Althea Arnold

Senior Vice President for Policy and Chief Operating Officer

Althea Arnold leads the policy efforts at Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF)-- a national collaborative of 12 nonprofit affordable housing developers who own, operate and manage 145,000 affordable rental homes in 49 across the country. SAHF's mission-driven alliance advances resident-centered policy changes and sustainable solutions within the affordable housing sector. As part of this, Althea works with key policymakers in Congress, HUD, and other federal and state agencies to build support and remove barriers to the preservation and production of high-quality affordable rental housing. Althea joined SAHF as Senior Vice President, Policy in 2020. Prior to SAHF, she served as a Senior Legislative & Policy Associate at the National Council of State Housing Agencies, focusing on federal appropriations, HUD multifamily programs, and supportive housing issues. Earlier in her career Althea worked at the National Low Income Housing Coalition researching affordable housing needs to inform housing policy. Althea holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University, with a concentration in nonprofit leadership, and a Bachelor of Art’s degree from Connecticut College. HFAi25 Sessions: Maximizing Resident Outcomes and Financial Stability at Properties Industry Outlook AC24 Session: Preserving Existing Permanent Supportive Housing Properties HFAi24 Sessions: Housing Credit Development Forum Industry Outlook AC23 Sessions: Managing Rising Multifamily Operating Costs Preservation of Housing for People with Special Needs HCC23 Sessions: HUD-Assisted Housing Forum, Part 1 HUD-Assisted Housing Forum, Part 2 HFAi23 Session: Industry Outlook AC22 Session: The Future of Senior Housing

Congress Passes New Stopgap Funding Bill, Ending Government Shutdown

On January 22, President Trump signed a new stopgap spending bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, officially ending a three-day government shutdown. This Continuing Resolution (CR), which passed the House and Senate earlier in the day, is the fourth in a series of short-term spending bills since the 2018 fiscal year began in October. The CR funds federal programs, including HUD and USDA affordable housing programs, at FY 2017 levels; reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program through February 8; and funds the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years.

Congress Approves FY 2018 Continuing Resolution Funding Programs Through December 22

President Trump this afternoon signed into law a Continuing Resolution (CR, H.J. Res. 123) to keep the federal government funded through December 22. The House approved the measure yesterday by a margin of 235-193, and the Senate approved it hours later by a margin of 81-14. The previous FY 2018 CR would have expired at midnight tonight.

Congress Approves FY 2018 Continuing Resolution Funding Programs Through December 22

The House approved the measure yesterday by a margin of 235-193, and the Senate approved it hours later by a margin of 81-14. The previous FY 2018 CR would have expired at midnight tonight.

HUD Announces VAWA Final Rule

On November 16, HUD published in the Federal Register the final rule implementing housing provisions under the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) as it applies to HUD programs. The rule codifies VAWA core protections across covered HUD programs to ensure individuals are not denied assistance, evicted, or have their assistance terminated because of their status as victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, or for being affiliated with a victim.

House Passes FY 2018 Omnibus Spending Bill

Late last week, the House voted largely on party lines (211-198) to pass a $1.23 trillion Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 omnibus spending bill that includes funding for HUD and USDA housing programs. The Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act for FY 2018, HR 3354, is now headed to the Senate but is not expected to be brought up for a vote there. Instead, the measure may be used as the House’s starting position for negotiations over full-year FY 2018 appropriations legislation that could take place later this year.

Congress Passes Stopgap Funding, Debt Ceiling Extension, and Disaster Aid

On September 8, President Donald Trump signed a legislative package including provisions to provide more than $15 billion in disaster recovery aid, raise the debt ceiling, and enact a continuing resolution to fund federal programs after the September 30 end of this fiscal year until December 8, 2017. The president's signature came after House lawmakers cleared the bill (HR 601) by a 316-90 vote earlier in the day. The Senate approved the package the day before by a 80-17 vote.

HUD Releases FY 2017 Fair Market Rents

On August 26, HUD published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Fair Market Rents (FMRs). FMRs are used to determine payment standards for a number of housing assistance programs, including the Housing Choice Voucher and the Project-Based Section 8 programs.

HUD Report Finds Worst Case Housing Needs Continuing to Grow

On August 9, HUD released its biannual Worst Case Housing Needs Report to Congress. The report finds that, despite continued signs of a strengthening national economy, 8.30 million households had worst case needs in 2015, up from 7.72 million in 2013 and approaching the record high of 8.48 million in 2011. HUD defines worst case housing needs as renters with very-low incomes (below 50 percent of area median income) who do not receive government housing assistance and who spend more than half of their income on rent, live in severely inadequate conditions, or face both of these challenges. In 2015, the vast majority of households with worst case housing needs had severe housing cost burdens, while two percent lived in severely inadequate conditions.

Strong HOME and Section 8 Outcomes in Senate Appropriations Committee-Approved FY 2018 Bill

On July 27, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD) funding bill, providing $950 million for the HOME Investment Partnerships program (HOME) and fully funding Section 8 rental assistance—strong outcomes that NCSHA and other program stakeholders helped achieve in a difficult fiscal environment.

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Approves FY 2018 HUD Funding Bill

On July 25, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD) approved by voice vote its Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 funding bill.

Althea Arnold

Congress Passes New Stopgap Funding Bill, Ending Government Shutdown

Congress Approves FY 2018 Continuing Resolution Funding Programs Through December 22

Congress Approves FY 2018 Continuing Resolution Funding Programs Through December 22

HUD Announces VAWA Final Rule

House Passes FY 2018 Omnibus Spending Bill

Congress Passes Stopgap Funding, Debt Ceiling Extension, and Disaster Aid

HUD Releases FY 2017 Fair Market Rents

HUD Report Finds Worst Case Housing Needs Continuing to Grow

Strong HOME and Section 8 Outcomes in Senate Appropriations Committee-Approved FY 2018 Bill

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Approves FY 2018 HUD Funding Bill

HFA Communities

Upcoming Events

Membership

Get NCSHA Updates