Industry Groups Hold Additional Discussions on Rental Assistance with Key Agencies and Committee Staff
This week, NAHMA and several national associations that represent owners, developers, managers, housing cooperatives, lenders, housing agencies, and tenant groups involved in providing affordable rental housing, held a video conference with President Biden’s Domestic Policy Council, HUD, and Treasury Department to discuss industry recommendations for implementation of the $25 billion Emergency Rental Assistance program and the issuance of further FAQs. Specifically, participants requested that Congressional intent be acknowledged in ensuring that funds are distributed swiftly, efficiently and in a manner that allows for flexibility that gets assistance to all of those in need. Additional measures, such as providing further funding for rental assistance to protect renters from losing their homes while also ensuring the owners’ ability to maintain the viability of the rental housing stock, also were also highlighted during the discussion.
To view the industry group letter on Rental Assistance Implementation and FAQs for Program Requirements, click here.
NAHMA and industry group members had previously sent a joint letter to the Department of Treasury and to the Department of Housing and Urban Development providing recommendations for implementation of the recent COVID-19 relief bill, which can be found here.
Senate Holds Committee Hearing on Marcia Fudge Nomination for Secretary of HUD
On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs held a hearing to consider the nomination of former Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH) to be Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Once confirmed, Rep. Fudge plans to focus her tenure on bolstering fair housing protections, expanding access to affordable housing and urgently providing rental assistance to households at risk of eviction. During her testimony, Rep Fudge reiterated the fact that millions of Americans are behind on rent, and almost 3 million homeowners are in forbearance. Specifically, Rep. Fudge testified that part of her priorities for HUD, “will require us to end discriminatory practices in the housing market, and ensure that our fair housing rules are doing what they are supposed to do: opening the door for families, especially families of color who have been systematically kept out in the cold across generations, to buy homes and punch their ticket to the middle class.”
Rep. Fudge also stated that the $25 billion that Congress has provided in rental assistance and the government’s extension of the eviction moratorium are not enough and more assistance is clearly needed. Once confirmed as HUD Secretary, Rep. Fudge will also seek to address the Trump Administrations Disparate Impact rule. Rep. Fudge is expected to be confirmed by the Senate next week.
To view the Senate Banking Committee hearing on the nomination of HUD Secretary-Designate Marcia L. Fudge, click here.
To view the testimony as prepared for delivery by HUD Secretary-Designate Marcia L. Fudge at the Senate Banking Committee nomination hearing, click here.
President Biden Issues Two Executive Orders Impacting Housing
This week, President Biden signed two executive orders that will seek to address racial equity and climate change. The first executive order directs HUD to both mitigate racial bias in affordable housing while also ensuring the advancement of fair housing laws. The order highlights the major role the government has played in implementing housing policies that have had racially discriminatory impacts. It directs HUD to examine the effects that the previous administration’s regulatory actions have had on fair housing policies and regulations (such as repealing the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule). The order further directs the Secretary of HUD to take any necessary steps based on the outcome of that analysis to fully implement the Fair Housing Act’s requirements. Based on the memorandum, HUD will reassess its interpretation of the Fair Housing Act’s disparate impact standard, with a new proposed rule to be published soon. The Trump administration changed the rule last year after then-HUD Secretary Ben Carson issued updated guidelines that imposed a specific, five-step approach that required regulators to prove intentional discrimination on the lender’s behalf.
To view President Biden’s Memorandum on Redressing Our Nation’s and the Federal Government’s History of Discriminatory Housing Practices and Policies, click here.
The second executive order seeks, in part, to secure environmental justice and spur economic opportunity for disadvantaged communities that have been historically marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment in housing, transportation, water and wastewater infrastructure, and health care. The order creates a white House Environmental Justice Interagency Council (of which the HUD Secretary will be a member) that will develop clear performance metrics to ensure accountability, and publish an annual public performance scorecard on its implementation.
President Biden mentioned that starting with this executive order on climate change, environmental justice will be at the center of all that his administration does to address the disproportionate health and environmental and economic impacts on communities of color. President Biden also mentioned that he intends “to build 1.5 million new energy-efficient homes and public housing units that are going to benefit communities three times over: one, by alleviating the affordable housing crisis; two, by increasing energy efficiency; and, three, by reducing the racial wealth gap linked to home ownership.”
To view President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, click here.
To view Acting HUD Secretary Matthew E. Ammon’s statement following the signing of President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, click here.