HUD hosts regional listening sessions on changes to REAC protocol
HUD formally began an overhaul of the REAC model and protocol this week with a PIH Notice released on February 20th, 2019 to shorten the inspection notification timeframe to 14 days, effective 30 days after publication. The next day, HUD held its first REAC listening session to discuss with regional stakeholders the intended short-term and long-term efforts of a REAC overhaul. Further listening sessions are planned throughout the country.
During its first regional listening session regarding the new REAC Notice, HUD national and regional leadership engaged with stakeholders on both the short- and long-term proposed REAC overhaul. The listening session was held in the Philadelphia Regional Office with DJ Lavoy, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the HUD Office of Public and Indian Housing, as well as Daniel Williams from HUD’s Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC), Joseph de Felice, the Regional Administrator; and Richard Ott, the Deputy Regional Administrator. NAHMA staff, members, industry colleagues, and stakeholders from the region were present to participate in the session.
In total, five listening sessions are planned for various cities across the country. NAHMA members are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in these sessions, during which time agency staff engage with multifamily owners and managers, housing authorities, management and maintenance staff, inspectors, and industry representatives to discuss the impacts of the proposed changes. HUD has also said they will post the presentation slides from this week’s listening session on their website.
During the upcoming NAHMA March Meeting, HUD leadership – including DJ Lavoy from the Office of Public and Indian Housing and Lamar Seats from the Office of Multifamily Housing – will present to NAHMA members during the HUD Policy Forum session. We have asked the agency leadership to provide members with an update on the REAC overhaul efforts, and we have asked NAHMA members to send us questions in advance regarding any policy topics in order to facilitate a productive exchange.
NAHMA members have voiced important concerns regarding the agency’s overhaul to the REAC protocol. These concerns range from logistical concerns regarding the new 14-day inspection notification timeframe, to inspections occurring during major rehabilitation of properties, to the apparent punitive spirit of the overhaul. NAHMA supports our members’ concerns and will continue to work with the agency to advance the interests of multifamily housing owners and managers throughout this overhaul.
Legislation introduced to promote sustainable community planning
Recently, Congresswoman Torres (D-CA) introduced a bill that would encourage local and federal government collaboration to create more sustainable housing, environmental, transportation, and infrastructure programs. The legislation, titled the “Sustainable Communities Act,” would support community development through U.S. Department of Transportation grants to provide more transportation options, develop more affordable housing, and improve the livability of communities.
The legislation builds on HUD’s “Sustainable Communities Initiative” (SCI), which provided Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grants to locally-led initiatives and collaborations between public and private entities. Specifically, the legislation would reauthorize this program for an additional five years, with an authorization of $150 million to invest in cities, counties, tribal organizations, universities, commissions, and associations.
As a member of the influential House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Torres has ushered a number of transit and infrastructure funding bills through Congress in previous years. According to the Congresswoman’s press release, “HUD’s $250 million investment opened the door to hundreds of millions of dollars of public and private investment and engaged more than 3,300 partner groups across the country working to strengthen American cities, counties and regions.”