On March 27, 2020, the president signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) into law. The law includes important, immediate protections for tenants. Specifically, it mandates a 120-day eviction moratorium for tenants living in certain types of properties. The...
After the president signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) into law on March 27, HUD Secretary Ben Carson directed HUD to immediately begin allocating $3.064 billion to help America’s low-income families and most vulnerable citizens. These funds will be...
Former Vice President Joe Biden recently released his plans to address the nation’s affordable housing crisis. His plan would invest $640 billion over 10 years “so every American has access to housing that is affordable, stable, safe and healthy, accessible, energy efficient and...
HUD’s recent Assistance Animals Notice makes a significant distinction in the types of animals that residents may have as support animals. If the animal is commonly kept in households—such as a “dog, cat, small bird, rabbit, hamster, gerbil, other rodent, fish, turtle, or other...
A new documentary entitled “East Lake Meadows: A Public Housing Story” takes a close look at a public housing project opened by the Atlanta Housing Authority in 1970 and demolished a generation later. The documentary, which was executive produced by filmmaker Ken Burns, looks at the...
President Trump recently unveiled his administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 budget, “A Budget for America’s Future,” which would provide HUD with $47.9 billion in funding. This figure represents a cut of $8.6 billion, or 15 percent below 2020 enacted levels.
HUD rules require you to give every applicant you reject an opportunity to appeal the rejection. A written rejection notice must include the specifically stated reason(s) for the rejection, notice of the applicant’s right to respond to the owner in writing or request a meeting within 14...
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) recently announced she will introduce the Senate companion bill to the Public Housing Emergency Response Act. First introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), the bill would create a one-time, $70 billion appropriation...
In 2012, HUD issued Housing Notice 2012-5 to provide guidance on preventing and responding to pest infestations, particularly bedbugs, at HUD-assisted sites. As a result of this guidance, many sites added Bedbug Lease Addendums to the HUD Model Lease that contained provisions that may conflict...
HUD recently published an 84-page proposed Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule regarding how state and municipal governments address affordable housing opportunities. The rule pertains to the 1968 Fair Housing Act’s requirement that HUD grantees “affirmatively further...
HUD has recently focused its attention on websites that sell assistance animal certifications. HUD Secretary Ben Carson has asked the chairman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection to investigate these websites for compliance with federal laws...
HUD recently published the Operating Cost Adjustment Factors (OCAFs) for fiscal year 2020. These factors are used for adjusting or establishing Section 8 rents under the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (MAHRA), as amended, for projects assisted with Section 8...
