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HFA News
WHEDA CEO Altoro Has Accepted Position in Biden Administration
WHEDA Executive Director and CEO Joaquín Altoro has accepted a position in the Biden Administration. This week Altoro was sworn in as the Administrator of Rural Housing Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. “We are appreciative of Joaquín Altoro’s strategic vision and leadership to help WHEDA advance affordable housing in our rural and urban communities,” said Kim Plache, WHEDA Deputy Executive Director. “And we celebrate his new role at the federal level where he will continue to be an advocate for greater equity in housing and economic opportunity.”
Florida Housing Finance Corporation Honors Military Personnel Through Salute Our Soldiers Program
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) launched the Salute Our Soldiers Military Loan Program in 2020 to assist Florida’s growing population of veteran and active-duty military personnel in obtaining permanent housing. The Salute Our Soldiers program offers a variety of down payment and closing cost assistance (DPA), coupled with low interest rate first mortgage loans. Some of the DPA products offered are even forgivable after five years.
CHFA Announces 2021 Round Two Housing Tax Credit Awards
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) is pleased to announce 14 developments will be awarded a reservation of federal and state Housing Tax Credits to support the new construction or preservation of 1,373 affordable apartments. These developments will seek to address various housing needs in Colorado, supporting individuals, families, homeless households, individuals ages 18-24 aging out of foster care, and adults ages 55 or older, and 62 or older.
The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority Appoints Lisa G. Hensley as Managing Director of Homeownership Programs
The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) has appointed Lisa G. Hensely to lead the Authority’s Homeownership Department. Ms. Hensley, formerly Senior Vice President of Single-family Programs of the District of Columbia Housing Finance Authority joined CHFA on November 1. Hensley will be responsible for strategic oversight and management of the Authority’s homeownership business lines, driving product and business development to increase the number of state residents who have access to affordable mortgage financing through CHFA.
Financing for 3 New Multi-Family Affordable Housing Developments Approved by NH Housing Board
Funding for three affordable multi-family housing developments was approved by the New Hampshire Housing Board of Directors at its October meeting. These 83 new units will help meet the critical need for affordable rental housing for our state’s workforce and other residents. The allocation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and other federal and state funding to these projects will produce new affordable rental housing in Concord, Newport, and Rochester. New Hampshire Housing anticipates approving LIHTC allocations for additional developments later this year.
Brianna Sas-Pérez Joins WHEDA Board
Brianna Sas-Pérez, executive director for VIA CDC, has been appointed to serve as a member of the WHEDA board of directors. A Wisconsin native, Sas-Pérez’s experience includes over a decade of community outreach with a focus on equity and wellbeing. As VIA CDC’s executive director, she is responsible for strategic planning, fundraising, budgeting, community engagement, as well as deployment of the organization’s funding and other programming that support housing and business development in Milwaukee neighborhoods.
PHFA Names Housing Policy Fellowship for Kathy Possinger
In recognition of the career accomplishments of Kathy Possinger in the housing field, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency is naming its annual housing policy fellowship for her. Possinger was a leading affordable housing advocate who served Pennsylvanians for two decades through her work in both the public and private sectors. Her service with nonprofit and government agencies provided significant contributions to the field of affordable housing and community development. This service included contributions to PHFA as a board designee and advocate.
Governor Hogan Proclaims October 30 as Weatherization Day in Maryland
Governor Larry Hogan today issued an official proclamation to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Weatherization Assistance Program and declared Saturday, October 30, as Weatherization Day in Maryland. The Weatherization Assistance Program helps predominantly low-income households make important repairs and upgrades to their homes to increase energy efficiency. “The Weatherization Assistance Program has served thousands of Marylanders over its 45-year history by making their homes more energy efficient and providing substantial savings on their utility bills,” said Governor Hogan.
Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance Awards Nearly $52 Million to Protect Tenants at Risk of Eviction
The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program has provided more than $51.9 million in relief funding to communities across the state. To date, KERA funds have supported 23,834 residents of 9,220 tenant households and 3,786 landlords facing financial hardship as a result of the COVID pandemic. When Nick Baumgartner’s small business began to flounder in 2020, he could not afford to pay his rent and was barely keeping up with utility bills. “I never had to ask for any kind of financial assistance before,” said Baumgartner, whose Topeka business served local restaurants.
Gov. Pritzker Announces Initial Allocation of 2021 Emergency Rental Assistance Is 100 Percent Disbursed to Renters and Landlords
Governor JB Pritzker today announced that $505 million of the initial tranche of Illinois’ 2021 emergency rental assistance from the federal government has been distributed, as Illinois leads the nation in getting this funding out the door faster than any other state. More than 57,000 households have now received assistance through the Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP). With Illinois’ initial 2021 allocation of rental relief funds fully paid out, IHDA will open a new round of assistance funded by a separate federal bill on Monday, November 8, 2021.
