HUD

President Trump named Scott Turner as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Turner will work with HUD Secretary Ben Carson who chairs the council to direct federal funding to opportunity zones. Turner served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2013 through 2017 and played in the NFL from 1995 to 2004 for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos

HUD is seeking comments and recommendations on how to best align HUD policy, practices, planned action, regulations and guidance with Opportunity Zones. This request for information aligns with Executive Order 13853 which created the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council and directed federal agencies to prioritize or focus Federal investments and programs on urban and economically distressed communities, including qualified opportunity zones. Comments are due on June 17.

HUD published the Renewal Funding Inflation Factors (RFIFs) to adjust Fiscal Year 2019 renewal funding for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program of each public housing agency. HUD posted the 2019 table and 2019 data on its website.

On April 4, 2019, HUD published a proposed regulation to implement the policies of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended. As proposed, the new rule would represent an overhaul of HUD oversight and administration of Section 3 by integrating requirements into regular program oversight and enforcement mechanisms and removing a separate compliance review process.

HUD issued a notice on implementing several sections of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155 of the 115th Congress) that was signed into law by President Trump on May 24, 2018. Section 209 of the bill made several amendments pertaining to small public housing agencies (PHAs) that administer 550 or fewer combined public housing units and vouchers under section 8(o) that predominantly operate in a rural area.

HUD is directing multifamily property owners/agents and public housing agencies that wish to appeal their REAC physical inspection score to a 2017 document titled Technical Reviews and Database Adjustments Guidelines.

HUD issued the FY 2019 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). The NOFA makes $5 million for Planning Grants and Planning and Action Grants available

HUD issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Section 202 funds. Section 202 provides Capital Advance funding and project rental subsidies for the development and ongoing operation of supportive rental housing for very low-income persons, aged 62 years or older.

On April 4, 2019 the Senate voted 52-44 to confirm Mark Calabria as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

HUD revised the Quick Reference Guide for Environmental Review Requirements for RAD Conversions. This version provides a more streamlined organization of information, incorporates frequently asked questions and introduces simplified environmental reviews for RAD conversions to PBRA that do not entail any work.

HUD announced that it charged Facebook with violating the Fair Housing Act by encouraging, enabling and causing housing discrimination through the company’s advertising platform. HUD alleges that Facebook unlawfully discriminates based on race, color, national origin, religion, familial status, sex and disability by restricting who can view housing-related ads on Facebook’s platforms and across the internet.

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) along with its partners, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Department of Health have posted a draft Annual Action Plan detailing guidance for the federal allocation of an estimated $50 million for housing and community development in Tennessee.