HUD News in Review banner image for March 17, 2022

HUD News in Review: March 17, 2022

HUD News in Review banner image for March 17, 2022

Disclaimer: Affordable Housing Online is not affiliated with HUD, or any HUD agency.

This week’s announcements by the Department of Housing and Urban Development include:

49 Tribal communities granted $70M for COVID needs

Date Posted: March 11, 2022

Nearly $70 million will be granted to 49 Tribal communities “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to HUD.

HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman said:

“Tribes have experienced years of underinvestment and face significant backlogs of unmet needs, and these funds show what is possible when Tribes are provided with additional resources. HUD and the Biden-Harris Administration remain committed to strengthening relations with Tribal nations to ensure that all communities are securing the opportunity of a healthy home and community.”

A list of grant recipients was provided by HUD here.

The funds come from the Indian Community Development Block Grant-American Rescue Plan (ICDBG-ARP), and is the fourth round of such funding to assist Tribal communities. A total of $280 ICDBG-ARP awards have been spread across 240 Tribes.

More information about this award can be found here.

7,000 local homeless programs receive $2.6B in awards

Date Posted: March 14, 2022

About 7,000 locally-operated housing and service programs for the homeless have been awarded a total of $2.6 billion in Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition Awards.

According to HUD, these awards “will provide funding to communities to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing with access to supportive services, with the overarching goal of long-term stability.”

HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said:

“These Continuum of Care program grants, coupled with the historic resources in the American Rescue Plan, will deliver communities the resources needed to ensure that every person in a respective community has the equitable opportunity to a safe and stable home.”

More information about these CoC awards can be found here.

Secretary Fudge makes statement on bipartisan spending agreement

Date Posted: March 15, 2022

HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge has released a statement in response to President Biden signing the bipartisan spending agreement last week.

Secretary Fudge said:

“The bipartisan spending agreement increases HUD funding, providing our department with robust resources to advance key housing and community development priorities for America’s families and communities…Having a safe, affordable home is foundational to life, and the agreement will expand opportunity for households through homeownership and rental assistance, while supporting strong, healthy, and economically vibrant communities.

I applaud President Biden for his leadership in securing this agreement. With this legislation, we are making it clear that housing is essential to addressing the most urgent challenges facing our nation and to building a stronger, more equitable future.”

The complete response from Secretary Fudge can be read here.

Loan guarantees announced for new construction and renovation in FL and PA

Date Posted: March 16, 2022

HUD has announced a $1.1 million loan guarantee to rehabilitate a commercial property in Oley Township, PA; and a $5 million loan guarantee to help finance construction in St. Johns County, FL.

The proposed project in Pennsylvania will renovate a commercial property into four separate commercial spaces.

The funds in Florida will be used for the Hastings Community Center and Library Project

Both awards were through the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program; which, according to HUD, “provides Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) recipients with the ability to leverage their annual grant allocation to access low-cost, flexible financing for economic development, housing, public facility, and infrastructure projects.”

More information about the Pennsylvania award can be found here, and information about the Florida award can be found here.

Disaster assistance announced for VA and TN survivors

Date Posted: March 16, 2022

HUD has announced disaster assistance for those affected by severe winter storms in certain areas of Virginia and Tennessee.

Assistance will be available for Virginia residents affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm from January 2 to January 3, 2022 in the following counties:

Albemarle, Amelia, Appomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, Caroline, Charlotte, Culpeper, Cumberland, Essex, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Hanover, King George, King William, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Westmoreland County; and the independent city of Fredericksburg, VA.

Assistance will be available for Tennessee residents affected by a severe winter storm from February 3 to February 4, 2022 in the following counties:

Crockett, Fayette, Haywood, Lauderdale, Shelby, Tipton, and Weakley County, TN

Effective immediately, HUD is:

  • Providing immediate foreclosure relief in counties covered by the major disaster declaration
  • Making mortgage insurance available
  • Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation
  • Sharing information on housing providers and HUD programs
  • More information for VA survivors can be found here, and information for TN survivors can be found here.