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The Trump administration recently announced the proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Budget for HUD. The budget proposes an 18.3 percent cut from FY 2017 enacted levels. The goal is to reduce the federal involvement in housing assistance and “recognizing” that states and local governments should shoulder that responsibility.             

At the request of House Committee on Financial Services Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA), the Government Accountability Office (GAO) undertook an additional review of the Moving to Work Demonstration (MTW), with a focus on how the demonstration affected public housing and voucher tenants.

HUD recently announced that it has reached a Conciliation/Voluntary Compliance Agreement with the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa (HACCC) and the Vallejo Housing Authority (VHA), both located in California, resolving allegations that they violated the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act when they allegedly denied a request by a resident with disabilities to extend her search time to find suitable housing that would accept her Housing Choice Voucher.

Congress recently passed a short-term funding bill that will continue to fund government activities through Feb. 8, 2018. There’s a good chance that Congress won’t reach a compromise that funds the government through the Sept. 30 fiscal-year end, which will likely result in another short-term funding bill or another potential government shutdown.

The House of Representatives recently passed a bill reauthorizing the “Family Self Sufficiency Act” (HR 4258). Since its establishment, the FSS program has enabled families living in public or project-based assisted housing or using Housing Choice Vouchers to access workforce training and other resources to pursue higher paying employment opportunities. Families enrolled in the FSS program receive an interest-bearing escrow account, allowing them to save and apply those savings to work-related and education-related expenses.

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs recently voted to recommend two nominees for HUD assistant secretary positions. The nominees will next be voted on by the full Senate; the timing for such a vote is uncertain. The nominees are Brian Montgomery for HUD assistant secretary for Housing and commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration and Robert Kurtz for assistant secretary for Public and Indian Housing. Both Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Kurtz were previously approved by the Banking Committee in November.

President Trump recently signed into law a Continuing Resolution (CR, H.J. Res. 123) to keep the federal government funded through Dec. 22. The new CR funds federal programs, including HUD, at FY 2017 levels and extends the National Flood Insurance Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program through Dec. 22 and 31, respectively.

The Senate Banking Committee recently approved the “Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act” (S. 2155). The bill incorporates the Protect Tenants at Foreclosure Act and the Family Self-Sufficiency Act, which provide important protections and opportunities for low-income renters.

HUD recently issued Notice PIH 2017-24, “Guidance on Third-Party Agreements Encumbering Public Housing Property.” The notice discusses the HUD approval process for specific types of agreements that encumber a PHA’s use or interest in public housing property.

President Trump has nominated Irving Dennis to be HUD’s chief financial officer. The Senate will have to confirm Dennis’ nomination. Dennis recently retired after more than 36 years with Ernst & Young, where he was a global client service partner. According to his LinkedIn profile, he primarily served large global complex companies specializing in franchising operations, consumer products, distribution, and manufacturing.