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NCSHA Washington Report | January 14, 2022

Published on January 14, 2022

Web Washington Report Graphics - January 14, 2022

Speaking virtually this week to hundreds of state HFA staff from around the country during NCSHA’s HFA Institute, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing Ethan Handelman highlighted HUD’s efforts to help recent refugees from Afghanistan find housing here.

Operation Allies Welcome has evacuated more than 75,000 Afghans to the United States. More than 50,000 are transitioning in communities around the country, while about 18,000 are still living on U.S. military bases.

As of mid-December, roughly half of those who had left bases were living in Texas, California, Virginia, New York, Washington, North Carolina, and Arizona. Among other states, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Georgia, and Florida were each projected to receive more than 1,000 resettled Afghans.

HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing last month emailed owners it works with in 10 states asking for “vacancy and potential resource information to assist Afghan evacuees/refugees as they are resettled in the U.S. and seek permanent housing.”

Various news reports have observed that the refugees — who generally receive a one-time payment of $1,225 from the government for housing and other basic needs — are joining the millions on the economic edge forced to compete for scarce or nonexistent affordable housing, wherever they are.

Refugee resettlement agencies, which have a hard job in the best of conditions, are contending with additional housing price pressures caused by the pandemic, which, according to Shelterforce’s Brandon Duong, “have pushed large numbers of people in big cities to move to smaller cities where many refugee communities are resettled, driving up the demand for housing and, in turn, the cost of housing.”

Most of what’s happening has been stopgap. Resettlement agencies, according to Vox, “have mostly placed refugees in hotels and vetted homes on Airbnb, which has pledged to fund temporary housing for 20,000 Afghan refugees worldwide.”

There’s some anecdotal evidence that affordable housing programs and providers are stepping up to help: An Afghan Neighbors Rental Assistance Fund created by the Columbus (OH) City Council. A $20 million program in Wayne County, MI, that “unifies the goal of helping to meet all of the refugees’ needs and underwrites the costs.” A first-time state-run transitional housing site in Colorado.

Nonprofit service providers in New Hampshire report “emergency rental assistance has really been helping” their Afghan clients. In Oklahoma, Community Cares Partners, which administers emergency rental assistance statewide, will cover housing and utility costs for up to 15 months for those who need help.

The politics of refugee resettlement are complicated. Still, in the immediate aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, “at least 10 governors, Democrats and Republicans” — including those of Iowa, California, South Carolina, and Massachusetts — “stepped forward to say their states will welcome and assist refugees from Afghanistan.”

If you are inclined and in a position to help, HUD’s collecting information here.

Stockton-Williams-Washington-Report

Stockton Williams | Executive Director 

State HFA Emergency Housing Assistance


In This Issue


Salazar Appointed HUD Regional Administrator
Yesterday, President Biden appointed Oregon Housing and Community Services Executive Director Margaret Salazar to serve as the HUD Administrator for Region 10. Before joining OHCS in 2016, Salazar held various leadership roles over a 10-year career at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, including Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing and Oregon Field Office Director. She began her career as a foundation program officer and housing advocate in the San Francisco Bay area. Salazar served on the HUD Agency Review Team for the Biden – Harris Presidential Transition Team in 2020–21. She is the Vice Chair of the NCSHA Board of Directors. We look forward to working with her in her new role.

IRS Extends and Expands Pandemic Housing Credit Relief
This week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2022-05 extending and expanding temporary relief for state Housing Credit agencies and owners and residents of Housing Credit properties in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The notice, which closely follows recommendations NCSHA made in letters to the IRS in August and October 2021, addresses program deadlines, including for building placement in service, meeting the 10 percent test, rehabilitation expenditure, and restoration after a casualty loss. It also temporarily waives on-site physical inspection requirements, modifies the reasonable notice period before an inspection occurs, adjusts the occupancy obligation requirement, extends the time period in which state Housing Credit agencies may conduct Qualified Allocation Plan hearings virtually, and provides other program relief necessary due to the ongoing public health crisis. For more information, see NCSHA’s blog and matrix comparing IRS action to NCSHA’s recommendations. 

Treasury Approves Seven Additional State HAF Plans
This week, NCSHA learned the Treasury Department has approved the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) plans of seven additional jurisdictions — the District of Columbia, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont — bringing the total number of approved state plans to 30, by NCSHA’s count. Nine states are now accepting applications from homeowners under their approved HAF programs. Information about and links to each state’s program may be found on NCSHA’s HAF page.

Banking Committee Considers Thompson’s Nomination to Head FHFA
The Senate Banking Committee held a hearing Thursday to consider Sandra Thompson’s nomination as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Thompson has served as acting director since Mark Calabria resigned from the agency last June. In her opening testimony, Thompson pledged to preserve Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s financial position while also seeking to increase access to affordable housing finance in underserved markets. Committee Chair Sherrod Brown (D-OH) spoke approvingly of policies FHFA has implemented since Thompson was named acting director, including increasing the affordable housing goals and modifying the capital requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Brown said he could think of no better candidate for the job. Ranking Member Pat Toomey (R-PA) acknowledged Thompson’s credentials but said he was deeply concerned by FHFA’s recent actions, which he said were putting taxpayers at risk. Thompson’s nomination, he argued, was a referendum on the Biden Administration’s “radical housing policy.” During the hearing, Thompson fielded questions on strategies for addressing the racial homeownership gap, increasing the supply of affordable housing, and whether she plans to remove Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship.

During the hearing, the committee also considered Dr. Lael Brainard’s nomination to serve as deputy director of the Federal Reserve. It is not yet known when the committee will vote on either nomination.

NCSHA in the News
The White House, 1.13.22, President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for USDA and HUD
BGR, 1.13.22, A new stimulus check program just opened for applications and you had no idea
GoBankingRates.com, 1.12.22, Homeowner Assistance Fund Applications Are Now Being Accepted in Many States — Here’s How to Apply

Looking Ahead…

Legislative and Regulatory Activities

NCSHA, State HFA, and Industry Events

  • January  24 – 28 | NCSHA’s HFA Institute 2022 | Virtual
  • January 26 – 27 | Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition 2022 Annual Meeting | Austin, TX
    Jennifer Schwartz will speak at this event.
  • February 2 – 4 | National Community Development Association 2022 Winter Conference | Virtual
    Jennifer Schwartz will speak at this event.
  • March 9 – 11 | National Affordable Housing Management Association’s Winter Conference | Washington, DC
    Jennifer Schwartz will speak at this event.
  • March 14 – 16 | NCSHA’s 2022 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

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