News

Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) recently gave his State of the State address and released his FY2020 Executive Budget, outlining his priorities for the current legislative session.

Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced the Move America Act. The bill would expand tax-exempt private activity bonds (PAB) and create a new infrastructure tax credit (Move America Equity Credits), to help fund infrastructure projects through private-public partnerships. According the Joint Committee on Taxation, the bill would leverage $8 billion in federal investment into $226 billion worth of bond authority over the next 10 years or up to $56 billion over 10 years in tax credits.

34 U.S. Senators and 138 U.S. Representatives signed onto a Jan. 17 letter to President Trump, raising concerns about the impact of the shutdown on the people who rely on federal housing assistance. The letter urges the President to “end this shutdown and provide immediate relief to Americans being impacted by this funding crisis.”

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a new report Housing Finance: Prolonged Conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Prompt Need for Reform. The report, prepared for Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI), calls on Congress to “consider legislation for the future federal role in housing finance that addresses the structure of the enterprises, establishes clear, specific, and prioritized goals and considers all relevant federal entities, such as FHA and Ginnie Mae.”

In a Microsoft Corporate Blog, president Brad Smith and CFO Amy Hood committed $500 million in loans and grants to accelerate the construction of more affordable housing across the Seattle region across the next three years.

Oregon Housing and Community Service (OCHS) announced the deadline to apply for its Federal Project Based Rent Assistance Preservation Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). Applications, with the project’s Multifamily Energy Program Incentive Reservation letter, are due by 4 pm PT on Feb. 19, 2019. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Strategic Growth Council have published and updated Questions and Answers document for the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Round 4 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) application period. Applications to the NOFA are due on Feb. 11, 2019.

In a Washington Post op-ed, Jared Bernstein, former chief economist to former Vice President Joe Biden and senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, describes the early developments, including the Zone certification process, market reactions and some proposed investment targets of Opportunity Zones. While Bernstein notes the gentrification risk of Opportunity Zones, he concludes that the selected Zones have both the need and capacity to absorb new investment, development and people without displacing local residents. He calls on Treasury to dictate strong reporting requirements that will accommodate thorough evaluation.

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) will hold a workshop on its RFA 2019-107 Financing to Develop Housing for Persons with Disabling Conditions / Developmental Disabilities on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 at 10 a.m. ET. The RFA is expected to be issued in late February and applications will likely be due in late March.

Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) published his 2019-2020 proposed budget summary. In total, the Budget includes $7.7 billion across multiple departments and programs to address housing and homelessness throughout the state.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development announced $53.3 million in awards for the first round of the California Emergency Solutions and Housing Program (CESH). CESH is a state program providing funds for a variety of activities to assist people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) released its draft Multifamily Housing Program (MHP) Guidelines. Recent legislation authorized the issuance of $1.5 billion in bonds through the MHP for new construction, rehabilitation and preservation of veterans and affordable housing.