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Every week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) publishes news about important events within the agency. The following are summaries of news for the week of November 10, 2021:
- HUD distributes American Rescue Plan funds for victims of COVID-19 related discrimination
- Federal Housing Administration eases mortgage requirements for manufactured homes
- HUD awards $36M for 8,000 affordable units throughout the US
Please note: This news does not cover waiting list openings for low-income rental assistance programs. The latest waiting list news can be found here.
HUD distributes American Rescue Plan funds for victims of COVID-19 related discrimination
Date Posted: November 3, 2021
Last week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it is giving $13.6 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to assist victims of housing discrimination connected to COVID-19.
What this means for renters
The money is to be used for fair housing enforcement, education and outreach related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Activities will include responding to housing inquiries, investigating fair housing complaints, providing legal assistance, conducting outreach and covering costs related to providing services related to the pandemic. Funds will be distributed to Fair Housing organizations and Legal Services agencies.
A list of all agencies receiving the ARP funds can be found here.
If you feel you have experienced discrimination, you can file a complaint by contacting HUD’s Office of Fair Housing at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (Relay). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to hud.gov/fairhousing.
Federal Housing Administration eases mortgage requirements for manufactured homes
Date Posted: November 9, 2021
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is part of HUD, provides mortgage insurance on loans made by FHA-approved lenders. The FHA insures mortgages on single family homes, multifamily properties, residential care facilities, and hospitals throughout the United States and its territories.
To streamline lending of mortgages for manufactured homes (also known as mobile homes or trailer homes), the FHA revised and enhanced policies of the Single-Family Title I Manufactured Home Loan Program.
What this means for renters
The FHA did this to help address the current housing crisis. This action makes it easier for lenders to provide mortgages to families who want to purchase manufactured homes and for manufactured home lots.
This eases the red tape that lenders had to work through to issue a loan to someone who wanted to buy a manufactured home. The revisions also expanded eligibility requirements to be more like those used in real-estate mortgage financing.
The policies for the Title I program have been integrated into the Single-Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1. The FHA states this consolidation eliminates the need for lenders to refer to 120 separate documents to complete a manufactured home mortgage.
More information about these policies can be found here.
HUD awards $36M for 8,000 affordable units throughout the US
Date Posted: November 9, 2021
HUD has selected three national groups to distribute $36 million to build approximately 8,000 affordable housing units throughout the nation.
The three groups selected are:
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
- Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.
- Habitat for Humanity International
The money will be distributed as funding from the Capacity Building for Affordable Housing and Community Development Program, also known as the Section 4 program.
According to HUD, the Section 4 program’s goal is to “enhance the capacity and ability of community development corporations (CDCs) and community housing development organizations (CHDOs) to carry out community development and affordable housing activities that benefit low-income persons.”
What this means for renters
HUD’s partnership with these three organizations will help to rebuild and revitalize neighborhoods, and create more affordable housing and economic development.
