NCSHA Blogs
White House Releases $2 Trillion Infrastructure and Jobs Plan
Today, ahead of a speech President Biden will make in Pittsburgh, the White House released the American Jobs Plan, which is intended to rebuild the country’s infrastructure, including building, preserving, and retrofitting more than two million homes along with investments in transportation, clean drinking water, the electric grid and broadband, schools, and Veterans Affairs hospitals; create jobs for and raise the wages of home care workers; and revitalize manufacturing. In each of these areas, the White House looks to accomplish its goals with a focus on addressing racial injustices, climate impacts, and clean energy and infrastructure.
NCSHA Testifies at IRS Hearing on Housing Credit Average Income Test
On March 24, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) convened a public hearing on the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Average Income Test (AIT) proposed regulations published in October of last year. James Tassos, deputy director of tax policy and strategic initiatives, testified on behalf of NCSHA, one of 15 organizations represented at the hearing. Housing Credit allocating agency officials from California, Colorado, Minnesota, Texas, Virginia, and Washington joined NCSHA and numerous industry partners to express significant concerns with the proposed rule.
Congress Sends President Biden $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan Act for Signature
Today, the House of Representatives passed the final $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, following Senate passage of the bill early Saturday morning. No Republicans in either chamber voted for the measure. President Biden is expected soon to sign it into law. In addition to comprehensive COVID-19 relief, including stimulus checks, extension of unemployment insurance, funding for schools and vaccine distribution, and direct aid to state and local governments, the legislation includes more than $42.5 billion in funding for affordable housing programs.
HUD Publishes Data on Housing Credit Tenant Characteristics
On March 2, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published demographic data on tenants living in Housing Credit properties as of 2018. This data, collected annually from state Housing Credit allocating agencies as required by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, includes details on tenant race, ethnicity, family composition, age, income, use of rental assistance, disability status, and monthly rent burden. Note that, while in the past HUD has published a formal report on Housing Credit tenant data, this year it has simply made the data available in table format with a separate background document that also provides a brief explanation of each available table.
House Passes American Rescue Plan Act; Senate Could Act This Week
Early Saturday morning, the House of Representatives passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, H.R. 1319, providing the COVID-19 relief sought by President Biden. The bill, which is moving through Congress under procedural rules allowing it to pass the Senate with a simple majority, passed the House without any Republican support.
Treasury’s Revised Emergency Rental Assistance Guidance Addresses Nearly All NCSHA Recommendations
On February 22, the Treasury Department released a revised Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document providing guidance to grantees administering the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program established late last year by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. NCSHA and other housing groups had raised concerns about aspects of a prior Treasury FAQs document released before the current administration took office. In a January 25 letter to Treasury, HUD, and the White House, NCSHA urged Treasury to make modifications to some of the positions taken in the original FAQs and to issue additional guidance in areas not covered by those FAQs. The revised FAQs document is consistent with nearly every recommendation NCSHA made.
House Financial Services Committee Portion of COVID-19 Relief Bill Includes Assistance for Homeowners and Renters
House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) has released the text of legislation providing COVID-19 relief that her committee will mark up on Wednesday, February 10, and an accompanying memorandum about the bill. The legislation the Financial Services Committee marks up will be combined with the work of other committees into the larger package Congress will consider soon, pursuant to the recently passed FY 2021 Budget Resolution’s reconciliation instructions, allowing the bill to pass with a simple majority vote in the Senate.
HUD Secretary Nominee Marcia Fudge Pledges to Work with Congress to Address Affordable Housing
The Senate Banking Committee yesterday held a hearing on the nomination of Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH) to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Fudge’s written and oral testimony highlighted that she understands and is ready to address the housing challenges facing HUD and the country, including the lack of housing affordability and the instability of renters and homeowners exacerbated by COVID-19.
Treasury Guidance on Emergency Rental Assistance Requires Third-Party Documentation of Income, Hardship
Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury published a Frequently Asked Questions document providing guidance on the $25 billion Emergency Rental Assistance program enacted under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Despite the seemingly unanimous urging of NCSHA and other organizations representing both grantees and low-income households, Treasury is requiring applicants for assistance to provide third-party source documentation evidencing income and their experience of unemployment or financial hardship due directly or indirectly to COVID-19.
IRS Housing Credit COVID-19 Relief Notice Addresses All NCSHA Recommendations
On January 15, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2021-12 which extends all COVID-19 relief measures originally provided under Notice 2020-53 and provides further relief not included in that original COVID-19 relief notice. The deadline extensions and waivers provided under Notice 2020-53 expired at the end of 2020.
