Northwest HUD Lines
December 2019

HUD e-Briefs from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington
Jeff McMorris, Region X Regional Administrator

Leland Jones, Editor, (206) 220-5356 or Leland.jones@hud.gov

www.hud.gov/alaska	www.hud.gov/idaho
www.hud.gov/oregon	www.hud.gov/washington
http://twitter.com/hudnorthwest

! ! ! HAPPY HOLIDAYS ! ! !

FHA-NTASTIC!
Welcome -very welcome - news
Noting that "the financial health of FHA's single-family insurance fund is as sound as it has been in over a decade," HUD Secretary Ben Carson has announced that the FHA - the Federal Housing Administration - has submitted its 2019 Annual Report to Congress . It finds that the FHA Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund Capital Ratio for Federal fiscal year 2019 was 4.84 percent, the highest level since FFY 2007 & more than twice the 2 percent minimum for the Ratio set by Congress. The report, prepared by the independent actuary Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, Inc., also said that FHA had insurance-in-force on single family mortgages valued at almost $1.3 trillion at the end of this fiscal year. MMI Capital (aka, "net worth") of the forward book of business also improved year-to-year by over 42 percent with a value of over $66.6 billion, though its Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (aka, "reverse mortgage") continued to show a negative stand-alone capital ratio, but improved substantially from 2018. "This report is welcome news," said FHA Commissioner & acting Deputy Secretary Brian Montgomery. "The improvements we've begun to put in place in the last two years to stem the losses of the reverse mortgage portfolio, aided by favorable economic conditions, are contributing to some improvements in our reverse mortgage portfolio. Looking forward, we must focus on seeking the right balance between facilitating access to mortgage credit & managing risk."

LIFTER-UPPER FOR FIXER-UPPERS
Opportunity knocks again
HUD Secretary Ben Carson has announced that FHA - the Federal Housing Administration - has issued a Mortgagee Letter that, beginning December 16th, will raise the amount that can be financed under an FHA Section 203k Acquisition & Rehabilitation Mortgage from $35,000 to $50,000 for existing homes purchased under the program in nation's 8,200 designated Opportunity Zones. "Providing this opportunity means that the families seeking affordable homeownership or to improve their homes in distressed neighborhoods - where rehabilitation is needed the most - have a path to financing that makes it realistic to do the repairs and improvements that will uplift the entire community," said Secretary Carson. 30, 2019, FHA had active insurance on over 623,000 mortgages for eligible homes located in Opportunity Zones or eight percent of FHA-insured mortgages nationwide. The incentive will be limited to the first 15,000 mortgages secured by properties in Opportunity Zones each calendar year.

BRIEF BRIEFS
Sunny Shaw, executive director of the Pocatello, Idaho Housing Authority, elected president of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials says KDIK-TV. . .10 families in Anchorage, Alaska will move from shelters to permanent housing thanks to a $150,000 grant from Conoco Phillips to Catholic Social Services of Alaska says KTUU-TV. . .Saying "building homes & apartments that people can afford creates a stable base. . .from which they can make positive changes for their lives & communities," Washington State Housing Finance Commission okays financing for 807 new units of affordable housing in Seattle, Auburn & Redmond, Washington. . .School board sells vacant Bonneville Elementary School to NeighborWorks Pocatello transform into affordable housing says Idaho State Journal . .Oregon Housing & Community Services awards $1.7 million in one-time state funds to 17 HUD-supported Continuums of Care & other organizations to support winter shelters for the homeless. . .HomeForward celebrates grand opening of the 240-unit Louisa Flowers the largest single affordable housing project built in Portland & Multnomah County in the las t50 years. . .Housing Authority of Snohomish County becomes 5th authority to secure national accreditation from the Affordable Housing Accreditation Board reflecting "an organization's commitment to meeting high performance standards established by the affordable housing industry and to providing quality, well-managed housing". . .Salem, Oregon City Council passes ordinance banning camping by the homeless says KGW-TV. . .Chris Perez of the Rasmuson Foundation in Alaska appointed to the Affordable Housing Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. . .Home4Good, the housing authority in Lane County, Oregon, breaks ground for The Commons on MLK which will provide 51 units of affordable housing for formerly homeless, especially those who've been on the "street the longest & utilized the most resources" says KEZI-TV. . .El Centro de la Raza wins Urban Land Institute's 2019 Jack Kemp Excellence in Affordable & Workforce Housing Award. . .HUD's Office of Native American Programs serving our nation's more than 560 Federally-recognized Tribes & Native Villages - more than half are in the Northwest - now has a Twitter account.

