HUD

HUD has released the first set of NSPIRE standards with standards for chimneys, exit signs, sinks, smoke detectors and trash chutes. HUD is seeking feedback about the clarity of the deficiencies, the accuracy of the rationales and the overall usability of the standards. Please review the instructions on how to submit your feedback.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Final Rule. The rule denies visas to persons the government deems to be a ‘public charge’, through their income and potential use of federal programs like Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance, and Public Housing programs, as well as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid and parts of Medicare. The final rule significantly expands the list of federal programs that can be used to determine if someone is deemed a public charge and is scheduled to take effect on Oct. 15, 2019.

HUD announced that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will insure mortgages on mixed-use development in opportunity zones under the agency’s Section 220 program. Historically, Section 220 has provided mortgage insurance for rental housing in downtown urban areas that have been targeted for overall revitalization. Now, all 8,764 Opportunity Zones, including those located in rural area, […]

Florida Housing will hold four Request for Applications (RFA) workshops in August and September. Florida Housing also recently issued RFA 2019-111 for its Rental Recovery Loan Program and RFA 2019-102 for Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) To Be Used In Conjunction With Tax-Exempt MMRB And Non-Competitive Housing Credits In Counties Deemed Hurricane Recovery Priorities

The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) is holding a public meeting to receive input on the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing on August 20, 2019 from 5 to 6 pm MST at the Scott Resort and Spa Resort, 4925 N. Scottsdale, Arizona 85251. As part of the process, ADOH is conducting two brief surveys to help identify community priorities.

HUD’s forthcoming Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the Discriminatory Effects Standard was recently leaked to Politico. HUD claims that the proposed rule will bring its disparate impact standard in line with the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Community Project, Inc. The leaked notice of proposed rulemaking builds upon the Supreme Court’s ruling and proposes five steps for plaintiffs to bring a disparate impact claim.

HUD released a notice of funding availability (NOFA) for its Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants. Approximately $164 million is available for implementation grants that support the implementation of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans. Applications are due on November 4, 2019.

On July 30, HUD published the FY 2019 HOME Match Reductions list, which includes match reductions granted for FY 2019 due to fiscal distress, severe fiscal distress and Presidential disaster declarations.

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation issued RFA 2019-102 Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) to be used in conjunction with Tax-Exempt MMRB and Non-Competitive Housing Credits in Counties Deemed Hurricane Recovery Priorities. Interested parties may access the complete RFA and the online Application to apply for funding here.

The Universal Funding Application  for the 2020 multifamily Housing Credit funding round is available with applications due by noon EDT on, August 15.

The California State Senate passed SB 329, which would expand the California Fair Employment and Housing Act’s protections to add federal, state and local public assistance and housing subsidies—including Housing Vouchers—to the Act’s source of income protections

Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced the No Biometric Barriers Housing Act of 2019, which would prohibit the use of biometric recognition technology in federally subsidized housing and require HUD to submit a report to Congress on the use of such technology in public housing. T