2014 What's New
Multifamily Hub - Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington

12/29/14    Housing Memorandum on Marijuana in Multifamily Assisted Properties details how owners enforce the requirements found in the Controlled Substance Act and the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998.

12/29/14    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s new ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® (www.energystar.gov/buildings/facility-owners-and-managers/existing-buildings/use-portfolio-manager/new-energy-star-portfolio-manager) has been updated to improve its value to users while providing a more secure online environment. Portfolio Manager is the industry-leading, no-cost online tool that lets you benchmark, track, and manage energy and water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions against national averages. New features include: improved collaboration with advanced reporting and increased security, custom tabs that let you plan and set goals to track both current and future projects, performance upgrades, enhanced ease-of-use and powerful new features, and easier data entry with enhanced graphics, wizards and prompts.

12/19/14    Multifamily Housing Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) System 9.8 Release Summary The EIV system release 9.8 was successfully implemented on December 19, 2014, and has full functionality after the summarization was run on December 21, 2014. New functionalities have been added to the Multifamily EIV system.

EIV - HQs Management Reports

No HSC or HSU Role Assigned       Report provided duplicative data in Certified Contracts/Projects Report and thus was removed.

EIV - Verification Reports

New Hires Report                      Additional EIV report access has been granted to users with HFC user roles

Income Discrepancy Report         Additional EIV report access has been granted to users with OIG, HFC, HSC and HSU user roles

Identity Verification Report          Results for Percentage of household members who have failed on the statistics screen have been corrected to show results instead of a zero percent.

Any questions related to Multifamily Housing in EIV should be directed to the Multifamily Helpdesk at mf_eiv@hud.gov

12/18/14    Waiting List Administration Housing Notice H 2014-16 clarifies re-opening wait lists in response to concerns from disability advocates. The suggestion allows owners more flexibility to open waiting lists and accept applications for tenancy. This policy addition does not impact owners who continue using their current waiting list administration techniques to use. 

12/15/14    New Photo Capable Inspection Software for REAC Inspections REAC is continuing with implementation of new inspection software with photo capabilities, and they are now close to deployment. The inspection software is fundamentally the same with the exception of this new feature. As of January 5, 2015, all inspections must use the new software with photo capabilities. We are committed to keeping our stakeholders well-informed about changes to the physical inspection process. Questions? Contact Technical Assistance Center (TAC) at (888) 245-4860 

12/15/14    Active Partners Performance System (APPS) December 5th Release. The finish button is reinstated through the APPS December 5 release. Participants can also create submissions without locking the baseline and the baseline is locked upon sending the submission to HUD. Changes to e-signature language is made and instructions for e-signature submission package are revised for clarity. Trust participant type rolls down as individual or organization depending on the participant type.

12/03/14    FASS Validation Errors for Accounts S2100-030 and S3400-030 The Finance team responsible for Financial Assessment of Multifamily Housing (FASS_MF) has received inquiries regarding validation errors related to auditor opinions. For IG2000.04 submissions users are getting errors. To correct these errors enter "Not applicable" in account S2100-030. For OMD A133 submissions users are getting similar errors but the account number is S3400-030. Again the workaround is to enter "Not applicable" in account S3400-030 and this will clear the validation errors.

11/18/14    New affordable housing preservation technical guidance and information for owners of properties with HUD 202 Direct Loans and Section 236 mortgages (both FHA-insured and state HFA-issued.) New Preservation Mailing List (https://www.hudexchange.info/mailinglist/)

11/04/14    New HUD Multifamily Emergency Call Systems Memo. New memorandum posted on the Headquarters Housing webpage What's New column clarifies Multifamily policy related to emergency call systems in elderly properties, describing the functional requirements of an emergency call system and explaining how those functional requirements can be met using a variety of manual, electronic, and wireless emergency alert systems.

10/17/14    New Steps for Owners/Agents who implement Smoke Free Policy under Multifamily What's New Healthy Homes Guide

10/14/14    2015 Operating Cost Adjustment Factors (OCAFs) (www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-10-02/pdf/2014-23475.pdf) effective February 11, 2015. These factors are used for adjusting or establishing Section 8 rents under the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (MAHRA), as amended, for projects assisted with Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments. Reminder for HUD and PBCA offices processing rent increases using Auto OCAF: Once the 2015 Factors are updated in iREMS, please delete any Amend Rents record effective 02/11/2015 and beyond that was created either automatically or manually with the old 2014 Factor. A new record will automatically generate with the new 2015 Factor. 