MAINSTREAMING
Helping persons with disabilities live where they want to live
HUD Secretary Carson has announced that 22 public housing authorities in Idaho, Oregon and Washington have been awarded $12,514,410 to support an additional 1,313 Mainstream Vouchers for very-low income households of persons with disabilities. The awards were awards were part of a national HUD announcement of $131.3 million in additional Mainstream Vouchers to 325 authorities across the country to provide affordable housing to approximately 15,363 additional non-elderly persons with disabilities. "Mainstream vouchers are a critical tool in reducing the risk that people with disabilities might be institutionalized or experience homelessness," said HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Jeff McMorris, "and enable them to live independently in the communities they choose to call home." HUD's Mainstream vouchers are focused particularly on non-elderly persons who are transitioning out of institutional or other separated settings; at serious risk of institutionalization; currently experiencing homelessness; previously experienced homelessness and currently a client in a permanent supportive housing or rapid rehousing project; or at risk of becoming homeless. This year's awardees include:

ONE OF THE FIRST
Aging-out shouldn't mean homelessness
The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation is among the first 11 public housing authorities nationwide that have been approved to participate in HUD's Foster Youth to Independence initiative. HUD launched the initiative earlier this year to assist young people aging-out of foster care and who are at risk of experiencing homelessness. It is estimated that more than 20,000 young people age-out of foster care on their 19th birthday each year including, says the National Youth in Transition Data Base, about 60 in Alaska, more than half - 53 percent - of whom likely will experience homelessness at some time in their next three years, almost twice the national average. FYI, says HUD Secretary Carson, will keep young people who are aging-out "off the streets & prevent them from becoming homeless" by offering a "a smooth transition when they go out on their own,"

DOWNS & UP
Mixed news on veteran homelessness
In its annual report to Congress in November, HUD reported that there was a decline in the number of homeless veterans in Alaska, Idaho and Washington state between the point-in-time counts conducted by HUD-funded local Continuums of Care in January 2018 and in January 2019. In Oregon, however, there was an increase in veteran homelessness from 2018 to 2019. In Alaska, the total number of homeless veterans declined by 15.9 percent from 2018 to 2019 and by 63 percent between 2010 and 2019. In Idaho, the total number of homeless veterans declined by 6.5 percent from 2018 to 2019 and by 15.9 percent between 2010 and 2019. In Washington state the total number of homeless veterans declined by 3.1 percent from 2018 to 2019 and by 22.4 percent from 2010 to 2019. In Oregon the total number of homeless veterans increased by 5.5 percent from 2018 to 2019 and by 11.9 percent from 2010 to 2019. Thanks to the dedication & hard work of our Continuums of Care," said HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Jeff McMorris, "we have made real progress" in "many communities, but, obviously, there is still work to do." Continuum of Care-specific point-in-time counts are provided below:

GOING HOME
Reuniting families
King County, Washington has approved $100,000 in supplemental funding for its Homeward Bound program which provides "family reunification through bus tickets and other ground transportation for people experiencing homelessness," nearly tripling current funding. Its 2019 Count Us In data, reports the County, found "substantial demand" for a such a program with 9 percent of homeless persons indicating that family reunification services would enable them to obtain permanent housing. A number of other cities including Portland, New York, New Orleans & Denver operate similar programs.

