This webpage is dedicated to providing members current, easy-to-use tools for participating in grassroots advocacy. Current topics and opportunities for participation are listed below, and these will be updated as new issues arise.
Learn about NAHMA's Grassroots Action Center
Learn about NAHMA's Grassroots Email Alerts to NAHMA Members
NAHMA Maps: Affordable Housing Search Engine
NAHMA, in partnership with ApartmentSmart.com, is proud to introduce our members to a new, innovative tool: NAHMA Maps, located at http://nahma.apartmentsmart.com. The NAHMA Maps program will work as an advocacy and marketing tool, providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date listing of affordable housing properties nationwide.
NAHMA Maps will allow our members to provide visual and statistical information to their Congressional representatives on the affordable housing portfolio, including NAHMA properties, in their Congressional District or State. It highlights the importance of the work NAHMA members have done to improve the quality of life for low-income residents and demonstrates how well the affordable housing programs are working.
The program will allow users to search by location and Congressional District and generate a quick snapshot of affordable housing statistics for the area. The program will also provide a list of properties below the map that will link to additional information on the property, such as: location, contact information, management company, number of units, types of federal subsidies, income limits and rents, amenities, pictures, etc.
As part of this joint venture, ApartmentSmart.com is offering a free general listing to all NAHMA members in order to collect additional data for the NAHMA Maps program. Please contact Lauren Eardensohn or Joe Thomas at NAHMA for additional information on the NAHMA Maps program at (703) 683-8630.
GRASSROOT ACTION ITEMS
General Action
For general information on Congressional grassroots advocacy, please click to view FAQs on Grassroots Advocacy.
For a brief overview of the legislative process, please see “Tying It All Together: Learn about the Legislative Process” by clicking here: http://www.house.gov/house/Tying_it_all.shtml.
Please note that participating in a NAHMA request for communication with your Congressional representatives will not cause you to be considered a Lobbyist under federal guidelines. The definition for Lobbyist under federal guidelines is as follows, and all three conditions must be met:
Lobbyist: Any individual (1) who is either employed or retained by a client for financial or other compensation (2) whose services include more than one lobbying contact; and (3) whose “lobbying activities” constitute 20 percent or more of his or her services on behalf of that client during any three month period.
NAHMA Affordable Housing Talking Points
NAHMA has compiled a list of affordable multifamily housing policy priorities and talking points for use when talking to your Congressional Representatives and the Administration. We believe dealing with these issues is necessary to restore owners’ confidence in federal housing programs, streamline administration of the programs, and increase the choices of affordable communities of quality for low-income Americans.
Arranging a Congressional Visit
When contacting Congress, NAHMA recommends contacting both of your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative.
How to contact:
Alternatively, you may use the NAHMA 111th Congressional Directory to identify your members of Congress and to read helpful tips on communicating with federal legislators. NAHMA mails the Congressional Directory to Executive Council members at the start of each new Congress.
Useful tools:
Please note: It is recommended that letters be emailed or faxed to Congress due to delays in the delivery of regular mail resulting from security screening and testing.
NAHMA is happy to help you decide what times are best to visit Capitol Hill, who you would like to meet with, and how to best present your message. If you would like NAHMA to schedule the appointment on your behalf, simply fill out this letter and return it to Michelle Kitchen or Lauren Eardensohn. Alternatively, if you would like to meet with a member of Congress and it is more convenient to schedule a visit in your Representative's District, please contact us so that we may provide any additional assistance.
Affordable Housing Preservation
Appropriations
HUD has proposed eliminating funding in the FY 2011 budget request for Section 202 and 811 new construction for the next five years in order to reform the program. NAHMA opposes these funding cuts. Eliminating funding for new 202 construction for the next five years will hurt the growing low-income elderly population whose housing needs far outweigh current unit availability. Furthermore, that funding will be difficult to re-obtain from Congress once it is cut. We strongly believe that the majority of changes HUD desires to make to the Section 202 program can be done through the regulatory process while maintaining funding for new units in the coming year. We are requesting that Congress maintain funding for the Section 202 and Section 811 programs in line with the FY 2010 appropriations-$825 million and $300 million respectively-- and at least adjust the funding for inflation in the FY 2011 appropriations
Carried Interest
The 111th Congress is considering including a proposal in H.R. 4213, the Tax Extenders Act, which would increase the tax on “carried interest” for the general partners of entrepreneurial enterprises. The proposal would require carried interest to be taxed as regular income instead of capital gains, a substantial tax increase. The “carried interest” proposal is directed at hedge fund and other financial managers. Under this definition, however, managing general partners of multifamily housing development deals would also be subject to higher tax rates on profits from a property sale. NAHMA opposes this proposal because it creates a disincentive for developers and investors to become the managing general partner in multifamily housing development deals.
Enterprise Income Verification
NAHMA is requesting Congress to include language that would permit RHS to access HUD's Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system to verify the incomes of tenants receiving rural housing assistance in the FY 2011 Agricultural
Appropriations Bill. Please call your representatives, House and Senate Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriators, and the House Financial Services and the Senate Banking Committees to request the language to give RHS access in the FY 2011 Agricultural Appropriations Bill.
Exit Tax Relief
NAHMA strongly encourages our members to contact Congress and ask them to co-sponsor the Exit Tax Relief Proposal.
LEP Information
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Click here to read NAHMA Legislative Action: Limited English Proficiency (November 10, 2009)
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Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
Tax Credit Stabilization
The industry has taken several pro-active steps towards stabilizing a revitalizing the LIHTC program. We urge our members to call their Congressional Representatives and support the A.C.T.I.O.N. LIHTC proposals.
Ernst and Young has provided the industry with a detailed report on the state of investment in the LIHTC program. The report looks at the state of the LIHTC market and discusses several key legislative proposals the industry, including NAHMA, support as ways to stabilize LIHTC in the wake of the financial crisis. A copy of the summary and report may be found below.
NAHMA's “Financial Meltdown” Task Force, led by Chair Jim McGrath and Co-Chair George Caruso, drafted a LIHTC Stabilization White Paper of NAHMA’s recommendations to stabilize and restart the LIHTC marketplace and feedback on other LIHTC proposals in response to the current financial crisis. NAHMA members are encouraged to contact and forward this important information to their Representatives and staff.
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