10/14/14    Section 8 Contract Renewal Forms below, which relate to the Section 8 Contract Renewal process, have been updated and the new forms have been posted. The updates include either a new OMB expiration date of 04/30/2017 or the removal of the OMB expiration date. Additionally, due to new software constraints, some forms that were previously fillable no longer have this functionality.

Form Number

HUD - 90055      Use Agreement - Section 8 Use Agreement

HUD - 93181      PROJECT-BASED SECTION 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS Addendum to RENEWAL CONTRACT under Option One or Option Two for Capital Repairs and/or Acquisition Costs

HUD - 93182      PROJECT-BASED SECTION 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS Addendum to RENEWAL CONTRACT under Option One or Option Two for Capital Repairs and/or Acquisition--Post Rehabilitation Rents at Closing

HUD - 93184      RIDER TO ORIGINAL SECTION 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS CONTRACT

HUD - 9636        Project-based Section 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS BASIC RENEWAL CONTRACT - ONE-YEAR TERM

HUD - 9637        Project-based Section 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS BASIC RENEWAL CONTRACT - MULTI-YEAR TERM

HUD - 9638        Project-based Section 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS BASIC RENEWAL CONTRACT - FOR MARK-UP-TO-MARKET PROJECT

HUD - 9640        Project-based Section 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS INTERIM - (FULL) MARK-TO-MARKET RENEWAL CONTRACT

HUD - 9641        Project-based Section 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS INTERIM - (LITE) MARK-TO-MARKET RENEWAL CONTRACT

HUD - 9642        Project-based Section 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS FULL MARK-TO-MARKET RENEWAL CONTRACT

HUD - 9643        Project-based Section 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS WATCH LIST RENEWAL CONTRACT

HUD - 9644        PROJECT-BASED ASSISTANCE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS CONTRACT For Previous Mod Rehab Projects

HUD - 9648 A     Project-based Section 8 Contract Administration CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF HAP CONTRACT AS SECURITY FOR FREDDIE MAC FINANCING

HUD - 9648 D     Project-based Section 8 Contract Administration CONSENT TOASSIGNMENT OF HAP CONTRACT TO FNMA AS SECURITY FOR FNMA CREDIT ENHANCEMENT

HUD - 9649        Project-based Section 8 Contract Administration CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF HAP CONTRACT AS SECURITY FOR FINANCING

HUD - 9651        Project-based Section 8 Contract Administration CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF HAP CONTRACT AS SECURITY FOR FNMA FINANCING 

10/09/14    Section 3 Success Stories and Section 3 Business Registry. HUD needs your help! We are looking for testimonials from Recipients, Contractors, Section 3 Residents and/or Section 3 Businesses about the good things accomplished under Section 3. If you or someone you know has a great success story to tell about Section 3, please contact HUD FHEO staff person Kristina Miller at Kristina.Miller@hud.govor 206-220-5328. Also, we need your help to spread the word about a new Section 3 online system. In response to frequent requests from our Recipients, HUD FHEO has created an online Section 3 Business Registry, where Section 3 businesses can register, recipients can find Section 3 businesses by locality and type of business, and Section 3 residents can search for businesses that are hiring. This Registry will make it much easier for recipients to comply with Section 3 contracting requirements. Businesses can register, and recipients, contractors, and those looking for work can find Section 3 businesses by using HUD's Section 3 Business Registry web page: www.hud.gov/Sec3biz. Section 3 Business Registry brochure English and Spanish, Section 3 Business Registry Poster English and Spanish and frequently asked questions (FAQ).

Additional information on Section 3  Questions about Section 3 and/or the Section 3 Business Registry may be may be addressed to: section3@hud.gov or Kristina.Miller@hud.gov.  