BRIEF BRIEFS TOO
Homestead Community Land Trust begins construction on parcel donated by Renton, Washington Housing Authority of Willowcrest that is intended, says Business Wire, to be King County's "first multi-unit homeownership project designed to be affordable to low- and moderate-income households while also reducing utilities costs and climate impacts through ultra-high energy efficiency and the elimination of fossil fuels". . .Governor Brad Little awards $1.8 million in Idaho Commerce Community Development Block Grant funds from HUD to cities of American Falls, Challis, Deary, Fruitland, Plummer, & Rupert to upgrade infrastructure, improve community facilities & create jobs. . .City of Tacoma Council okays contract with Seattle's LIHI - Low Income Housing Institute - to build city's first ever tiny home community providing 22 "micro-units" to shelter homeless in Hilltop neighborhood says News Tribune. . .City of Hailey, Idaho Council gives preliminary approval to ARCH Community Housing Trust to build 8u affordable housing complex on city-owned parcel says Idaho Mountain Express. . .Bezos Day 1 Fund created by Amazon founders awards $17.5 million to support 4 facilities & programs for homeless in Anchorage, Spokane, & Seattle after awarding $12.5m last year to programs in Tacoma, Portland & Seattle. . .City of Anacortes, Washington Council votes unanimously to ask voters to decide in February whether to raise local sales tax from 7 to 8 percent to raise funds for affordable housing says GoSkagit. . .Petersburg, Alaska Borough Assembly seems supportive of proposal by Anchorage developer to build 15 units of affordable across street from medical center says KFSK-FM. . .U.S. Treasury's Native American Community Development Financial Institutions Fund awards $2.9 million in financial & technical assistance to l8 loan funds headquartered in Alaska, Idaho & Washington while 11 credit unions, loan funds & other organizations in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington win total of $4.5 million in CDFI capital funds to put to work in revitalizing communities. . .City of Ellensburg, Washington Affordable Housing Commission recommends two affordable housing projects - one by Crytyl Enterprises & the other by HopeSource - for Council approval says Daily Record. . .With 365 units of affordable housing under construction or soon to be in its home-base in Cully neighborhood of Portland OR & Rockwood area in Gresham, Hacienda CDC also setting its sight on projects in Washington & Clackamas counties says Puget Sound Business Journal. . .USDA Rural Utilities Service awards $11.7 million High Energy Cost Grants to the Denali Commission & five other Alaska organizations for infrastructure upgrades to "help them offset high energy costs in some of the most remote parts of the state" annual home energy costs exceed 275 percent of the national average.

GOT VIEWS?
Speak up!
Consistent with President Trump's Executive Order 13878 entitled "Establishing a White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing," HUD has set a January 21st deadline for the public to submit information & comments on Federal, State, local & Tribal laws, regulations, land use rules & administrative practices that artificially raise costs of affordable housing development & contributes to shortages in supply. "Owning a home is an essential component of the American Dream. It is imperative that we remove regulatory barriers that prevent that dream from becoming a reality," said HUD Secretary Carson. "Through this request, communities across the country will have the opportunity to identify roadblocks to affordable housing and work with State, Federal, and local leaders to remove them."

GOT IDEAS?
From REAC to NSPIRE
HUD's begun working on the launch next year of a new physical housing inspection model for our inventory of assisted & public housing & we want to do it from the ground-up, not the top-down. That's why we're asking our public & assisted housing partners to step forward & help us to test the adjustments to standards, protocols & processes prior to nationwide implementation of the new NSPIRE. Your experience, your insights & your feedback as test different approaches will invaluable in making sure NSPIRE makes sense. We hope you'll consider registering one or more properties in our demonstration program. It's worth noting that you will have the opportunity to withdraw any property from the demonstration at any time. So, why volunteer to be in the demonstration? Well, only one inspection! Scores are advisory. You can participate in focus groups, listening sessions, conference calls, & training sessions on policies and procedures. You will have a direct line to HUD! Your feedback will help HUD shape the new inspection model. You can take advantage of training opportunities, including how to use the inspection software. And, most importantly, you'll us develop a more efficient & effective inspection process from the ground up. That's a win-win for all of us. Interested in joining us? Visit.

