. New Mexico | 3,066,413.39 |
| 33. New York | 34,734,754.63 |
| 34. North Carolina | 9,349,938.86 |
| 35. North Dakota | 3,066,413.21 |
| 36. Ohio | 10,420,277.39 |
| 37. Oklahoma | 3,066,414.20 |
| 38. Oregon | 5,468,941.58 |
| 39. Pennsylvania | 12,081,840.36 |
| 40. Rhode Island | 3,066,413.21 |
| 41. South Carolina | 4,254,877.71 |
| 42. South Dakota | 3,000,536.58 |
| 43. Tennessee | 5,290,023.02 |
| 44. Texas | 22,394,218.80 |
| 45. Utah | 3,066,413.40 |
| 46. Vermont | 3,066,413.21 |
| 47. Virginia | 7,563,731.52 |
| 48. Washington | 8,377,579.86 |
| 49. West Virginia | 3,066,413.21 |
| 50. Wisconsin | 5,527,245.89 |
| 51. Wyoming | 3,066,413.18 |
| 52. Puerto Rico | 2,037,321.90 |
| 53. America Samoa | 0 |
| 54. Guam | 157,106.91 |
| 55. Northern Marianas | 76,533.43 |
| 56. Virgin Islands | 152,726.78 |
| Total | $382,361,726.94 |
Learn More About the EPA’s Solar for All Grant Program at NAHRO’s Summer Symposium
On June 28, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) welcomed applications to the $7 billion grant competition Solar for All, which was created by the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to expand existing and implement new residential solar investments in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The program will award up to 60 grants to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and eligible nonprofits.
NAHRO’s Summer Symposium includes a session titled Green Energy Funding in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act which will include a panelist from the EPA to discuss the NOFO. Register here.
The application deadline for submission is September 26, 2023. In addition, applicants are required to submit a Notice of Intent by the following dates:
- July 31, 2023, for all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
- August 14, 2023, for U.S. territories, municipalities and eligible nonprofits
- August 28, 2023, for Tribal governments and Intertribal Consortia
PHAs can apply for grant funding individually or as subrecipients in applications. PHAs can also apply through coalition applications with other organizations. The minimum amount to apply for the program is $25 million and recipients must serve a minimum of 10,000 low-income households.
While PHAs can still participate in awarded programs in which they are not formal partners or subbidders, they must contact the state or regional sponsor applying for the award before September 26.
Seventy-five percent of the grant award must be in the form of “financial assistance” which means grants, loans, subsidies and other direct financial support to offtakers (tenant recipients). There is also a requirement that each offtaker or participant demonstrate a 20% or better reduction in their electricity bill. The other 25% can pay for technical assistance, outreach, marketing support, contractor training, tenant education, interconnection support, and program management.
The application can be found on grants.gov.
The NAHRO Blog: Legislative & Policy Updates from Washington, DC 