Author: Robin Lovelace
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What the new CDC eviction moratorium means, and how it works
On August 3, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new moratorium on evictions. Now, landlords and owners are not allowed to evict most tenants until after October 3, 2021. The CDC wants to prevent renters from having to move into congregate settings where COVID-19 spreads, stating that “Such mass evictions and…
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Q: If I’m homeless, can I still get a government stimulus check?
Every day, the Affordable Housing Online team gets questions about housing, and other matters. Our Ask A Housing Expert series highlights topics that are important to low-income renters. Today’s answer is from Housing Policy Specialist Robin Lovelace. Robin has 23 years of experience as a housing authority administrator in Indiana. Our team got a question from Eve…
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How to get your Advance Child Tax Credit
What is the Advance Child Tax Credit? The Child Tax Credit (CTC) started in 1997 and was intended to help families afford the expense of raising children. In the past, this was done by allowing parents and caregivers to subtract a tax credit from their income taxes. The only families eligible were those who made…
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Q: How can I make suggestions to improve my community?
Every day, the Affordable Housing Online team gets questions about important affordable housing issues. Our Ask A Housing Expert blog highlights a question that can help a great number of low-income renters. Today’s blog is from Housing Policy Specialist Robin Lovelace. Robin has 23 years of experience as a housing authority administrator in Indiana. Since…
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How to apply for the open New York City Section 8 waiting list
If you have been waiting for a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) waiting list to open for New York City, NY, then wait no longer. The New York State Homes and Community Renewal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list opened for applications today, May 17, 2021, and will stay open until May 28,…
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Still waiting on your stimulus check? File your taxes
The easiest way to claim any of the Economic Impact Payments sent to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic is to file your 2020 federal taxes. The deadline to file your 2020 federal taxes was moved to May 17th this year, so you still have time. You don’t want to miss out. The three separate payments…
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American Rescue Plan benefits go beyond checks and unemployment extensions
By now, everyone is aware of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan; a $1.9 trillion relief bill passed last month. In fact, most Americans have already received their Economic Impact Payments that were part of the plan. This bill contains other not so well known benefits for low-income renters. Below is a summary of a few…
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Coronavirus Scams and How to Avoid Them
Our latest Ask A Housing Expert blog is from Housing Policy Specialist Robin Lovelace. Robin has 23 years of experience as a housing authority administrator in Indiana. Since coronavirus hit the country, scammers and hackers have ramped up their volume of tricks and cons. It’s important to be aware of scams going on right now,…
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How housing authorities are communicating with low income households amid coronavirus
In normal times, it could be hard for an applicant, participant or an interested party to call and speak with a live person at a Public Housing Agency (PHA). Whether it’s by way of being transferred to the appropriate staffer, or carefully navigating an automated phone system, reaching a live person immediately was not always…
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HUD’s New Initiative for Self-Sufficiency
On December 7th, 2017, HUD Secretary Ben Carson announced a new initiative called EnVision Centers. The goal of the EnVision Center initiative is to bring together programs and services for HUD assisted families to become self-sufficient and no longer need government assisted housing. When talking about the reason for the EnVision Center Demonstration initiative, Carson claims…