News

For the past few weeks, the United States Senate has been considering an appropriations minibus, H.R. 2112, which includes the annual spending bills for Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development and multiple amendments therein. The Senate approved the legislation by a vote of 69 to 30 on Tuesday, November 1.

The Center for Housing Policy has released a new brief titled “More than a Roof: Case Studies of Public Housing Agency Initiatives to Increase Residents’ Economic Security. The paper highlights PHA efforts to help residents make progress toward economic security.

HUD recently launched its Sustainable Construction in Indian Country initiative, which is charged with exploring impediments to sustainable construction practices in Native communities, and suggesting solutions to these impediments.

More than six years after HUD assumed control in 2005, Assistant Secretary Sandra Henriquez announced that the Detroit Housing Commission (DHC) would be returned to local control.

HUD is offering Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grants to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), local governments, nonprofits, tribal entities, and for-profit developers that apply jointly with a public entity.

As of February 1, 2012, California’s redevelopment agencies were permanently disbanded under the direction of Assembly Bill 1X26. However, on January 31, the California State Senate passed S.B. 654 which preserves the remaining balances in these redevelopment agencies’ Low and Moderate Income Housing Funds, approximately $1.5 billion, which were previously designated specifically for affordable housing development.

The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) will host four half day LIHTC training workshops to go over 2012 LIHTC application submissions.

Last week, the Hawaii State Legislature introduced two bills that would expand methods for delivering funding to a community development entity (CDE) by allowing guarantees and credit enhancements.

The Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) has released a summary of changes to the 2012 LIHTC cycle made by the Emerging Business Program.

HUD’s Office of Policy Development & Research has released the latest Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data.

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) has released a new Frequently Asked Questions document regarding the Application Review Process for the 2012 Housing Credit Program.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for market study report services. Selected market study providers will be placed on a list of qualified firms authorized to provide market study services to applicants for DCA’s affordable housing programs.