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Secretary Castro recently traveled to Puerto Rico for a series of events to discuss affordable housing strategies, economic development, and the Obama Administration’s efforts to combat the threat of the Zika virus on the island. While in Puerto Rico, Secretary Castro announced HUD will be investing $200 million to help develop and rehabilitate 750 units of affordable housing in seven locations across the island.
To help end veteran homelessness, HUD and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are awarding nearly $38 million to help more than 5,200 homeless veterans find homes. The rental assistance is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA.
HUD recently published the state-by-state 2016 allocations for the Housing Trust Fund (HTF). The total 2016 HTF funding is approximately $174 million. The HTF is an affordable housing production program that’s intended to complement existing federal, state, and local efforts to increase and preserve the supply of decent, safe, and sanitary affordable housing for extremely low- and very low-income households, including homeless families. It was established under Title I of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Section 1131 (Public Law 110-289).
Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) recently introduced H.R. 5137, “The Moving to Work Reformation and Expansion Act of 2016.” Thirty-nine public housing agencies (PHAs) currently participate in the Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration. Their MTW agreements were recently extended until 2028. In addition, the FY 2016 Appropriations Act authorized expanding the MTW demonstration to at least another 100 PHAs.
Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, recently introduced the “Fair Chance at Housing Act of 2016” (H.R. 5085) that would take significant steps towards ensuring people with criminal records have meaningful access to housing. The bill would require PHAs and other owners of HUD- and USDA-assisted housing to provide applicants and current tenants with an individualized review that looks at the totality of their circumstances before making a decision based on criminal records.
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and 28 of his Democratic colleagues recently introduced the “True LEADership Act” (S. 2821) a comprehensive plan to address lead poisoning, including several proposals related to housing. The bill would overhaul the way HUD deals with lead in homes by amending and expanding the “Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act” to include healthy housing activities.
On March 28, 2016, HUD released Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 income limits. Owners of sites participating in HUD’s Multifamily Housing Programs must utilize these limits when processing move-ins and initial certifications effective March 28, 2016, or later.
Using data from the American Community Survey from 2006 to 2014, a National Affordable Rent Housing Landscape report recently released by New York University’s Furman Center and Capital One found that the renter population grew in both central city and suburban areas while more renters struggled to find affordable housing in the 11 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.
HUD recently published a final rule that provides new religious liberty protections for beneficiaries of its programs and activities. In addition, HUD’s new rule ensures that faith-based providers can compete for government funds on the same basis as any other private organization.
On March 21, Representatives Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), and Brad Ashford (D-Neb.) introduced the Small Public Housing Agency Opportunity Act of 2016 (H.R. 4816) to address the administrative burdens facing small and rural housing authorities across the country.
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