News

The California Department of Housing and Community Development released an updated list of California cities and counties subject to streamlined ministerial approval process. Under SB 35, which was signed into law in 2017, cities and counties that are not meeting their housing needs must expedite approvals for certain new housing projects in jurisdictions.

House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) released a third iteration of a year-end tax package. The new version includes the same provision in his original and second bill that clarifies that veterans are a specified group for preferences within the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program and extends the LIHTC public use provisions from nine percent allocations to also include four percent bond allocations.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a proposed rule that would eliminate the notice of funding availability (NOFA) for the Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program.

The Minneapolis City Council voted 12-1 to endorse Minneapolis 2040 – The City’s Comprehensive Plan, with 22 policy recommendations, each with action steps, that are specific to housing.

At the Dec. 13 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) approved a portfolio preservation action plan.

The 2019 Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) rents are now available, which will be used any new awards issued starting in 2019.

HUD recently issued Notice 2018-10 that details best practices to help ensure guest suite use is consistent with National Housing Act prohibitions against transient or hotel use of multifamily properties. HUD acknowledges guest suites as an amenity may contribute to the marketability of certain multifamily projects.

The House Financial Services Committee (HFSC) will hold a hearing on “A Legislative Proposal to Provide for a Sustainable Housing Finance System: The Bipartisan Housing Finance Reform Act of 2018” on Friday, Dec. 21 at 9 a.m. EST in Rayburn House Office Building, room 2128.

HUD’s 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress found that 552,830 persons experienced homelessness on a single night in 2018, an increase of 0.3 percent since last year. The report did note significant declines among veterans as well as families with children experiencing homelessness with a 5.4 percent and 2.7 percent nationwide decline over 2017, respectively.

HUD Deputy Secretary Pam Patenaude announced she will be leaving HUD in the new year. FHA Commissioner Brian Montgomery has been named as Acting Deputy Secretary.

President Trump signed an executive order creating the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. The council, led by HUD Secretary Carson, spans 13 federal agencies with the intent of prioritizing opportunity zones in a variety of federal efforts, including grant funding, loan guarantees, infrastructure spending and crime prevention.

The 2019-2020 Qualified Allocation Plan approved by the Virginia Housing Development Authority is now available.