10/07/14    Proposed Rule for Supportive Housing and Services for the Elderly and Persons With Disabilities: Implementing Statutory ReformsDocket No. FR-5576-P-01 Proposal also includes establishing regulations for Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing program and the Assisted Living Conversion program.Comments due December 8, 2014

10/02/14    Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Final Fair Market Rents Released (www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html)

10/01/14    Clarification on Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan (AFHMP) Review and Approval Guidance on Office of Multifamily Housing under "What's New"

10/01/14    Better Buildings Challenge (BBC) New Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) Shared Savings Incentiveis posted onthe Office of Multifamily Housing under "What's New". For more information, contact HUD at MFBBC@hud.gov. 

10/01/14    Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Assessment Tool published (for comment) (www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-09-26/pdf/2014-22956.pdf). More info (www.huduser.org/portal/affht_pt.html)

09/26/14    New Policy for Combining Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Contracts. New policy on Multifamily What's New

09/25/14    Updated Operating Cost Adjustment Factor (OCAF) Rent Adjustment Worksheet HUD Form 9625 Instructions for 9625

09/25/14    HUD Implementation of Fiscal Year 2014 Appropriations Provisions on Public Housing Agency Consortia, Biennial Inspections, Extremely Low-Income Definition, and Utility Allowances (www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-06-25/pdf/2014-14915.pdf)

09/25/14    The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA): Changes to the Section 8 Tenant-Based Voucher and Section 8 Project-Based Voucher Programs (www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-06-25/pdf/2014-14632.pdf)

09/24/14    Service Coordinator grants awarded. New Service Coordinator grants were announced for 39 properties in 21 states, totaling almost $7.5 million, including Carriage Court in Canby, Oregon, and Patricia Harris Manor in Redmond, Washington. Service Coordinator grants help thousands of senior citizens and persons with disabilities to receive health care, meals, and other critical supportive service. Subscribe to the new Multifamily Housing Service Coordinator Mailing List, and receive program information important to funding recipients, Service Coordinators, housing professionals, and residents.

09/23/14    Better Buildings Challenge (BBC) in Portland, Oregon (www4.eere.energy.gov/challenge/partners/multifamily/reach-cdc) REACH Community Developmentin Portland, OR, is taking the Challenge and making a great, green investment in their financial future. Their Energy Performance Goal -- 20% Reduction in Energy Intensity within 10 Years, and their Commitment -- 1,000,000 Square Feet. Through the Better Buildings Challenge (www4.eere.energy.gov/challenge/home) the Federal Government, including the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is partnering with leaders committed to cutting energy waste across their portfolios, and providing their energy savings data and strategies as models for others to follow. The HUD Office of Multifamily Housing Programs has established the Expedited Reserve for Replacement Account Releases policy incentive to help participating owners quickly access the reserve funds needed to fund energy and water efficiency improvements. Please see the Office of Multifamily Housing under "What's New" for information on all three incentives, and an Add-Off Fees Revision dated September 19th, 2014. For more information, contact HUD at MFBBC@hud.gov.

Or, in Region X, your local HUD project manager. 

09/18/14    Bed Bug Webinar online (http://stoppests.org/vtechbedbug). The recorded webinar "Lowering Costs with an In-House Bed Bug Preventions and Management Plan" is now online (http://stoppests.org/vtechbedbug), also linking to the Bed Bug Q&A, the slides from the presentation, and the certificate of completion from stoppests.org.

09/17/14    REAC Guidance in New REAC Compilation Bulletin  Local REAC Tips.

09/15/14    Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) guidance and New REAC Compilation Bulletin.

09/11/14    Better Buildings Challenge (www4.eere.energy.gov/challenge/partners/multifamily) - a Voluntary leadership initiative asking building owners, developers, and managers for public commitment to energy efficiency. The Better Buildings Challenge (BBC) was expanded to the multifamily sector in December 2013. 

How does an organization become a Partner in the Challenge?

1. Prior to signing the BBC Agreement, Owners must contact the BBC Multifamily (MF) lead, Kevin Bush, kevin.j.bush@hud.gov to confirm eligibility.
2. Once the BBC agreement is signed and submitted, an email from the Department of Energy will be sent to the Owner welcoming them to the program and providing BBC background information.
3. The Property will be assigned an Account Manager. This Account manager will be available to assist with creating the Owner's BBC webpage and identifying the case study information. The Account Managers will be available for questions and guidance throughout the BBC process.
4. Information about press releases will be available along with a quote from the Secretary that can be used.
   [NOTE: Owners cannot make an announcement to the public about joining BBC Multifamily prior to completing Steps 1 and 2].
5. While participating in the BBC, Owners will be made aware of training and technical assistance opportunities. This will include webinars and connections to other owners. Owners will also be eligible to take advantage of some of the BBC MF incentives offered to participants.

