Federal / Agency News

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published an updated frequently asked questions (FAQ) document concerning the Federal Historic Tax Credit (HTC). The questions addressed what types of entities can claim the HTC, how and when the HTC can be claimed on a tax return key program definitions, qualified rehabilitation expenditures, basis and several other key aspects surrounding HTC.

Last week the Senate held a voice vote to confirm Adrianne Todman as deputy secretary at HUD. NH&RA looks forward to continuing to work with Ms. Todman in her new role! 

HUD published an interim final rule, which partially restores the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rules promulgated under President Barack Obama (D). The rule requires HUD grantees (PHAs, as well as state and local governments) to  regularly certify compliance with the Fair Housing Act’s AFFH requirement and, in doing so, commit to taking steps to remedy their unique fair housing issues. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for eligible entities to provide planning, training and technical assistance to rural communities to foster placemaking activities. 

USDA is making up to $3 million in cooperative agreement grants available under the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC). Eligible entities may use the funds to help rural communities create plans to enhance capacity for broadband access; preserve cultural and historic structures; and support development in transportation, housing and recreational spaces. 

Join HUD, the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Housing Initiative at Penn at 2 p.m. ET on June 10 for a webinar on the emergency rental assistance (ERA) programs throughout the country. The webinar will feature ERA tools from NLIHC and Penn, as well as insight into the lessons and recommendations they discovered in their research to best assist communities and priority populations. Register here.

HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) is hosting Opportunity Zone (OZ) Roundtable virtual events in conjunction with regional offices. This webinar will provide CPD grantees with a baseline understanding of CPD funding possibilities in designated OZs, and how to proactively support OZ projects and investments. 

The administration says it will launch an interagency effort to address inequity in home appraisals and publish next week in the Federal Register a proposed rule on countering housing practices with discriminatory effects and an interim proposed rule on HUD’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.

Last week, President Joe Biden (D) released the administration’s full fiscal year (FY) 2022 discretionary funding request to Congress. The HUD budget requests $68.7 billion, a $9 billion or 15-percent increase from the 2021 enacted level.

HUD has made available a new Guide to Public Housing Repositioning, which reviews the different options, and associated planning considerations, available to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) as they consider the long-term future of their portfolios.

HUD Exchange announced the launch of a new Davis-Bacon training on Payroll Analysis. The second of a two-part training, this new set of modules walks Local Contracting Agencies (LCAs) through the correct way to conduct a payroll analysis.

Last week the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs favorably reported Adrianne Todman’s nomination to be Deputy Secretary at HUD to the full Senate.

Multifamily assisted households are eligible to enroll in the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a Federal Communications Commission subsidy program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.