We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
HUD recently sent proposed changes to the disparate impact regulations to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the Office of Management and Budget. HUD’s disparate impact rule was enacted by HUD during the Obama administration and is used as a way to enforce the Fair Housing Act. Under HUD’s rule, lenders, landlords, and other housing providers can be held liable for discrimination against protected classes even if it wasn’t their intent to discriminate.
U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) recently introduced legislation to provide greater choice and mobility to participants in HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program. The bipartisan bill builds on the same legislation introduced by Senators Young and Hollen during the 115th Congress.
HUD recently reached an agreement with the City of New York and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to provide a new roadmap forward for NYCHA that will address the longstanding issues at the housing authority’s sites.
HUD recently announced $29 million in grants to public housing authorities (PHAs) and nonprofit organizations to hire or retain service coordinators to help residents find jobs and educational opportunities through the Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency Service Coordinators (ROSS-SC) program. Under the program, service coordinators will assess the needs of residents of conventional Public Housing or Indian Housing and coordinate available resources in the community to meet those needs.
The Trump administration recently announced a joint action plan by HUD, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reduce childhood lead exposures and associated health impacts. “HUD is delighted to join the other members of the Task Force in issuing this cohesive Federal Lead Action Plan,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson.
In the Public Inspection of the Federal Register, HUD recently posted a 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection on changes to Admission and Occupancy Requirements for Public Housing. According to the notice, it implements changes to the admission and occupancy requirements for the Public Housing program made by the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility (QHWRA) Act of 1998 and the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA).
Operating Cost Adjustment Factor (OCAF) rent increases are based on the OCAFs HUD releases annually in the Federal Register. Eligibility is determined by your HAP contract. If the Rent Adjustment section of your contract or plan of action refers to OCAF adjustments, you’re eligible to submit an OCAF request. Generally, sites that have renewed under the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (MAHRA) are eligible to submit OCAF rent adjustment requests.
A recent study from Apartment List, “The Housing Affordability Struggle of 21st Century Veterans,” found that post-9/11 veterans are more likely to struggle with housing affordability than veterans of previous generations. According to the study, post-9/11 veterans have become the first and only generation of veterans to struggle with housing affordability compared to civilians of like ages and demographics.
On Nov. 13, HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing sent a letter to Executive Directors of public housing agencies notifying them of their options related to the repositioning of their public housing properties. In the letter, HUD discusses the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, new flexibilities for Section 18 demolition and disposition, and forthcoming guidance on voluntary conversion and the retention of assets after a Declaration of Trust (DOT) release.
HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) recently sent letters to PHAs inviting them to request up to $25,000 in additional administrative fees to reimburse them for the costs associated with implementing Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs). As of April 1, 2018, PHAs in 24 metropolitan areas are required to use SAFMRs. Other PHAs may voluntarily use SAFMRs. PHAs have until Dec. 31 to apply for the additional administrative fees.
RSS