Find Homeowner Assistance Fund Programs by State: Read More

Newsroom

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...

RIHousing Announces Recipients of Inaugural Michael S. Van Leesten Awards

RIHousingā€™s Board of Commissioners approved the Spring 2021 Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Awards at its June meeting. Ā The awards program honors the life and work of Michael S. Van Leesten, a longtime advocate dedicated to improving the lives of Rhode Islanders through his business leadership, civil rights activism, and public service. The awards program supports students from diverse backgrounds who are pursuing academic fields or careers related to the housing industry. Ā 

New Harvard Housing Study Highlights Affordability Challenges Amidst Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery

On June 16, Harvard Universityā€™s Joint Center for Housing Studies released its 2021 State of the Nationā€™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.

Governor Hogan Announces $10 Million in Relief for Live Entertainment Venues

Governor Larry Hogan today announced the recipients of 65 awards totaling $10 million for live music and performance venues and live entertainment promoters affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This relief funding is in addition to theĀ $30 million allocated earlier this yearĀ to music and entertainment venues as part of the State of Marylandā€™s economic recovery plan. ā€œAs we continue to move forward in our recovery, I am proud to announce more support for these entertainment businesses and venues as part of our Maryland Strong Economic Recovery Initiative,ā€ said Governor Hogan.

NCSHA Washington Report | June 11, 2021

While one set of high-powered discussions about a bipartisan infrastructure agreement ended this week, another began, and a Senate hearing offered more glimpses of common ground: investment in...

HUD Awards $1.1 Billion in American Rescue Plan Funds for Emergency Housing Vouchers

WASHINGTON Ā ā€“ U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge today announced the awarding of the first tranche of American Rescue Plan funds for Emergency Housing...

HUD Interim Rule Reinstates Aspects of Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Requirements; Does Not Yet Require Specific Fair Housing Planning

Today, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published an interim final rule and request for comments repealing the Trump Administrationā€™s Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice regulation and reinstating aspects of the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule in effect under the Obama Administration. The 2021 AFFH interim final rule reinstates relevant definitions that had been rewritten under PCNC and the certifications that incorporate those definitions, including the requirement that HUD program participants certify ā€œthey take meaningful actions that, taken together, address significant disparities in housing needs and in access to opportunity, replacing segregated living patterns with truly integrated and balanced living patterns, transforming racially or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty into areas of opportunity, and fostering and maintaining compliance with civil rights and fair housing laws.ā€ The provisions reinstated by the 2021 AFFH interim final rule include only those HUD believes have previously undergone sufficient notice and comment processes.

LHC Board Approves $2.9 Million of Additional Volume Cap for Multifamily Rental Properties

LHC's Board of Directors approved $2.9 million of additional volume cap to develop 132 affordable rental units in two Louisiana parishes at their monthly board meeting, June 9. The multi-million dollar investment represents a combination of LHC's Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and Multi-family Revenue Bonds (MRBs).

NJHMFA Celebrates Freedom Village at Town Center South Grand Opening

Mayor Dave Fried, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) Executive Director Melanie R. Walter, and Project Freedom Inc. representatives, joined by state and local officials, today celebrated the grand opening of Freedom Village at Town Center South, a new accessible and independent living community serving persons with disabilities and mobility impairments. Project Freedom Inc. (PFI) opened the first Project Freedom neighborhood in Robbinsville in 1991.Ā  This project is located on Hutchinson Road in Robbinsville Township and has 30 accessible units.Ā  All the tenants in this community are people who have a disability.

RIHousing Supports Creation of 452 Critically-Needed Affordable Homes

RIHousingā€™s Board of Commissioners approved investments at its May Board meeting that will create 452 affordable homes, significantly improve the neighborhoods where they are located, and support over 500 jobs. Funding awards were approved for five developments located in Exeter, Providence, Tiverton, and Woonsocket. ā€œAffordable housing is a major issue for Rhode Island, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic,ā€ said Governor Daniel McKee. ā€œEnsuring that all Rhode Islanders have access to a safe and affordable home is critical to the success of Rhode Island families, our communities and our state.

Iowa Finance Authority Announces Record Year for Homebuyers; Launch of New Iowa First-Time Homebuyer Toolkit

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) today marked national homeownership month by recognizing Iowaā€™s strong housing market, record numbers of homebuyers using IFAā€™s mortgage programs and the launch of a new first-time Iowa homebuyer toolkit that will educate homebuyers on the homebuying process amid a highly-competitive market.ā€œThe competitive housing market means that homebuyers need to be informed of the process and ready to act quickly,ā€ said IFA Executive Director Debi Durham.

NCSHA Washington Report | June 4, 2021

Readers of this newsletter know the view here is that affordable housing is, and has to be, a bipartisan policy priority in Washington. Weā€™ve argued affordable housing ā€” the glue that helps...