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HFA News
Fifty-Three Housing Owners and Operators Sign ‘Eviction Diversion Pledge’ to Keep Over 57,000 Tenants and Families Safely Housed
Today, the Baker-Polito Administration, MassHousing, CHAPA, and the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Organizations (MACDC) announced a five-point Eviction Diversion Pledge, a commitment from Massachusetts property owners and operators to working with tenants facing financial difficulties because of the pandemic and supporting housing stability during the ongoing fight against the spread of COVID-19. As of November 10, 2020, over 53 property owners committed to the Pledge, representing over 57,654 homes across the Commonwealth.
Kansas Housing Awards $4.7 Million to Support Emergency Housing Efforts
Nonprofit organizations and local governments across the state received a funding boost to prevent and respond to homelessness, thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funds, made available through the federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program, will support individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Kansas received the additional ESG funding to address heightened needs surrounding the COVID pandemic. “Home has never been more important,” said Ryan Vincent, Executive Director of Kansas Housing.
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 earlier this year 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.
Iowa Finance Authority Nationally Recognized for Excellence in Financial Reporting
The Government Finance Officers Association recently awarded the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its fiscal year 2019 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR), the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. “The attainment of the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the third consecutive year is a significant accomplishment,” said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Debi Durham. “This award represents IFA’s commitment to excellence in financial management, reporting and transparency on behalf of Iowans.”
PHFA Applauds Creation of PA Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency applauds the passage of Senate Bill 30 and its signature into law today, creating the Pennsylvania low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) program. The legislation was written by Senator Tom Killion and received strong bipartisan support in the General Assembly. It will mirror the federal LIHTC program established in 1986. That program allocates tax credits to the states that developers then use to raise capital for the construction of affordable rental housing. In exchange for receiving the tax credits, developers agree to keeps rents affordable for a number of years in the apartments that are built.
Kansas Housing, Office of Rural Prosperity Request Bids for Statewide Housing Needs Assessment
State officials will commission Kansas’ first comprehensive study of housing needs and resources in more than 20 years, Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers announced. The state’s Office of Rural Prosperity, in conjunction with Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state’s housing finance agency, is releasing a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting bids from qualified firms to develop, conduct, and deliver the assessment. Kansas has not conducted a major housing study in decades, resulting in a dearth of data on existing housing resources and current and projected needs.
CalHFA’s Mixed-Income Program Wins National Award
California's Mixed-Income Program (MIP), which is administered by the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) as a result of support and collaboration across all sectors of the government from Governor Gavin Newsom's Administration to the Legislature to the State Treasurer's Office, has won a national award for program excellence. The National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) made the announcement at its annual conference Oct. 27, naming CalHFA's program a 2020 winner in its Rental Housing: Encouraging New Construction category.
WHEDA’s Altoro Elected to Executive Committee of the National Council of State Housing Agencies
Joaquín Altoro, CEO of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, has been elected to serve as the at-large member of the executive committee of the National Council of State Housing Agencies. Altoro, who started a two-year term on NCSHA’s board of directors in 2019, was elected to the executive committee role by the other board members. NCSHA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization created to advance the efforts of the nation’s state housing finance authorities and their partners to provide affordable housing to those who need it.
Governor Wolf Announces Investment of Tax Credits in North Philadelphia to Build Transformative Mixed-Use Development
Governor Tom Wolf today announced that Commonwealth Cornerstone Group has completed a New Markets Tax Credit transaction of $16.5 million to help fund construction of a new shopping complex and 98 mixed-income units of rental housing along the 2000-2200 block of Ridge Avenue in North Philadelphia. The 231,000-square-foot commercial shopping complex already has four major tenants lined up to begin business when construction is completed.
Iowa Finance Authority Honored with National Marketing Award
The Iowa Finance Authority was recently honored with a national marketing award from the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) for their 2019 annual report, which showcases the positive chain reactions affordable housing creates throughout the state of Iowa. “Housing is a leading driver in Iowa’s economic vitality, community and workforce development and health and educational outcomes,” said Iowa Finance Authority and IEDA Executive Director Debi Durham. “Communicating these success stories is essential, especially as we work to significantly increase housing options for Iowans as we grow our state.”
