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NCSHA Washington Report | August 27, 2021
This week, the Treasury Department announced new flexibilities for state and local governments administering federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) funds, and the House passed a budget...
Housing Leaders Welcome Public Input on Homeowner Assistance Draft Plan
State officials are seeking public feedback to inform a new housing initiative that will support Kansas homeowners in need. The forthcoming Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund (KHAF), established by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) through the Kansas Office Recovery and administered by Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), will aim to prevent mortgage delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement of homeowners experiencing financial hardship associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Hogan Announces Additional Opportunity Zone Investment to Support Maryland’s Continued Economic Recovery
Governor Larry Hogan today announced that seven manufacturing and retail businesses will receive $500,000 to expand and grow in Maryland Opportunity Zones, which are designated communities that are eligible for federal capital gains tax incentives. “Our state has been working hard to supercharge investment and make Maryland’s 149 Opportunity Zones the most competitive ones in America,” said Governor Hogan.
CalHFA Fills Three Key Leadership Positions
The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) is pleased to welcome Ellen E. Martin, Erwin J. Tam and Pratixa A. Desai, who have been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to leadership positions at CalHFA. “We’re very excited about the variety of skills and experience that Ellen, Erwin and Pratixa will bring to CalHFA,” said Executive Director Tiena Johnson Hall, who also recently joined CalHFA. “All three of these positions are important to set the Agency up for continued success in this challenging housing environment, and I’m looking forward to working with them to help us make great strides in the coming months.
Second Chance Center Named Beneficiary of CHFA’s 2021 David W. Herlinger Golf Tournament
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) has named Second Chance Center (SCC) as the beneficiary of its 2021 David W. Herlinger Golf Tournament. SCC's mission is to help formerly incarcerated people transition to lives of success and fulfillment. SCC’s comprehensive housing program includes emergency shelter, transitional housing, affordable workforce housing, and permanent supportive housing. The organization’s training, apprenticeship and employment program is geared to generate “mortgage-paying” salaries in partnership with local employers to fill the skilled labor gap. SCC serves approximately 1,800 people every year.
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs Expands Eligibility of Rental Assistance to Entire State
The state of Georgia received $552 million in federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA1) under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and an additional $437 million in federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 from the U.S. Treasury. These funds are being administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) through the Georgia Rental Assistance Program (GRA). The funds are used to provide relief to individuals, families, and landlords whose finances have been negatively impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
