In the News

RSS

HUD recently published Notice PIH 2018-24 entitled “Verification of Social Security Numbers (SSNs), Social Security (SS) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits; and Effective Use of the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) System’s Identity Verification Report.” This notice supersedes the previous notice PIH 2012-10. The full notice can be found at www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/PIH-2018-24_EIV_SSN_Notice_FINAL.pdf.

As part of its continuing effort to support “decent, safe, and sanitary housing,” HUD announced, in a Multifamily Communications email, that it has been conducting an internal review of the Real Estate Assessment Center’s (REAC’s) physical inspection system. Secretary Carson is leading a re-examination of how HUD conducts inspections to ensure private owners are meeting this standard.   

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report that examined the processes for referring cases of potential noncompliance to HUD’s Departmental Enforcement Center (DEC). The GAO looked at three HUD program offices—the Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, Public and Indian Housing (PIH), and Community Planning and Development (CPD)—and concluded that PIH and CPD don’t provide their field staff with specific guidance on when to make referrals to DEC.

According to a preliminary notice issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Trump administration is considering ways to strengthen the enforcement of rules that require immigrants to demonstrate that they won’t take advantage of public assistance programs after entering the United States.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) recently introduced an affordable housing bill called the “American Housing and Economic Mobility Act.” It would authorize $500 billion for affordable housing programs over the next 10 years. The legislation increases funding for a number of affordable housing programs, including the Housing Trust Fund and Capital Magnet Fund.

HUD Secretary Ben Carson and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie recently announced $35 million in grants to combat veteran homelessness. The funding will be provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program to 212 public housing agencies across the country to provide a permanent home for over 4,000 homeless veterans.

To help protect children and seniors from exposure to lead and other home health hazards, HUD recently awarded $6.7 million to seven universities and public health organizations to improve methods for identifying and controlling residential health risks including lead-based paint, mold, secondhand tobacco smoke, and other indoor contaminants.

The House recently passed a package of opioid legislation (H.R. 6) that includes a new pilot program to provide housing assistance to individuals recovering from substance-use disorders. The bill would authorize Congress to provide funding for the pilot through the Community Development Block Grant program. HUD would distribute the funds based on a formula that prioritizes states with high rates of overdose deaths and, to a lesser extent, high rates of unemployment and low rates of work participation.

HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) recently published a Federal Register notice informing public housing agencies about waivers of HUD requirements they may request in the aftermath of a presidentially declared Major Disaster Declaration (MDD) during calendar year 2018. To obtain a waiver, a PHA in an MDD county must submit a request to HUD no later than four months after the disaster is declared.

HUD recently awarded more than $12 million in Healthy Homes Production grants to 13 Tribes and Tribal agencies to protect children and families from home health and safety hazards. The grant funding will assist and protect families by targeting health hazards in 1,300 low-income homes with significant home health and safety hazards. The Healthy Homes Production grant program has a demonstrated history of success, filling critical needs in communities where no other resources exist to address substandard housing that threatens the health of the most vulnerable residents.