COVID-19 News
In response to the mounting Coronavirus public health crisis, NH&RA launched a dedicated section of our website to keep stakeholders apprised of the evolving guidance. The webpage lists all news stories with the COVID-19 tag in the order in which they were added and stories can be filtered by state.
Sign-On Letter for Rural Housing Funding in Next COVID Legislation
The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is circulating a sign-on letter to Congressional leadership in support of rural housing being included in the next COVID relief package. The deadline to sign on is today, Wednesday, July 22. NH&RA joined the letter and encourages our members to do the same.
Senate Economic Justice Act Includes Housing, LIHTC Provisions
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) recently unveiled The Economic Justice Act, a proposal to invest $350 billion in communities of color as a component of the next federal COVID-19 stimulus relief package. The Economic Justice Act would expand LIHTC by $5 billion over five years. In addition, it would provide a renter tax credit that would reduce rent and utilities for low-income individuals and families.
Senator Harris Proposes Protections for Renters and Homeowners in RELIEF Act
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) announced the Rent Emergencies Leave Impacts on Evicted Families (RELIEF) Act on July 16, legislation aimed at keeping residents in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
California Offers $600 Million through Project Homekey
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (CalHCD) released a NOFA for $600 million in Homekey funds. Building on the success of Project Roomkey, Homekey is the next phase in the state’s response to protecting Californians experiencing homelessness who are at high risk for serious illness and are impacted by COVID-19.
Maryland Offers $30 Million in COVID-19 Rental Assistance
Governor Larry Hogan (R) announced a $30 million rental assistance program to prevent evictions and help Marylanders affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The State’s allocation of $20 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) COVID funding will be deployed across local jurisdictions in Maryland to provide further support for local eviction prevention programs.
New HUD Guidance for Property Owners and FHA Borrowers
The eviction moratorium for HUD-assisted multifamily properties authorized by the CARES Act will expire on July 24. Last week, HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing published guidance for multifamily property owners on promoting housing stability during the pandemic. Separately, HUD published Notice H 2020-7, Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Eviction Moratorium that extends […]
HUD’s OAMPO Issues Guidance on Processing Special Claims for Vacancy
HUD’s Office of Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight (OAMPO) has issued a memo providing instructions for processing special claims for vacancy for properties affected by COVID-19. This memo expands the applicability to properties being developed under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. For properties undergoing initial rent-up the 60 days starts as of the date of the permission to occupy the unit or the effective date of the contract, whichever is later.
Workers Must Earn $19.56 to Afford Rent for a One-Bedroom; $23.96 for a Two-Bedroom
The National Low Income Housing Coalition released its annual Out of Reach report, which shows that even before the onset of the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis, millions of workers were struggling to afford their homes.
Florida Offers Rental Assistance through Coronavirus Relief Funds
The State of Florida has been awarded funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES Act) Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to provide rental assistance for residents in Florida Housing funded developments. The owner’s Invitation to Participate is now available, but is subject to the approval of the FHFC Board of Directors at the July 17, 2020 board meeting.
Using these funds, Florida Housing will subsidize eligible households’ rents by providing payments to owners of participating properties. Payments will not be made to individual resident households. The rental assistance will be available to help pay an eligible household’s rent for July through December 2020, as well as rent arrearages accrued during the months of April, May and June 2020. All funds must be expended by December 30, 2020.
Indiana Offers COVID-19 Rental Assistance
On July 13 at 9:00 am CT the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA) began accepting applications through the Rental Assistance Portal. The portal connects Hoosiers to a variety of rental assistance programs administered by IHCDA.
Up to $100 Million Available for Minnesota CHAP Providers
Minnesota Housing is now accepting applications from entities interested in serving as administrators for the 2020 COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP). Grants will be made to entities that will use the funds to provide housing assistance to prevent homelessness and help maintain housing stability of individuals and families impacted by the public health-related emergency.
Connecticut Extends COVID-19 Financial Relief Available for Multifamily Borrowers through End of Year
The Connecticut Housing Finance Agency (CHFA) extended the COVID-19 multifamily financial relief period through December 31, 2020. Any mortgagor of a multifamily rental housing development in CHFA’s portfolio experiencing financial distress due to COVID-19, beyond the financial ability of the mortgagor to correct or mitigate, may contact CHFA to request its assistance. For more information, […]