Background

A series of front-page articles run this week in The Washington Post reporting on alleged mismanagement of HUD’s HOME funds has raised alarms throughout the affordable housing industry, HUD and Congress. The articles described HOME projects that were never completed and/or never begun. The reporter described in detail how developers and nonprofits allegedly received HOME funds but did not provide the promised housing, and attributed the problems to lax oversight on the part of housing agencies in awarding the funds and monitoring the projects. The reporter also noted several times that HUD does not have authority to compel repayment of HOME funds.

Although the alleged failed deals which were the subjects of the articles represent a small percentage of the HOME portfolio, they have already trigged bipartisan calls for congressional investigations. The timing of the articles comes at a time when HOME was already facing the possibility of severe cuts for the FY 2012 appropriations cycle.

A Call to Action

NAHMA believes it is important to remind Congress that HOME is a successful program that has helped provide quality apartment communities for thousands of families across the country. To succeed in this effort, we need your help.

Specifically, we would like to ask that members:

• Send NAHMA examples of your successful projects developed using HOME funds, with location, photographs and other details
• Invite your Congressmen to visit your successful HOME projects when they are in their district

Contact Congress

We believe timing is important – to counter the negative perceptions on the HOME program as soon as possible – so we would ask that you send your information to NAHMA staff member Lauren Eardensohn, at Lauren.Eardensohn@nahma.org, as soon as possible, or by May 30, and to follow up with your Congressmen in that time frame as well.

If you would like to contact your Senators, please visit: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

If you would like to contact your Member of the House of Representatives, please visit: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

NAHMA HOME Properties

NAHMA members own and/or manage HOME Properties all across the nation. We highly encourage you to visit our HOME Properties webpage to see how HOME program funding has successfully helped communities in your state.

Documents

Talking Points

• NAHMA HOME Properties
• NAHMA Comments on HOME Proposed Rule (February 14, 2012)
• Washington Update 1/20/12 +
• Industry Letter Detailing Our Support for the HOME Program and Requesting Continued Funding For the Program to the House and Senate Appropriations Transportation-HUD Subcommittee Leadership (November 8, 2011)
• HUD Blog: The Washington Post got it wrong – again (November 7, 2011)
• Industry letter supporting the HOME Investment Partnerships Program to House Financial Services Oversight and Housing Subcommittees' Leadership (November 1, 2011)
• NAHMAnalysis 2011-0808-HOME Program Update *
• Hud Blog: HUD’s Analysis of the Washington Post’s Mislabeled HOME Projects (August 18, 2011)
• Washington Post Op-Ed "The HOME I Know" by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan (June 10, 2011)
• Industry letter supporting of the HOME Investment Partnerships program to House Appropriations T-HUD Subcommittee leadership (May 24, 2011)
• NHC Open House Blog:The Rest of the Story on HOME (May 24, 2011)
• HUD Blog "Update: Setting the Record Straight: What the Washington Post Got Wrong About the HOME Program" (May 19, 2011)
• HUD Blog:Huffington Post: Media Hit on Housing Programs Is Off Target (May 18, 2011)
• Grassroots Alert: Sharing Details on your Successful HOME Projects with NAHMA and Congress (May 18, 2011)
• Huffington Post: "Media Hit on Housing Programs Is Off Target" by Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director, CLPHA (May 17, 2011)
• HUD Blog HOME: 20 Years, One Million Homes (May 17, 2011)
• HUD Blog: HOME is a Catalyst for Change (May 16, 2011)
• HUD Blog: The HOME Program Works (May 15, 2011)
• HUD Honors HOME Program "Door Knocker Awards" Winners for Excellence in Affordable Housing (May 3, 2011)

Washington Post Articles

• Finding more flaws in HUD’s accounting of HOME program (November 6, 2011 Washington Post)
• Dozens of delayed HUD projects found nationwide (November 6, 2011 Washington Post)
• Washington Post Letters to the Editor "Criticism of housing program challenged" (May 21, 2011, Washington Post)
• A failed promise of better affordable housing (May 14, 2011, Washington Post)
• Speculators score, District loses in housing deal (May 14, 2011, Washington Post)
• Man reaps windfalls in D.C. and Montgomery Co. (May 14, 2011, Washington Post)
• A mother’s route from homeless to home (May 14, 2011, Washington Post)
• A Texas city’s dream becomes an eyesore (May 14, 2011, Washington Post)
• About this investigation (May 14, 2011, Washington Post)
• Million-Dollar Wasteland-An ongoing investigation into how HUD has mismanaged America’s affordable housing (May 14, 2011, Washington Post)