NOFA-TUNITY
Developing tribal communities
HUD has set a February 3rd, 2020 deadline for Federally recognized Tribes & Alaskan Native Villages as well as Tribal organizations to apply for a total of $65 million in fiscal year 2019 & 2020 competitive Indian Community Block Grant funds. Up to 120 awards are expected. To reduce administrative burden while encouraging longer-term planning & larger projects, this will be two-year funding cycle - available funding has been adjusted upward accordingly. Eligible activities include creation of decent housing, suitable living environments, and economic opportunities primarily for persons with low- and moderate- incomes.

NOFA-TWO-NITY
More housing for persons with disabilities
HUD has set a February 10th, 2020 deadline for eligible non-profit organizations to apply for a total of $75 million in capital advance funds under its Section 811 Supportive Housing for Very Low-Income Persons with Disabilities program. It's the first time in almost a decade that HUD has been able to fund new Section 811 housing projects. Up to 30 awards are anticipated with a maximum of $2.5 million each. Capital advance awards provide operating funds in the form of a project rental assistance contract that maintains affordability for the next 40 years. As noted in Coming Up below, HUD will conduct a December 4th Webinar on the Section 811 project rental assistance component & on December 12th a Webinar about the capital advance funding opportunity.

NOFA-THREE-NITY
Stepping up substance abuse services
HHS's Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration - SAMSHA - has set a December 16th deadline for public & private non-profit entities to apply for up to 13 grants of up to $400,000 each per year for five years "to support the development and/or expansion of local implementation of a community infrastructure that integrates substance use disorder treatment, housing services & other critical services for individuals (including youth) and families experiencing homelessness." States are not eligible to apply.

NO-FOUR-TUNITY
USDA has set a December 31st deadline for state & local governments, Federally recognized Tribes serving rural areas with less than 10,000 people to apply for up to 30 Solid Waste Management grants & for qualified non-profits to apply for up to 20 Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance grants to help them develop locally-based solutions & access financial resourcesto support water & waste infrastructure.

BRIEF BRIEFS THREE
Rural infrastructure resources
Idaho Housing & Finance Association wins Mortgage Bankers Association 2019 Market Strategies Outreach Award for its Finally Home homeownership education program which in the past year reported that 46 percent of its students were women & 24 percent were non-white, Hispanic or bi-racial says National Mortgage Professionals Magazine. .In 2006 Yakima County WA built jail expected to raise "millions of dollars" by housing inmates from other communities, but it didn't pan out. so, now work is "moving ahead" to convert it to a shelter so homeless families & individuals won't have to sleep in tents says The Yakima Herald. . .The Housing Company says 35-unit Bonneville Apartments -formerly the Bonneville Hotel which opened in 1926 in Idaho Falls, Idaho - will open in January after 16-month top-to- bottom renovation says The Post Register ormer Boston Capital invests $26.3 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit financing in two Tacoma, Washington Housing Authority affordable housing projects - the 64 unit The Rise for families & the 58 unit Arlington Dives shelter for homeless youth says Affordable Housing Finance. . .Cities of Deary, Parma, St. Maries & Castle Mountain in Idaho, Amity & Cascade Locks in Oregon & Ritzville & Greater Bar Water District in Washington win $34.9 million in USDA Water & Waste Disposal Loans & Grants. . .A little more than a year after Clackamas County, Oregon & Portland State University School of Architecture opens Veterans Village tiny home community, Fox12 pays a visit to see how it's working. . .The 26-unit Hillside Gardens Apartments developed by Mercy Housing Northwest & Tacoma Housing Authority wins Puget Sound Regional Council Vision 2020 Award. . .City of Portland, Oregon expects to re-configure its Street Response program to reflect 30-year-old Eugene program that sends out two teams of two people -- a medic and a crisis counselor -- to connect with homeless says Oregonian. . .Washington State Legislature awards grant to cities of Cities of Walla Walla, College Place, Dayton & Waitsburg to create a regional housing action plan says My Columbia Basin.

