Federal / Agency News

The full House Financial Services Committee (HFSC) will hold two upcoming housing related hearings. The April 30 hearing will focus on “Housing in America: Assessing the Infrastructure Needs of America’s Housing Stock.” The May 21 hearing will focus on “Housing in America: Oversight of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.”

HUD sent a proposed rule to Congress on April 17 that would eliminate what it says is a regulatory loophole that allows people to live in subsidized housing without having their immigration status checked.

HUD sent PIH Notice 2019-06 to all public housing authorities and private owners of HUD-subsidized housing a notice to remind and encourage them to install working CO detectors in their properties.

HUD released its annual notice on voucher funding, PIH 2019-8, Implementation of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2019 Funding Provisions for the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

HUD released the income limits for FY 2019 used to determined eligibility for public housing, Section 8, Section 202 and Section 811. HUD also released the Multifamily Tax Subsidy Program income limits for FY 2019, which are used for low-income housing tax credit and tax-exempt bond properties.

This New York Times article by Emily Badger dives into the 2020 presidential candidates’ positions on affordable rental housing. From the article, “I hope [affordable housing] becomes an obvious part of the package…how can you run for President without speaking to this?”

The White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (Council) published its Implementation Plan, outlining a detailed work plan for how the Council—chaired by HUD Secretary Ben Carson—will accomplish the goals specified in Executive Order 13583 of December 12, 2018.In addition to developing an “OpportunityZones.gov” website, the Council and its Executive Director Scott Turner will be conducting listening tour sessions of rural, urban and suburban Opportunity Zones and other distressed communities throughout the remainder of 2019.

The Department of the Treasury (Treasury) released a notice and request for information on data collection for Opportunity Zone investments. Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOFs) are required to file a Form 8996 and Treasury anticipates possible revisions to that form that could assist in data collection.  

The Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a new notice of proposed rule making on Opportunity Zones. A public hearing will be held on July 9 at 10 am EDT at the New Carrollton Federal Building at 5000 Ellin Road in Lanham, Maryland 20706.

President Trump named Scott Turner as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Turner will work with HUD Secretary Ben Carson who chairs the council to direct federal funding to opportunity zones. Turner served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2013 through 2017 and played in the NFL from 1995 to 2004 for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos

HUD is seeking comments and recommendations on how to best align HUD policy, practices, planned action, regulations and guidance with Opportunity Zones. This request for information aligns with Executive Order 13853 which created the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council and directed federal agencies to prioritize or focus Federal investments and programs on urban and economically distressed communities, including qualified opportunity zones. Comments are due on June 17.

HUD published the Renewal Funding Inflation Factors (RFIFs) to adjust Fiscal Year 2019 renewal funding for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program of each public housing agency. HUD posted the 2019 table and 2019 data on its website.