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Treasury Adopts NCSHA’s Recommendations Clarifying and Providing Greater Flexibility in Emergency Rental Assistance Program Guidance
Today, the U.S. Treasury Department issued updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, adopting many of the recommendations NCSHA has been pursuing since last Spring. NCSHA, working in partnership with other organizations representing grantees at the state, county, city, and tribal government levels, has been pressing Treasury to make many of these changes to reduce administrative burdens so that grantees could accelerate the processing of ERA applications, expediting payments of rent and utilities on behalf of qualified households.
NCSHA Statement on New Treasury Department Guidance for Emergency Rental Assistance Program
WASHINGTON, DC — The National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) commends the Biden – Harris Administration for announcing today new flexibilities for state and local governments in...
Why Investing in Affordable Housing Matters for All Connecticut Residents
For over 50 years, Connecticut has invested deeply and widely in the creation of housing that is affordable to thousands of low- and moderate-income families and individuals. In 2020 alone, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), working in partnership with the Department of Housing, invested more than $580 million in the development of multifamily rental housing as well as opportunities for first-time homebuyers through a mix of federal and state tax credit programs, bond-funded loans, and grants.
House Passes Budget Resolution Setting the Stage for Reconciliation and Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation
The House of Representatives today advanced the FY 2022 Budget Resolution after intense negotiations between Democratic leaders and moderate members of the Democratic caucus who had been seeking to decouple the Budget Resolution from the bipartisan infrastructure legislation and a more immediate vote on the bipartisan bill, which progressive members of the caucus opposed. In the end, leadership agreed to include language in the rule — which includes a deeming resolution essentially passing the Budget Resolution — stating that the House would vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill by September 27. This appeased the moderate representatives and paved the way for passage. The Senate passed the Budget Resolution earlier this month.
NCSHA Writes to Congressional Leadership, Tax and Housing Authorizing Committees on Reconciliation Bill Priorities
Today, NCSHA sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) laying out NCSHA’s affordable housing priorities, which we urge Congress to include in the reconciliation legislation Democrats will work to pass this Fall. NCSHA sent similar letters to the leadership of the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee on our housing spending priorities and to the leadership of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee on our housing tax priorities. While NCSHA’s priorities also include modifications to existing law that would not impact the deficit, these letters focus on those that have a budgetary impact and thus would not run afoul of congressional rules for a reconciliation bill.
Governor Hogan Announces $400 Million Initiative to Ensure Universal Broadband For Maryland
Governor Larry Hogan today announced the launch of Connect Maryland, a transformative new initiative to supercharge the State of Maryland’s broadband investment with a total new investment of $400 million to fully address the digital divide. The governor made the announcement in Snow Hill, where he was joined by Senate President Bill Ferguson, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, and other local elected officials.
NCSHA Washington Report | August 20, 2021
Just two months in as acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Sandra Thompson is exerting leadership that represents real change at the powerful regulator. Thompson’s...
North Country Housing Needs Analysis Offers Insight into Community’s Housing Needs and Impact on Local Employment and Economy
New Hampshire’s bucolic North Country is far from the metro feel of the southern tier of the state. Yet despite the striking contrast in landscape, population and economic activity, according to a new analysis the two regions have much in common when it comes to housing needs and availability. Housing inventories in the state are at record lows, prices are escalating, and there is a dearth of affordable rental units and homes for purchase. Yet there are characteristics of the North Country’s housing market that distinguish the region.
Financing to Create and Preserve 1,000 Units of Rental Housing Approved by New Hampshire Housing Board in FY21
To help meet the critical need to build and preserve affordable rental housing for our state’s workforce and other residents, funding for 16 affordable multi-family rental housing developments was approved by the New Hampshire Housing Board of Directors during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 (FY21). The allocation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and other federal and state funding to these projects will produce or preserve almost 1,000 units of affordable rental housing in the state’s communities.
Finance Committee Chairman Wyden Introduces Sweeping Affordable Housing Legislation
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) today released the Decent, Affordable, Safe Housing for All Act (DASH Act), which would make substantial investments in affordable housing, addressing both supply and demand needs, with the goal of ending homelessness. This comprehensive bill — which includes both tax and spending measures — seeks to ensure all families with children experiencing homelessness are able to receive a voucher within the next five years; expands health, child care, financial, and nutrition services for families and individuals; increases the production of affordable housing; and invests in homeownership in underserved communities. The production provisions in the bill would result in more than three million additional homes.
WHEDA Awards National Housing Trust Funds
Three projects that will provide housing to extremely low-income elderly and disabled residents have been awarded a total of $1.3 million in National Housing Trust Fund financing by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). The projects, in Madison, McFarland and Fond du Lac, previously received state and federal 4% housing tax credits administered by WHEDA.
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Announces Launch of Emergency Rental Assistance Data Dashboard
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development today announced the launch of the Emergency Rental Assistance Data Dashboard to track the progress local jurisdictions are making in distributing relief funds for tenants and landlords affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The dashboard focuses on the first round of funding through the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which launched statewide in Maryland in mid-May 2021.