NOTABLE & QUOTABLE
Scammers beware
"These certificates are not an acceptable substitute for authentic documentation provided by medical professionals when appropriate. These websites that sell assistance animal certificates are often also misleading by implying that they are affiliated with the federal government. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their goal is to convince individuals with disabilities that they need to spend hundreds of dollars on worthless documentation to keep their assistance animal in their home." - HUD Secretary Ben Carson commenting on his request to the Federal Trade Commission that it investigate certain websites that may be selling assistance animal documentation, November 8, 2019.

QUOTE-WORTHY
Serving those who've served
"Today it's extra special for us to thank them for their service & remind us all that freedom really isn't free" -- Lisa Sauder, Director of Beans Café in Anchorage, Alaska which hosted a free breakfast for veterans on Veterans Day, KTUU-TV, November 11th, 2019.

WORTH A READ
Boon or a barrier?
Controversy's swirling, reports Pamplin Media, over a proposed $15,000 tax the Lake Oswego, Oregon City Council may adopt on single-family & duplex homes demolished & a $5,000 tax on homes that are deconstructed. Revenue raised will be allocated to the City's parks. Some say the taxes are a way to blunt the impact of the recently-passed HB2001 which allows "duplexes, triplexes & other multi-unit, clustered housing options to be built on land zoned for single-family homes." Others say it will be a barrier to production of affordable housing. Not so, says the Mayor. It's worth a read.

WORTH A LISTEN
How it's working
In November the Washington State Supreme Court unanimously upheld the City of Seattle law - the first of its kind in U.S. - establishing "first-come, first-served" protection for ren says The Seattle Times. The ruling's likely to be appealed but, meanwhile, it's taken effect. KUOW-FM's Amy Radil takes a look at the law's impact on landlords & tenants.

JUST PUBLISHED
The Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General has launched a "dedicated online form to report Social Security-related scams which over the last year has become the number one type of fraud reported to the FTC & Social Security. . .HUD Secretary Carson reflects on his first 1,000 days as Secretary on America This Week with Eric Bolling. . .HUD Policy Development & Research posts Market-at-a-Glance update for Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington. . .Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies publishes paper on Does Shared Equity Housing Work?. . .Zillow Research's 2019 Consumer Housing Trends Report looks at Sacrifices People Make to Afford the Rent. . .USDA publishes 2019 edition of Rural America at a Glance. . .Urban Institute posts on-line "data talk" on Homeownership, Military Service, & the Importance of VA Mortgages. . .KUOW-FM Speakers Forum hosts debate on proposition that "homelessness is killing Seattle," Washington. .City of Portland, Oregon's Office of Budget & Finance releases fall 2019 issue of Portland's Response to Homelessness report. . .U.S. Census posts a one-page "cheat sheet" on how to e-navigate the American Housing Survey, about as rich a treasure trove of data about how Americans live as you're likely to find. . .Idaho Housing & Finance Association releases its 2019 Community Report.

