Newsroom
Financial Services Committee Releases Draft Reconciliation Bill; Proposes Historic Investments in Affordable Housing Programs
The House Financial Services Committee earlier today released the text of legislation that would appropriate more than $300 billion in funding for affordable housing programs, including historic investments in HOME and the Housing Trust Fund. The bill also would establish a new federal program through which states and nonprofits would provide first-generation home buyers with grants for down payment assistance and other expenses associated with purchasing a home. The committee intends to consider the legislation during a mark-up on Monday.
Waters Introduces Bill to Reform Emergency Rental Assistance Program; Salazar to Testify
On September 7, House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced the Expediting Assistance to Renters and Landlords Act of 2021 (H.R. 5196), which would make important modifications to the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, including numerous changes NCSHA strongly supports. The bill’s goal is to remove barriers and expedite the processing of applications so ERA grantees can improve the delivery of this emergency assistance.
Project Restore Applications Open to Maryland’s New or Expanding Businesses
Applicants can apply beginning on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 until Friday, October 8, 2021at 5:00 PM. Please note: the application portal may closer sooner if grant requests exceed the funding available. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to avoid an early application deadline. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is administering $25 million to provide financial support to Maryland’s new or expanding businesses to help incentivize commercial investment in vacant retail and commercial properties.
$35 Million in New Markets Tax Credits Awarded to Support Community Development
– The Colorado Growth and Revitalization Fund (CGR Fund), administered by Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), announced today it has been awarded $35 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC). The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) awarded $5 billion in NMTC to 100 entities throughout the nation. NMTC are designed to generate private-sector investment in underserved communities by supporting local businesses or nonprofits that directly benefit current residents, by either hiring from within the community, and/or providing community services.
NCSHA Urges Chairwoman Waters to Consider Modifications to Emergency Rental Assistance Law in Forthcoming Bill
NCSHA, in partnership with other national organizations representing Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) grantees at the state, county, city, and tribal levels, today sent House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) a letter encouraging her to incorporate changes to the ERA 1 and ERA 2 authorizing statutes in legislation the chairwoman is planning to introduce next week. The goal of her forthcoming legislation is to make changes to the ERA program to remove statutory barriers and accelerate the use of resources, allowing more eligible households to receive funding faster.
Illinois Rental Payment Program Distributes Over $252 Million, 50% of State’s Relief Allocation Paid to Renters and Landlords Impacted By COVID-19
Governor JB Pritzker, along with the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), announced that more than $252 million in rental assistance has been paid on behalf of almost 29,500 renter households impacted by COVID-19 through the Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP). Launched in May 2021, ILRPP provides up to $25,000 in financial assistance — paid directly to the landlord — to cover missed rent payments beginning June 2020 as a result of the pandemic.
RentReliefRI Provides On-the-Ground Support for Rhode Islanders Facing Eviction
The recent United States Supreme Court decision to allow eviction proceedings to resume has left many Rhode Island renters at risk. Fortunately, renters have a lifeline available to them via RentReliefRI, a federally-funded program that provides up to 18 months of rental and utility assistance for tenants struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For renters facing eviction, a network of agencies and partners are working together to provide on-the-ground support and assistance to prevent eviction and help Rhode Islanders maintain their housing stability.
HUD Awards Over $47 Million to Fight Housing Discrimination
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) yesterday awarded $47.4 million to fair housing organizations across the country under its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). The...
White House Reinstates FFB Risk-Sharing Program, Ups GSE Housing Credit Investment Cap, Announces Other Actions to Increase Affordable Housing Supply
Earlier today, the White House announced HUD, Treasury, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHFA will take a series of actions designed to help increase the supply of affordable housing. One of the key changes the administration announced is the reinstatement of the Federal Financing Bank (FFB) initiative to support FHA-HFA multifamily Risk-Sharing Program loans. NCSHA has sought this reinstatement energetically for the last three years since the previous administration terminated the very successful initiative.
NCSHA Statement on Administration’s Announcement of Immediate Steps to Increase Affordable Housing Supply
WASHINGTON, DC — The National Council of State Housing Agencies commends the Biden–Harris Administration for announcing today several steps to expand the supply of affordable housing, including...
Pritzker Administration Reaffirms Ongoing Commitment to Affordable Housing Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
Illinois renters will continue to be protected through Governor JB Pritzker’s latest executive order that extended the statewide ban on residential evictions through September 18th. The order banning the enforcement of residential evictions remains effective in all Illinois counties and continues to protect tenants who meet the eligibility criteria, despite the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the federal eviction moratorium from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) continues to process applications for the Illinois Rental Payment Program and is on target to approve all eligible applications in September.
Governor Hogan Celebrates Project C.O.R.E. Milestone with Demolition of Perkins Homes
Governor Larry Hogan today marked the milestone of 5,000 units of blight eliminated through Project C.O.R.E. (Creating Opportunities for Renewal and Enterprise) with the demolition of the last building of Perkins Homes in Baltimore City. Project C.O.R.E.—a city-state partnership—was launched in 2016 to remove vacant or blighted properties and encourage revitalization. To date, Project C.O.R.E. has awarded nearly $119 million in state funding for blight removal and redevelopment in Baltimore City through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Stadium Authority.
