News

HUD

New Study on Where Families with Children Use Housing Vouchers

A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Poverty & Race Research Action Council examines where families with children use housing vouchers in the 50 largest metropolitan areas. This report is the first metropolitan-level analysis to explore the concentration of families using vouchers across multiple neighborhood characteristics.

IRS

IRS proposed rule on reissuance of state or local bonds

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a proposed rule on reissuance of state or local bonds. The proposed rule provides steps for determining when tax-exempt bonds are treated as retired for purposes of sections 103 and 141 through 150 of title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The proposed rule also amends §1.1001–3(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code to conform that section to the special rules in the proposed rule for retirement of qualified tender bonds.

Federal Housing Finance Agency

Otting named interim FHFA director

President Trump has named Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting as acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) beginning Jan. 6, after Director Mel Watt’s term ends.

HUD

HUD releases FY 2019 Section 8 HAP AAF

HUD issued a notice of Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Annual Adjustment Factors (AAFs) for certain properties in HUD’s Section 8 housing assistance payment (HAP) programs. The AAFs are provide annual adjustments to rents based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index survey.

IRS

IRS issues final rule on public approval of tax-exempt PABs

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a final rule that updates requirements for public approval of tax-exempt private activity bonds (PABs). All PABs are required to hold a hearing of public approval. The rule changes the reasonable public notice period from 14 to 7 days prior to the hearing and allows for the posting of the hearing on a website without other notice.

California

TCAC Announces Leadership Change

Dear TCAC stakeholders, Sunday (1/6/2019) will be my last day as TCAC Executive Director. I want to thank Treasurer Chiang for the amazing opportunity to serve in this position for the last four years. It has been both an honor and a source of personal growth for me, and it has allowed me to make […]

congress-capitol

Congress prepares CR through Feb. 8

Congress is readying a short-term continuing resolution that would fund the government through Feb. 8 and avert a partial government shutdown on Friday, Dec. 21. Seven appropriations subcommittee bills, including Transportation-HUD, still have yet to receive funding for all of Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. Five of the twelve appropriations subcommittee bills are funded for all of FY 2019 and won’t need a CR to continue operating.

Treasury

CDFI Fund Director Donovan Steps Down; New Director Named

Annie Donovan announced that she will step down as the director of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Donovan will be replaced by Jodie Harris in January.

USDA Rural Development

USDA Rural Housing Services Staffing Changes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue sent a letter to House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Chairman Robert Aderhold (R-AL) to explain staffing changes within the Rural Housing Service (RHS) Section 538 rental guarantee program and Section 515 rental loan program.

California

California Updates List of Jurisdictions Subject to Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process

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.

congress-capitol

Another Week, Another Tax Bill

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.

USDA Rural Development

RHS proposes eliminating Sec. 538 NOFA

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.

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