NOTES TO NOTE
Portland, Oregon Housing Bureau sets December 4th deadline for the public to comment on its proposed Permanent Administrative Rules for its Fair Access in Renting - or FAIR - Ordinance. . .Business Oregon sets December 15th deadline for Oregonians to comment on how well its broadband initiative is meeting their needs. . .SAMSHA sets December 16th deadline for public & private non-profit entities to apply for up to 13 Benefits for Homeless Individual grants. . .HUD sets December 17th deadline for public housing authorities with existing Housing Choice Vouchers to apply for a total of $20 million in Family Unification Program funds . . USDA has set a December 31st deadline for state & local governments, Federally recognized Tribes to apply for up to 30 Solid Waste Management grants & for qualified non-profits to apply for up to 20 Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance grants. . .FEMA sets January 31st, 2020 deadline for states & Federally-recognized Tribal gov'ts to apply for $160 million in Flood Mitigation funds to "to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive floods". . .ALSO, FEMA sets January 31st. 2020 deadline for states, Federally recognized Tribal governments to apply for total of $250 million in Pre-Disaster Mitigation funds to "reduce overall risk to the population & structures from future hazard events". . .HUD has set February 3rd, 2020 deadline for Federally recognized Tribes & Alaska Native villages to apply for a total of $65 million in Indian Community Development Block Grant funds. . .HUD sets February 10th, 2020 deadline for eligible non-profit organizations to apply for a total of $75 million in capital advance funds under its Section 811 Supportive Housing for Very Low-Income Persons with Disabilitiesprogram. . .HUD sets December 31st, 2020 deadline to accept "unsolicited research proposals that address current research priorities" from academic institutions, units of local governments, Tribes, non-profits & others. . .White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing sets January 21st deadline for public to submit comments in response to its request for information. . .U.S. Department of Labor VETS program sets December 31st, 2020 deadline for state & local workforce development groups, veterans service organizations, public agencies, Tribal governments & non-profits to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to conduct veterans Stand Down events.

COMING UP

Bureau of Indian Affairs hosts 28th annual Rural Providers Conference, December 3rd to 5th, Anchorage, Alaska. Visit

HUD hosts Webinar on Section 811 Project Rental Assistance for Supportive Housing for Very Low-Income Persons 2019 Notice of Funding Availability, December 4th, on-line. Visit

American Planning Association Chapter of Oregon hosts 2019 Legal Issues Workshop, December 6th, Portland, Oregon. Visit

Sustainable Communities hosts Green Building Slam, December 6th, Bellingham, Washington. Visit

All Home holds its annual Continuum of Care Conference, December 9th, King County, Washington. Visit

Native American Indian Housing Council hosts 2019 Legal Symposium, December 9th & 10th, Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit

NeighborWorks hosts Portland Training Institute, December 9th to 13th, Portland, Oregon. Visit

HUD hosts Webinar on Notice of Funding Availability for Capital Advances under the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Very Low-Income Persons with Disabilities, December 12th, on-line. Visit

Affordable Housing Consortium of Everett & Snohomish County hosts Affordable Housing Community Breakfast Forum, December 12th, Everett, Washington. Visit

HUD hosts Webinar on Section 811 Supportive Housing for Very Low-Income Persons Capital Advance Notice of Funding Availability, December 12th, on-line. Visit

HUD Washington hosts Section 3/SPEARS Workshop, December 12th, in-person or remotely, Seattle, Washington. Visit

Washington Department of Commerce hosts community house for Hoquiam, Washington residents to share their view of the future of housing needs in their community, December 12th, Hoquiam, Washington. Visit

HUD hosts How to Become a HUD Certified Housing Counselor: Everything from A-Z! Webinar, December 12th, on-line. Visit

Association of Alaska Housing Authorities hosts Needs Assessment Training, December 17th & 18th, Anchorage, Alaska. Visit

HUD hosts first of four Building HOME Webinars, January 15th, on-line. Visit

Oregon Homebuilders Association, Oregon Bankers Association & Oregon Association of REALTORS host Oregon Housing Economic Summit, January 16th, Salem, Oregon. Visit

HUD hosts second of four Building HOME Webinars, January 22nd, on-line. Visit

Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians hosts 2020 Winter Conference, January 27th to 30th, Portland, Oregon. Visit

HUD Oregon hosts Basics of Fair Housing Workshop, January 29th, Portland, Oregon. Visit

HUD holds the first of four classes under the four-class 2020 Building Home Webinar Series, January 15th, on-line. Visit

Oregon Affordable Housing Management Association hosts Conquering HUD Multi-Family Compliance Workshop, January 29th to 31st, Salem, Oregon. Visit

HUD holds the first of four classes under the four-class 2020 Building Home Webinar Series, January 22nd , on-line. Visit

HUD holds the first of four classes under the four-class 2020 Building Home Webinar Series, January 29th, on-line. Visit

HUD hosts third of four Building HOME Webinars, January 29th, on-line. Visit

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