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HUD recently announced a record $330 million in grants to clean up lead-based paint hazards and other housing-related health and safety hazards in low-income housing. These grants are provided through HUD’s Lead Hazard Reduction and Healthy Homes Production for Tribal Housing grant programs and will direct critical funds to qualifying cities, counties, states, and Native American tribal governments to eliminate dangerous lead paint hazards. HUD is making grants available through the following programs:
Senator Tim Kaine recently reintroduced the Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2019 to protect veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination. This bill would expand the Fair Housing Act’s protections to prohibit housing discrimination based on source of income or veteran status. HUD provides vouchers to low-income households and veterans through the Section 8 program and HUD-Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing program, respectively, yet private landlords are able to reject these vouchers.
HUD recently announced that it has negotiated an agreement between the Puerto Rico Public Housing Authority (PRPHA) and its residents who have disabilities. The agreement resolves allegations that a site under PRPHA’s jurisdiction was inaccessible to persons with disabilities for more than a year because of inoperable elevators.
HUD Secretary Carson recently announced that $5 million will be made available for the purchase and installation of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in public housing units where they’re necessary. The funds will be provided through HUD’s Emergency Safety and Security Program and represent the first time HUD is targeting grants specifically for the purchase and installation of CO detectors.
HUD recently announced a forthcoming proposed rule that would roll back protections for transgender people experiencing homelessness by allowing federally funded homeless shelters whose facilities are segregated by sex (such as bathrooms and sleeping quarters) to establish an admission policy that considers an individual’s sex and a range of other factors.
In a recently issued Federal Register notice, HUD requested comments on a planned two-year continuation of the Uniform Physical Condition Standards for Vouchers (UPCS-V) demonstration. Comments are due by July 29, and more information on submitting comments can be found at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-05-28/pdf/2019-11059.pdf.
The House Appropriations Committee recently advanced a $137.1 billion spending bill covering transportation and housing, about $6 billion above current levels and $17.3 billion more than President Trump’s request. The measure was approved in a 29-21 vote, divided mostly along party lines. The Trump administration had requested an $11 billion reduction in spending.
The HUD spending bill provides a total of $50.1 billion for HUD—$5.9 billion above the 2019 enacted level and $13.4 billion above the President’s budget request. Of the $50.1 billion, the bill includes:
HUD recently released fiscal year 2019 income limits that determine eligibility for HUD housing programs including Public Housing, PBRA Section 8, Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, and Section 202/Section 811 PRAC. The release comes after a delay due to the partial government shutdown earlier this year. The income limits can be found at www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2019. They became effective as of April 24, 2019.
The House Financial Services Committee recently held a hearing entitled “Housing America: Assessing the Infrastructure Needs of America’s Housing Stock.” The hearing explored the need to produce and preserve affordable housing as part of the nation’s infrastructure and strategies to improve affordability. Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) said, “Congress must recognize that our nation’s infrastructure extends beyond making investments in our roads, bridges, ports, and airports. It also includes our nation’s affordable housing.”
Under Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, as amended, undocumented immigrants can’t receive federal housing assistance, but families of mixed-immigration status can live in subsidized housing if at least one member of the household is eligible to receive assistance. U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylum seekers are eligible to receive housing assistance. Residents can declare themselves ineligible and aren’t required to reveal their immigration status.
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