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NCSHA Washington Report | August 13, 2021
An avalanche of missed payments that buries borrowers of color deepest. A burdensome legacy of debt that denies affordable housing opportunity. An expensive policy problem that divides Democrats...
NCSHA Urges IRS and Treasury to Extend Housing Credit COVID-19 Relief
On August 13, NCSHA sent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) a letter urging them to extend certain temporary Housing Credit relief provisions in IRS Notice 2021-12 in light of the continuing disruption the COVID-19 pandemic is having on development and construction activities and the ongoing operation of Housing Credit properties.
DCHFA Finances 41 New Affordable Apartments in Congress Heights
On August 6, the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) issued $10.3 million in tax-exempt bond financing and underwrote $8.9 million in four percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for the construction of 41 new affordable rental homes at 17 Mississippi Avenue Apartments. “Congress Heights has become one of Ward 8’s most sought after neighborhoods for commercial development and homebuyers. As development and home values increase, DCHFA’s investment helps to ensure that residents at all income levels will be able afford to live here and enjoy the neighborhood’s growth.”
Kansas Housing Awards $6.8 Million to Support Affordable Housing Development
Twelve Kansas communities will add a collected 540 affordable homes to their housing stock, thanks to funds awarded through the state’s competitive housing development application process. The awards, totaling $6,806,417, will help finance the construction of 324 new homes and the rehabilitation of 216 existing homes for Kansas seniors and families. “Our state has long experienced a shortage of quality, affordable housing—a reality that has only been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic,” said Ryan Vincent, Kansas Housing’s Executive Director.
Senate Democrats’ Budget Resolution Calls for Historic New Investments in Affordable Housing
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Monday morning released the text of an agreement Senate Democrats reached on a proposed Budget Resolution for fiscal year (FY) 2022. This legislation would authorize $3.5 trillion in new federal spending for a variety of purposes, including affordable housing. Schumer also released a memorandum sent to Senate Democrats which calls for increased spending on some federal housing programs, including HOME, the Housing Trust Fund, and housing tax incentives, to be included among the investments.
NCSHA Washington Report | August 6, 2021
A worrisome trend may be making it harder to build affordable housing, especially in Black and Brown neighborhoods already dealing with disinvestment: insurance company “crime scores.” The...
Rental, Utility Assistance Available When Eviction Moratorium Expires
Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state’s housing finance agency, has provided $21,670,326.79 in emergency rental and utility assistance to 4,054 Kansas households experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID pandemic. The funds, made available through the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program, were allocated to the state through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.
Statement by HUD Deputy Secretary Todman on the Department Efforts to Connect People to Emergency Rental Assistance and Prevent Evictions
WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman on Wednesday issued the following statement following the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC)...
FHFA Encourages Landlords of Enterprise-Backed Properties to Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance Before Evicting Tenants
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is encouraging landlords of properties backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) to apply for Emergency Rental...
CDC Issues New Eviction Moratorium Through October 3
Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new order temporarily halting evictions for nonpayment of rent in communities with substantial or high levels of community transmission of COVID-19. The CDC defines substantiation and high transmission based on the number of positive cases in the county and the percentage of positive tests (see footnote 9 in the order for more specific information). The order cites the increase in COVID-19 cases and the public health impact evictions would have due to increased movement and shared and congregate housing situations into which evicted tenants may be forced to enter. The order is in effect until October 3, 2021.
All Alaska Housing Rent Relief Applicants Contacted
While the federal eviction moratorium expired on Saturday, July 31, 2021 Alaska Housing Finance Corporation has contacted all 30,000 applicants in Alaska Housing Rent Relief, reviewed all requests for past-due rent and paid $85.2 million. As part of the federal COVID relief package passed at year-end 2020, approximately $242 million was made available through Alaska Housing Rent Relief. Alaska renters are among the first to be approved for this assistance, with eligible applicants receiving commitment for up to 12 months of rent and/or utility relief.
Assistance Available to Iowa Renters and Landlords
Governor Reynolds, the Iowa Finance Authority and Iowa Legal Aid are reminding Iowa renters and landlords of resources available to them with the federal eviction moratorium’s expiration on July 31. Iowa renters at-risk of eviction or who receive an eviction notice should immediately apply for assistance through the Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program and contact Iowa Legal Aid to inquire about legal assistance that may be available to them at no cost.