For more information, contact HUD at MFBBC@hud.gov.

Or, in Region X your local HUD project manager

09/08/14    Active Partners Performance System (APPS) News

• The error message users used to get while clicking on the Findings Detail button is corrected.
• The Finish button at the end of the baseline submission process is removed to facilitate industry partners to edit new baselines until a property submission is made.
  The baseline will be locked when the user creates a submission and clicks on Send to HUD.
• Provision for electronic signature: While submitting e2530, the applicants have the option to select electronic signature. If the applicant checks I Accept box, then no signature is required on the 2530 Submission Package. The electronic signature message is displayed on the 2530 Submission Package if I Accept box is checked. The user still has to upload or send the 2530 Submission Package without any wet signatures after accepting the message. 
• Tenant Participation Requirements. Implementation of Tenant Participation Requirements in accordance with 24 CFR Part 245, Housing Notice 2014-12, attached, revises tenant participation guidance, superseding Notice H 2012-21. Procedures for tenants to appeal findings of complaints filed with the Hub or Program Center (Hub/PC) have been added to Section F. 

09/08/14    Owners and Managers of HUD Multifamily Properties in Alaska: 

All Alaska multifamily properties that are HUD-insured or HUD-subsidized, which have been managed by the Seattle Multifamily Hub, Anchorage Office, have been assumed by staff in the San Francisco Multifamily Hub staff jurisdiction, effective September 2, 2014. Please direct all processing requests for your property to your new HUD Project Manager in the San Francisco Hub. If you are unable to determine your HUD Project Manager, please contact Janice Morris,(415) 489-6648. We appreciate your patience as HUD works to improve the delivery of its programs and its service to you. We continue to be committed to delivering the highest level of customer service and are confident you will be well served by our San Francisco staff.

08/08/14    NEW memo dated August 7, 2014, addresses the use of a lender ordered MAP appraisal in lieu of a separate Rent Comparability Study (RCS) for Mark-Up-To-Market transactions. Guidance offers Hub Directors the opportunity to issue waivers to existing requirements until revisions to the Section 8 Renewal Guide are published.

07/28/14    Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) Photo Capabilities Increasing August 2014. REAC Quality Assurance (QA) inspectors begin August 2014 using new Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) 4.0 Inspection photograph capability software in physical inspections of Public Housing and Multifamily properties. Inspectors will be photographing any observed Level 3 deficiencies. These inspections will be inspections of record, with the inspection report reviewed and released like any other REAC physical inspection. If the testing goes well, REAC plans to have all other inspectors begin using the new photo capability beginning in October.

07/24/14    Seattle Regional Hub Owners: Please see the letter from HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, in which he highlights a Department goal to reduce energy consumption across our portfolio. We at HUD encourage you to make energy management a key part of your property operations, and want to make sure that you are aware of a free online government resource, the EPA's Energy Star Portfolio Manager. We're also interested in hearing from those of you who have already implemented energy management and benchmarking strategies - please send us your success stories and reports of challenges.

07/03/14    New Definition for Extremely-Low Income (ELI) Limits as of July 1, 2014. See FR-5778-N-01 HUD Implementation of Fiscal Year 2014 Appropriations Provisions on Public Housing Agency Consortia, Biennial Inspections, Extremely Low-Income Definition, and Utility Allowances

The definition of Extremely-Low Income (ELI) has changed for the Section 8 program, as of July 1, 2014. Section 8 property managers must make sure that the new Extremely Low Income Limits are entered in site software, or ensure that the software vendor has entered the new income limits. 
Extremely-Low Income families are now defined as families whose incomes do not exceed the higher of:

• Federal Poverty Level (http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/14poverty.cfm) or
• 30 percent of Area Median Income

This change does not affect eligibility of existing residents. However, this change does affect ELI Income Targeting for multifamily project-based Section 8 programs. As of July 1, 2014, compliance with the targeting requirements must take into account the new definition of ELI. An owner/agent shall meet its targeting requirements through a combination of ELI admissions prior to the effective date (using the old definition) and ELI admissions after the effective date (using the new statutory definition).
New income limits for extremely low-income families (www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/il.html)

06/30/14    Real Estate Assessment Center/Financial Assessment Subsystem (REAC/FASS News) REAC has received many calls regarding validation errors related to auditor opinions. For IG2000.04 submissions users are getting the following errors: 

Account Number        Rejection Reason

S2100-030               If account S2100-020 is valued as Qualified, Disclaimer, or Adverse, then either this account or account S2700-005 is required.

