Federal agencies provide housing relief for Harvey victims
Our southern AHMAs, coastal members, and impacted communities and tenants remain in our thoughts and prayers as recovery begins. Following a week of devastation in Texas and neighboring states,
HUD,
USDA, and the
IRS each announced
relief efforts for those affected by the severe flooding.
- HUD Secretary Ben Carson announced that the agency will speed federal disaster assistance and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes due to Hurricane Harvey. HUD announced they will partner with Federal and state agencies to help implement disaster recovery assistance. Under the National Response Framework, HUD noted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)and the Small Business Administration (SBA) offer initial recovery assistance.
- The Agriculture Department is coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make Rural Development housing vouchers available to those displaced by the storm. Residents in RD-financed apartment complexes who are displaced by a natural disaster may receive special priority consideration for next available units at other subsidized apartment complexes. Rural Development can consider temporary measures to reduce borrowers’ financial burdens.
- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that storm victims in certain Texas counties impacted by the storm will have an extension to file individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. The tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that started last week.
White House to discuss September agenda with bipartisan congressional leaders
President Trump is scheduled to meet with the bipartisan House and Senate leadership, called the “big four,” upon their return from August Recess next week to discuss the busy month ahead.
Next Wednesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will join Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) at the White House to discuss a number of urgent items on the congressional agenda. Partisan standoffs are said to have temporarily softened following the devastation caused Hurricane Harvey and the urgent need to provide recovery aid to those impacted by the storm. The looming expiration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) at the end of this Fiscal Year has also taken on more urgency following Hurricane Harvey.
Although still a priority for this fall, tax reform and health care may have to wait out more pressing fiscal negotiations: In order to avoid a lapse in critical payments or a government shutdown, lawmakers will need to agree to terms for raising American borrowing authority – also known as the debt ceiling – and pass funding legislation by the end of the month. One idea currently being float around Congress includes one large legislative package to fund the government until December, raise the debt limit, and provide Harvey recovery aid.
NAHMA members continue to reach out to legislators to advocate for full FY18 funding for housing programs, support for the LIHTC throughout tax reform, and co-sponsorship of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (
S 548 /
HR 1661).
Missed your legislator during August Recess?
Schedule a Hill visit in D.C. during the NAHMA Fall Meeting on “
The State of Affordable Housing in America,” October 22-24, 2017.
Get in touch or view our latest
grassroots alert for more information.
