Online Alerts

HUD Seeks Input on Optimizing Impact of Opportunity Zones

April 18, 2019

HUD recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on how it can use its existing authorities to maximize the beneficial impact of Opportunity Zones for residents and their communities. President Trump signed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, creating Opportunity Zones to...

Senator Harris Reintroduces “Rent Relief Act”

April 18, 2019

Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) recently reintroduced the Rent Relief Act. The legislation creates a new, refundable tax credit for households whose housing costs exceed 30 percent of their income, including rent and utilities. Unlike existing tax credits, Americans who qualify would receive the...

Legislation Reintroduced to Improve HUD’s Property Inspection Process & Enforcement

April 18, 2019

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently reintroduced the “HUD Inspection Process and Enforcement Reform Act of 2019.” The legislation was first introduced by him in 2015 and it aims to improve federal housing inspections and to hold landlords accountable for misusing taxpayer dollars or...

Senators Reintroduce American Housing and Economic Mobility Act

March 28, 2019

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and colleagues recently reintroduced the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act to confront the affordable housing shortage.

Legislation Introduced to Require CO Detectors in Public Housing

March 28, 2019

Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) recently introduced the Safe Housing for Families Act to provide carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in HUD housing units. The bill follows recent reports of CO poisoning among residents of HUD housing, which has led to at least 11 deaths since 2003. Companion legislation...

Affordable Housing Shortage Persists for Extremely Low-Income Households

March 28, 2019

The National Low Income Housing Coalition recently released its annual report, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes. Their analysis found that there are only 37 affordable and available rental homes exist for every 100 extremely low-income renter households nationwide. These renter households...

HUD Cuts Advance Notice of REAC Inspections

February 20, 2019

HUD recently announced it is dramatically reducing the advance notice it provides to public housing authorities (PHAs) and private owners of HUD-subsidized apartment developments before their housing is inspected to ensure it is decent, safe, and healthy. HUD's new standard provides PHAs and...

President Signs Appropriations Bill Funding Government, HUD

February 20, 2019

On Feb. 15, President Trump signed into law H.J. Res. 31. This legislation will fund the remainder of the government, including HUD, through Sept. 30, 2019, the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. With the signing of the resolution into law, there will be no more shutdowns impacting FY 2019 funding....

HUD Seeks Input Before Implementing Small PHA Amendments

February 20, 2019

HUD published a notice in the Federal Register on Feb. 14 asking for input before implementing amendments to the United States Housing Act of 1937 that primarily pertain to small public housing agencies (PHAs) predominantly operating in a rural area. Another amendment requires HUD to make...

Latest on the Shutdown’s Impact on Project-Based Rental Assistance

January 24, 2019

As of Jan. 22, more than 700 rental assistance contracts have expired since the government shutdown began. The number of expiring contracts will increase as the shutdown continues. HUD anticipates approximately 500 additional contracts will expire and be up for renewal in January and 550 in...

Warner, Veasey Lead 170 Congress Members in Letter on Shutdown Housing Crisis

January 24, 2019

Members of Congress recently sent a letter to President Trump on the direct and immediate consequences of the shutdown on housing security for more than 4 million households across the country. Both the short-term operations and long-term viability of affordable housing programs are dependent on...

HUD Suffers from Repeated Staff Turnover

January 24, 2019

HUD, already hurt by the government shutdown, is also facing management challenges from an exodus of top talent that’s causing performance and accountability issues. The recent departures of HUD Deputy Secretary Pam Patenaude and Ginnie Mae Acting President Michael Bright are just the...