S2700-005               If account S2100-020 is valued as Qualified, Disclaimer, or Adverse, then either this account or account S2100-030 is required.
To correct these error please instruct users to enter "Not applicable" in account S2100-030.

For OMD A133 submissions users are getting similar errors but the account number is S3400-030. Again the workaround is to enter "Not applicable" in account S3400-030 and this will clear the validation errors.

06/27/14    Minimum Required Flood Insurance for Multifamily Mortgage Loans (www.nfipiservice.com/Bulletin_2013.html). PDF (www.nfipiservice.com/Stakeholder/FEMA2/w-13070_Full.pdf). The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12) increases the maximum building coverage the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can offer. This change will increase the maximum building coverage limit from $250,000 to $500,000 for Standard Flood Insurance Policies on multifamily (Other Residential) buildings, containing 5 or more residential units, effective June 1, 2014. Please note, the maximum amount available under NFIP on "Non-Residential Buildings" (one example of such is nursing homes) is not impacted - it was already at $500,000. For those projects that require flood insurance, the existing security instrument/mortgage/deed of trust contains language addressing the amount of flood insurance required. This language has several criteria that determine how much flood insurance is required - the lesser of those criteria applies. On most of our existing projects, the amount of flood insurance required is the maximum amount available under NFIP. For those projects that require flood insurance MFH will require the increased coverage (if applicable) to be in place for all policy renewals on or after June 1, 2014. Please contact the respective Director in each Multifamily office if further questions. 

06/26/14    Procurement & Contracting: Five Ground Rules for Executive Directors and Commissioners (www.hudoig.gov/fraud-prevention/industry-advisories) PDF (www.hudoig.gov/sites/default/files/Procurement%20Integrity%20Bulletin%20V7.pdf). Goods and services must be procured in an effective manner and in compliance with Federal, State, and local laws. Although the majority of public housing agencies (PHA) comply with these rules and regulations, the HUD Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG) hopes to help identify procurement and contracting procedural weaknesses.

06/25/14    New Project Manager Assignments

06/24/14    Active Partners Performance System (APPS) News

• In addition to the coordinator/user that created the 2530 submission, users associated with the property who have access to the submission can now upload the 2530 package. Previously, only the user that created the submission could upload the package.
• The Inspection/Management Occupancy Reviews (MOR) scores/ratings are now displayed based on date range, instead of the latest score/rating. HUD 2530 reviewers can still see the latest MOR ratings and Inspection scores. 

06/24/14    Update to Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Properties in Service Database (www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/lihtc.html)

06/24/14    Real Estate Assessment Center's Technical Assistance Center (REAC/TAC)Moving. Effective Monday, June 30, the TAC is moving from the Potomac Center facility to the Capital View Building. The REAC mailing address will not change. The TAC phone number will remain (888) 245-4860. TAC operations will cease promptly at 3:00pm ET on Friday, June 27, reopening at 7:00am ET Monday, June 30. During that period, TAC Customers have the option of leaving a voice mail message or sending service requests by email to REAC_TAC@hud.gov. Voice mail and email requests are expected to be processed on Monday, June 30. 

06/24/14    Fiscal Year 2014 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants Funds Available 
NOFA Grant applications due August 13, 2014 

06/24/14    Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grants Available to Help Repair Rural Housing (www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2014/06/0118.xml&navid=
NEWS_RELEASE&navtype=RT&parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&edeployment_action=retrievecontent) USDA is seeking applications for grants to preserve and repair housing for very-low- and low-income families living in rural areas in Rural Development's Housing Preservation Grants (www.rurdev.usda.gov/HAD-HPG_Grants.html). Eligible applicants include town or county governments, public agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and non-profit and faith-based organizations. USDA does not provide funding directly to homeowners under this program. Up to $3.9 million is available in Fiscal Year 2014. Applications are due July 28, 2014.

