Category: Housing News
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HUD Disarray Slows Carson’s Signature Initiative
HUD Secretary Ben Carson has touted his initiative to create EnVision Centers around the country, which links Public Housing residents to services that promote self-sufficiency. But in the nine months since the demonstration was announced not a single center has opened. The program’s delay is the latest indication of management issues at HUD. There have…
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Trump signs budget deal with increased affordable housing funds
With bipartisan support, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives approved funding last week to keep the government open through September 30, 2019, the end of federal Fiscal Year 2019. HUD and USDA affordable housing programs received increases over FY 2018 funding levels, rejecting the huge affordable housing cuts proposed by the Trump Administration. President Trump…
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Limited Section 8 and Public Housing funds available if shutdown continues
In early February, HUD sent a letter to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), informing them that if the government shuts down again on February 15, there are limited funds available to house Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Public Housing residents. HUD will be able to make HCV payments through the end of April, and…
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Frail Public Housing conditions lead to gas leak deaths
In a recent tragedy, gas leaks at a Public Housing property in Columbia, South Carolina caused two deaths and the evacuation of 411 residents. Managed by the Columbia Housing Authority (CHA), Allen Benedict Court is reportedly the third oldest Public Housing complex in the country. Without adequate funding for program operations and capital improvements —…
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Trump announces deal to temporarily reopen government
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. Affordable Housing Online is currently working to get more details on this news. 1/25/19, 3:30 pm ET: Thirty-five days after shutting down the United States government to get more funding for a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, President Trump has announced that the government is reopening through February 15,…
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Prolonged shutdown puts rural renters at risk of rent hikes or eviction
Thousands of rural low-income renters could face higher rents or lose their homes if the partial government shutdown goes into March. Some residents in properties subsidized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have already received notice that they may have to pay more or face eviction if the government cannot make rental assistance payments…
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Millions of low-income renters at risk if shutdown goes into March
If the partial government shutdown continues into March, millions of low-income renters will find their housing at risk. And if the shutdown extends past February, each month, $1.5 billion in rental assistance payments will not be paid to landlords who rent to persons using Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV). Tenants will also lose out…
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Low-income renters threatened by government shutdown
Millions of low-income renters will find themselves in dire straits if the partial shutdown of the federal government does not end soon. Some affordable housing properties have already had their rental assistance frozen, and most federal housing assistance funding will run out by the end of February. Editor’s Note: A timeline visualizing the major events…
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HUD Report Shows Rise in Homelessness for Second Year in a Row
Key Facts: 2017 saw a 9% increase in the homeless population, and 2018 continued the trend with a .3% increase. Among all those counted, 60% were male and 39% were female. A 2% increase in unsheltered persons was primarily responsible for the overall increase in homelessness for 2018. The number of veterans and families with…
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How a Government Shutdown Would Affect HUD Offices
Wednesday 12/16 Editor’s Update: No resolution was made by the deadline, and the government shutdown has been in effect since Saturday, December 22, 2018. The latest reports say that President Trump will not sign a spending bill to avoid a potential government shutdown, unless funds are added for building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. If…