General News

The Hawaii State Legislature is considering a proposed measure that would establish a program to provide loans in lieu of low-income housing tax credits by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

The Obama administration recently released a set of seven questions for public input on the future of the nation’s housing finance system, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as the overall role of the federal government in housing policy.

The research symposium in PD&R’s newest issue of Cityscape A Journal of Policy Development and Research: (Volume 12, Number 1) examines the effects of the HOPE VI (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere) public housing revitalization program.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)will hold an Informational Hearing on April 21, 2010 to take comments and suggestions for modifications to the QAP for 2011.

HUD has released a new discussion draft of Major Features of the 2011 Budget Proposal on Transforming Rental Assistance (TRA). TRA is a proposed multi-year initiative to preserve public and assisted housing by converting properties to a new project-based subsidy structure that includes a tenant mobility component.

Efforts are currently underway to incorporate several tax credit provisions into the Senate small business jobs bill. Timing is uncertain; however, reports indicate that the legislation could be considered in the next two weeks.

The IRS has announced its 2010 inflation adjustment factors for Section 45 Renewable Electricity Production credits and other energy related tax credits.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released a new report showing that the Build America Bonds program has resulted in significant savings in borrowing costs for state and local governments.

The Florida House of Representatives introduced legislation that would alter the state’s New Markets Development Program. The measure, House Bill 1229, passed both the Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Committee and the Economic Development Policy Committee.

A recent article by the Brookings Institution entitled A Demographic Lull for U.S. Migration at Census Time explores the slowdown in interstate migration in United States The areas that have been hit hardest are the Sun Belt cities that saw significant mid-decade population growth.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund has announced that it is undertaking a holistic review of its authorizing statute and has scheduled a series of “listening sessions” to generate discussion and interest among CDFI stakeholders.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Policy Development and Research has released a comprehensive housing market analysis report for the Oklahoma City market region.