05/28/14    HUD, in partnership with the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the White House, expanded the Better Building Challenge (BBC) to include multifamily residential buildings.  pdf | Word / BBC Special Fees Worksheet

05/28/14    HUD published a Federal Register Notice listing amounts excluded as income for determining program eligibility or benefits. pdf | Word

05/27/14    Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) Inspections may be soon. Almost thirty percent of the non-insured portfolio in the Seattle Multifamily Hub is scheduled to be inspected this summer. Inspection tips. More tips pdf | Word

05/23/14    Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability and alternative accessibility standard pdf (www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-05-23/pdf/2014-11844.pdf) | Word

05/20/14    2014 Funding for Tenant-Protection Vouchers for Certain At-Risk Households in Low-Vacancy Areas pdf | Word

05/12/14    Updated Section 8 Forms 
These forms should be used for any transaction/renewal submitted after May 7, 2014. 

04/30/14    Active Partners Performance System (APPS) New, Revised Industry User Guide

04/30/14    Financial Assessment of Multifamily Housing (FASS-MF) News

• Schedule of the Status of Prior Audit Findings, Questioned Costs, and Recommendations. There will be a system release on May 30th to update the Schedule of the Status of Prior Audit Findings. Accounts S2800-005 (Previous Finding Reference Number) and S2800-030 (Report Period) will be eliminated. Account S2800-020 (Narrative) will be renamed to "Finding." Account S2800-020 (Status) will be reconfigured to be a text field instead of a drop-down box. Active submissions with a status of Validated or CPA Attested will be reverted back to a draft status on May 30th and will need to be re-validated with the new account changes, so we encourage owners to make their final submissions before May 30th. Please note, these changes only affect profit-motivated/limited-distribution owners filing in accordance with IG2000.04.Clarification of Notice H2013-23.
  
  
• Housing Notice H2013-23 allows profit-motivated owners that receive less than $500,000 in combined federal financial assistance to file owner-certified financial statements in lieu of audited statements. The $500,000 threshold applies to owning entities and not to individual projects. If an owner owns more than one HUD assisted project, the federal awards threshold applies to all Section 8 contracts and HUD mortgages owned by the entity.
  
  
• Schedule of the Status of Prior Audit Findings, Questioned Costs, and Recommendations. The revised IG2000.04 Audit Guide instructs auditors to report on the status of prior year audit findings and also to report on the status of audits, studies, or reviews conducted by HUD OIG, HUD management, a contract administrator or any other federal agency that directly relate to the current year audit. Unfortunately the current chart of accounts within FASSUB was not set up to capture anything other than prior year audit findings. Until FASSUB is modified to accept this additional level of reporting we ask that submitters populate the accounts within the schedule as follows when entering information about reports from other sources:

03/25/14    New Project Manager Assignments

03/25/14    New Housing Notice applicable to a very limited number of projects. Funding for Tenant-Protection Vouchers for Certain At-Risk Households in Low-Vacancy Areas, PIH Notice 2013-8 reissued as Housing Notice 2014-04.

03/25/14    Reminder Financial Assessment of Multifamily Housing (FASS-MF) Submission Deadline, April 2014. User IDs in Secure Systems are disabled and passwords expire after 90 days of inactivity. A large volume of financial statements is expected for the deadline at the end of April, 2014; please ensure your ID and password work. Activate your ID or reset your password (REAC_TAC@hud.gov) or call REAC's Technical Assistance Center, (888) 245-4860.

03/04/14    TRACS Rules of Behavior Clarification for HUD Subsidized Properties. The Rules of Behavior (ROB) for the Tenant Rental Assistance Certification System (TRACS) and Multifamily Enterprise Income Verification (MF EIV) System are being sent erroneously to HUD by external users (project owners, management agents, contract administrators, service bureaus, and coordinators with M-ids or I-ids).
The TRACS Rules of Behavior (ROB) instructions require external users to print, sign and file the ROB. Please do not fax or email ROBs to HUD. Please file your signed copy of the ROB at your site, and retain for audit purposes.

