General News

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), in partnership with the Office of Native American Programs (ONAP), has just launched a new effort to support and increase sustainable construction in Native communities.

The California Supreme Court recent denied the California Redevelopment Association’s (CRA) request for a modified stay that would have allowed redevelopment agencies that agreed to make remittance payments under the alternative redevelopment program to initiate new activities or obligations.

HUD has published its quarterly notice of all regulatory waivers that the Department has approved for the Office of Community Planning and Development, the Office of Housing, and the Office of Public and Indian Housing. The notice contains all regulatory waivers granted during the period of April 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) released the draft 2012 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) that details changes made to the previous year’s plan.

The New York State Homes & Community Renewal (HCR) agency announced 35 award recipients for the State’s competitive Unified Funding (UF) awards program that leverages $78 million in low-interest loans and tax credits to build and preserve over 2,200 units of affordable housing. This unique State program combines the funding rounds of three major development programs that aim to increase the availability of quality affordable housing.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) released public comments submitted in response to its Request for Public Comment regarding the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program (BGP). The BGP was enacted through the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 on September 27, 2010 and is authorized through fiscal year 2014

President Obama intends to nominate Maurice A. Jones to succeed the retired Ronald C. Sims for the position of Deputy Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA) has released the draft 2012 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) for review and public comment. The plan incorporates very few alterations to the previous year’s plan.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) announced a roundtable discussion about the proposed 2012 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) on September 27, 2011. In addition, the TDHCA Governing Board will meet to discuss the proposed QAP and the possibility of forward allocating commitments for 9% low income housing tax credits on October 4, 2011.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today issued Notice 2011-74 to grant certain low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) properties relief from specified Section 42 requirements to provide emergency housing relief needed as a result of the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Irene in Vermont beginning on August 27, 2011.

In a special called meeting on August 16, 2011, the Tax Credit Committee of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency’s Board of Directors considered various issues with regard to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program for 2011 and 2012.

The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) has proposed regulation changes to the state’s QAP in order to assist projects affected by the pending redevelopment litigation before the California State Supreme Court.