NCSHA COVID-19 Blogs, News, and Resources
The most recent NCSHA blogs, news, resources, statements, and talking points for HFAs are available below. For a curated compilation of COVID-19 information, guidelines, and notices published by state HFAs, the Administration, HUD, and other federal agencies, please visit the 
COVID-19 Resources and Updates Center.
HUD Makes Over $19 Million Available to Fight Housing Discrimination
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it is making $19.4 million available to help HUD Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) agencies conduct...
NCSHA Comment Letter on Treasury Interim Final Rule on Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
This July 16, 2021, NCSHA letter urges the Treasury Department to modify its May 17 Interim Final Rule to allow grantees to use State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to develop and support affordable housing in more geographic areas and for a broader range of activities to use FRF for operating assistance, and to use repayments of FRF funds for similar affordable housing purposes.
NCSHA Washington Report | July 16, 2021
An Open Letter to America’s Landlords On behalf of state agencies administering federal emergency rental assistance funds, thank you for your extraordinary efforts to keep millions of...
New NLIHC Report Highlights Persistent Housing Affordability Challenges for Low-Wage Renters
On July 14, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) released "Out of Reach 2021: The High Cost of Housing," its annual report documenting the gap between renters' wages and the cost of rental housing across the nation. NLIHC's 2021 report concludes that the profound economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 crisis had a significant impact on the lowest-wage households, exacerbating the disconnect between wage growth and rental cost increases.
National Low Income Housing Coalition | Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing 2021
On July 14, 2021, the National Low Income Housing Coalition released the 2021 edition of its annual report documenting the gap between renters’ incomes and the cost of housing. The report looks at the economic challenges facing low-income renters across the nation, including lagging wages, inconsistent job growth, and the rising cost of living.
Joint Letter to Treasury on Emergency Rental Assistance Reporting Guidelines
NCSHA, along with other major national organizations representing grantees—the Council of State Community Development Agencies, National American Indian Housing Council, National Association of Counties, and National League of Cities—sent this letter to Treasury providing comments on the reporting guidelines for the Emergency Rental Assistance program.
Featured ERA Program: Indiana Emergency Rental Assistance
The Indiana Emergency Rental Assistance (IERA) program is designed to decrease evictions, increase housing stability, and prevent homelessness by helping renter households whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 with rent and utility assistance.
Accelerating the Utilization of Emergency Rental Assistance: NCSHA Recommendations
This paper consolidates the various recommendations NCSHA has made to the Administration on how it could modify its guidance to better facilitate rapid deployment of Emergency Rental Assistance program funds to eligible households and their landlords and utility providers.
NCSHA Washington Report | July 2, 2021
State programs expect to pay more than 200,000 renters more than $1 billion in assistance to cover back rent and utilities and avoid evictions and homelessness in July, according to projections...
NCSHA Washington Report | June 18, 2021
One of the biggest shortcomings of the affordable rental housing subsidy system is the fact that so many landlords serving low-income renters operate outside of it. This is especially true of...
Letter to Administration on Flexibilities Needed for Rapid Deployment of Assistance to Tenants to Prevent Evictions
NCSHA, along with other major national organizations representing grantees and advocates—the American Public Human Services Association, Council of State Community Development Agencies, National American Indian Housing Council, National League of Cities, and National Low Income Housing Coalition—sent this letter to the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and White House Senior Advisor Gene Sperling asking the Administration to provide flexibilities to help grantees assist households that face eviction upon the expiration of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s eviction moratorium order.
New Harvard Housing Study Highlights Affordability Challenges Amidst Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery
On June 16, Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies released its 2021 State of the Nation’s Housing report. The report finds that, as the economy recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, some households are taking advantage of historically low interest rates to purchase homes with savings built during the health crisis, while others have been locked out of opportunities to own as prices increase to meet demand. Moreover, renters and homeowners are grappling with billions of dollars in back rent owed, unpaid mortgages, and the growing risk of eviction and foreclosure.