03/04/14    Section 811 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Permanent Housing and Services to Low-Income People with Disabilities (www.grants.gov/custom/viewOppDetails.jsp?oppId=252154) Approximately $120 million in funding for state housing agencies is announced for long term project-based rental assistance to extremely low-income persons with disabilities, many of whom are transitioning out of institutional settings or are at high risk of homelessness. HUD's support of these state agencies is made possible through the Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) program. This is a NOFA using funds from FY2013 and FY2014. Deadline May 5, 2014. Press Release

02/28/14    Draft Revised Section 8 Renewal Policy Guide for Public Comment. Comments must specifically identify the section number, page, and paragraph number to which they refer, and submitted (section8renewalguide@hud.gov) by April 30, 2014 or via mail to: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Attention: Section 8 Renewal Guide, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 6134, Washington, DC 20410-0500

02/21/14    New Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Program - Annual Adjustment Factors (AAFs), Fiscal Year 2014 (www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-02-18/pdf/2014-03461.pdf)

02/03/14    Multifamily Housing clarifies surplus cash

01/27/14    Active Partners Performance Systems (APPS) News

• APPS will automatically resolve AFS flags once the AFS is filed electronically.
• The latest REAC scores now appear on the Previous Participation Detail Page for update.
• Industry can now make a new property submission for the same TIN if an existing property submission has the same role but a different reason.
• The Corporate Buyout submission option is removed from the Select A Reason drop-down list on the 2530 Submission Select a Reason page.
• On the APPS Home Page, Create Baseline has been added as an option in Submission Processing drop-down list and the message Baseline already exists appears if there is a baseline already in the system.
• When creating baseline, the message Comments inserted here will not be carried forward to any new submissions has been added to Edit Applicant Comments page.
• The previous participant is no longer deleted when participant is removed during the organization change submission.
• The previous participation is only deleted if participant is added in as error option is selected. Also, a message (Participant's previous participation will be deleted from the applicant) displays indicating that previous.

New debenture rates effective January 1, 2014

New Management Fees as of January 1, 2014

New Hints to use Online Multifamily Systems updated January 2014

01/22/14    Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan updated with new expiration date, 12/31/2016

01/22/14    Deceased Tenant Report Unavailable for Some Multifamily (Mf) Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) Users. Properties assigned to an M-ID with only a contract number or only a project number will not appear in the Deceased Tenant Report, an issue affecting almost 2500 MF EIV users with a Housing Coordinator (HSC) role or an Housing User (HSU) role. If a property is assigned to an M-ID with both a contract number and a project number, the property continues to appear in the Deceased Tenant Report. If you are affected, document your files showing the inability to run the report and include a copy of this message. Contract Administrators are instructed not to issue Management and Occupancy Review (MOR) Findings if this issue is documented by a user until such time when the Deceased Tenant Report is fully functional. The fix to this issue is scheduled for February 14, 2014.

01/15/14    Global Financial Assessment Subsystem (FASS) 30-day extension. The Office of Housing has authorized a global 30-day extension to all owners with fiscal years ended 12/31/13. Submissions with fiscal years ended 12/31/13 will now be due on April 30, 2014.

01/15/14    Get HUD preservation program updates

01/06/14    Farewell from Seattle Multifamily Hub Director, Renee Greenman. 

Dear Region X staff and Multifamily Housing Partners:

Today I announced my retirement, effective January 31st, as the Seattle Multifamily Hub Director, to take a position as Managing Director at Centennial Mortgage, an FHA and USDA multifamily and healthcare facilities Mortgage Company. While I am thrilled at the opportunity to fully utilize my LEAN and Continuous Improvement skills in every aspect of a vital, growing company, leaving all of you after more than 26 years of close partnerships and exciting work furthering the mission of HUD, is bittersweet.

Thank you for the opportunity to have been a part of an amazing group of professionals, each of whom has taught me so many life lessons, and created that passion for furthering affordable housing and finding new, innovative ways to help our most vulnerable citizens.

Warmest regards to all,

Renee' D. Greenman
Director, Seattle Multifamily Hub
Phone - (206) 220-6227
Cell - (206) 905-7471
Fax - (206) 220-5251
Renee.Greenman@hud.gov

Seattle Federal Office Bldg
909 First Ave Ste 190 OAH
Seattle WA 98104-1000

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