On July 13, HUD released a new guidebook on implementing HUD’s Smoke-Free Policy in Public Housing relating to the “Instituting Smoke-Free Public Housing” Final Rule. The guidebook includes reasons to adopt a smoke-free policy, policy dates and deadlines, how to implement a smoke-free policy, and a recommended 18-month timeline.

PHAs have until July 30, 2018 to implement smoke-free policies for their public housing properties. Policies must prohibit smoking within all public housing units and common spaces. Smoking must also be prohibited within 25 feet of all public housing buildings, including administration buildings.

HUD released additional guidance on instituting and enforcing smoke-free public housing policies in February.

HUD’s guidebook can be found on NAHRO’s Public Housing Resource Page (members only).

The House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) Subcommittee released the text of its FY 2018 bill late last night. Overall, the bill makes numerous small cuts to many HUD programs, continuing a trend of disinvestment in already chronically underfunded programs. However, considering the low top-line level for non-defense programs proposed by the House Budget Committee, the cuts could have been significantly worse.

The full T-HUD bill received $56.5 billion, which is $1.1 billion less than the current fiscal year, but a whopping $8.6 billion above the President’s request. The cuts are evenly split between DOT and HUD.

Housing and Community Development Highlights

• Public Housing Capital Fund – $1.85 billion, $92 million less than FY 2017
  • Competitive Lead-Based Paint Grants – $0, $25 million less than FY 2017
  • Jobs Plus – $15 million, level funded
• Public Housing Operating Fund – $4.4 billion, level funded
• Choice Neighborhoods Initiative – $20 million, $118 less than FY 2017
• Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment Renewals – $18.71 billion, $355 million higher than FY 2017
  • Administrative Fees – $1.55 billion, $100 million less than FY 2017
• Family Self-Sufficiency – $75 million, level funded
• Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance – $11.082 billion, $266 million higher than FY 2017
• Community Development Block Grant – $2.9 billion, $100 million less than FY 2017
• HOME Investment Partnerships – $850 million, $100 million less than FY 2017
• Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS – $356 million, level funded
• Homeless Assistance Grants – $2.383 billion, level funded

The subcommittee will mark up the bill tonight at 7:00 pm EDT (sadly, that time is not a typo). You can watch what is likely to be a very quick voice vote here. The bill will move to full committee next week (where amendments will be considered), but it is unlikely to be brought to the floor of the House. The Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee could move on its THUD spending bill as early as next week.

Your advocacy efforts have worked to oppose the President’s devastating budget proposal, but your members of Congress need to continue hear from you about the impact that budget cuts have had in your community and the impact further cuts will have. August recess is just around the corner and is a perfect opportunity for you to voice those concerns- watch for NAHRO’s August Advocacy agenda coming soon.

On July 11, HUD’s Economic Opportunity Division of the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity sent out a notice regarding Section 3 reporting due dates for PHAs. Reporting due dates for PHAs are now based on the PHA fiscal year end (FYE), and are due 60 days after the PHA FYE. Non-PHAs that are recipients of Section 3 funding will continue to submit annual reports as they have done so in the past.

On June 30, HUD posted Capital Fund Program (CFP) grant awards for formula grants and, where applicable, Replacement Housing Factor grant(s) (RHF) for FY 2017. The obligation start date for FY 2017 Capital Funds will be August 16, 2017 with an obligation end date of August 16, 2019 and a disbursement end date of August 16, 2021.

PHAs can access information on their specific agencies on the HUD PIH website for the Capital Fund Program. PHAs have until August 2, 2017 to submit three original signed and dated ACC Amendments for each 2017 formula & RHF grant, along with the corresponding CF Annual Statement form HUD 50075.1 (Parts I & II) to their Regional and Field HUD office. HUD notes, “to ensure that your PHA has access to its Capital Funds as soon as possible, please adhere to the timeline that has been established.” Regional and Field HUD offices will execute ACC for Amendments for FY 2017 Capital Fund grants on August 16, 2017. The final submission date for all pending ACC Amendments is September 1, 2017. PHAs that miss that deadline will have their grants rescinded and de-reserved.

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