Federal / Agency News

Several provisions related to federally-assisted housing, including a pay for success pilot to raise outside capital for energy and water retrofits, were signed into law with the FAST Act.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development adjusted Basic Statutory Mortgage Limits for the Multifamily Housing Section 207, 213, 220, 221(d)(4), 231, 234 programs. They have an effective date of January 1, 2015.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development released responses to frequently asked questions regarding the Section 8 Renewal Policy Guide.

California Governor Edmund Brown, Jr. appointed Ben Metcalf, former Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, to direct the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

HUD announced Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Action Grants, designed to spur the redevelopment of severely distressed public and HUD-assisted housing and transform surrounding neighborhoods. PHAs that are considering applying for RAD for demolition and new construction, or major rehabilitation or reconstruction, are encouraged to apply for a Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Action Grant.

HUD designated the Difficult to Develop Areas (DDA) and Qualified Census Tracts (QCT) that will be effective July 1, 2016. This is the first year Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) were used to designate metropolitan DDAs instead of metropolitan-area Fair Market Rents (FMRs).

HUD answered frequently asked questions regarding the Section 811 project rental assistance program, including environmental review, fair housing, program administration, and requirements.

HUD proposed a rule that would implement a smoke-free policy in all public housing, other than dwelling units in mixed-finance buildings. Comments on this proposed rule are due by January 19.

The 2015 Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Workshop – Shreveport, LA is relevant to PHAs and other RAD stakeholders in HUD’s Region 4 and 6.

Community Development Entities interested in applying for New Markets Tax Credit allocation authority under the 2015 round have until 5:00 pm EST, on December 16, 2015 to submit their application.

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund clarified some key aspects of compliance monitoring in a recent update to its New Markets Tax Credit Compliance Monitoring Frequently Asked Questions document.

According to a recent alert from NixonPeabody, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 includes partnership audit reforms.