Northwest HUD Lines
February 2021

HUD e-Briefs from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington
Michael S. Look, Region X Deputy 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
https://twitter.com/hudnorthwest	www.facebook.com/HUDNorthwest

NOTEWORTHY
". . .As mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio I saw firsthand the need for economic development and affordable housing. We improved the city's tax base and expanded affordable housing opportunities. As a Member of Congress, I tackled the unique challenges of my district, working with my delegation and across the aisle. Our housing issues do not fit into a cookie-cutter mold — and I know that the same is true in each of your states. We need policies and programs that can adapt to meet your unique housing challenges, and I would very much like to work with each of you to find the right answers for your states. . .Much like COVID19, the housing crisis isn't isolated by geography. It is the daily reality for tens of millions of our fellow Americans — people in blue states and red states, in cities and small towns.

My first priority as Secretary would be to alleviate that crisis and get people the support they need to come back from the edge. We need to expand resources for HUD's programs to people who are eligible. Today, according to a 2017 study, only 1 out of 5 eligible households receive housing assistance. . ." - Excerpts from testimony of Congresswoman & HUD Secretary-designate Marcia L. Fudge at a confirmation hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs, January 28, 2021. To view the Secretary-designate Fudge's full testimony Visit.

REAFFIRMED
Noting that "during the 20th century, Federal, State, & local governments systematically implemented racially discriminatory housing policies that contributed to segregated neighborhoods & inhibited equal opportunity & the chance to build wealth for Black, Latino, Asian American & Pacific Islander, & Native American families, & other underserved communities," on January 26 President Joseph R. Biden Jr. reaffirmed his commitment to redressing "to eliminate racial bias & other forms of discrimination in all stages of home-buying & renting, to lift barriers that restrict housing & neighborhood choice, to promote diverse & inclusive communities, to ensure sufficient physically accessible housing, & to secure equal access to housing opportunity for all" & directed the Secretary of HUD to "examine the effects of the August 7, 2020, rule entitled "Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice". . .including the effect that repealing the July 16, 2015, rule entitled "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing" has had on HUD's statutory duty." For more, visit.

STRENGTHENED
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. also has issued a memorandum to Federal agencies on Tribal consultations & strengthening Nation-to-Nation relations with Tribes & Native Villages. "HUD looks forward to implementing the President's Memorandum," said acting Secretary Ammon, & "to continuing our critical work to meet the housing needs of Tribal Nations." For more, visit.

EXTENDED
FHA has announced that it will execute Biden Administration's request to extend deadline for FHA-insured borrowers struggling financially due to COVID-19 to request & receive forbearance from their servicer & also extended the moratorium on foreclosure & eviction actions against FHA-insured mortgages until March 31, 2021. "In order to provide much-needed economic relief and support to working families," said acting HUD Secretary Matthew Ammon, "HUD has implemented the President's requests."

BRIEF BRIEFS
Oregon Legislature's Emergency Board allocates an additional $500 million to address pandemic as well as wildfires, including more than $170 million in rental, utility & shelter assistance says KAATU-TV. . .In third round of Working Washington grants funded by the CARES Act Washington Department of Commerce awards $100 million to help over 7,800 small businesses to cover expenses incurred during pandemic to continue business operations in addition to two earlier rounds that awarded $40 million to almost 2,000 small businesses. . .With some renters unable to pay a part or all of their monthly rent due to COVID-19, Boise City / Ada County Housing Authorities launches program using CARES Act funds to cover losses of landlords renting to HUD voucher holders says KIVI-TV. . Amazon pledged $2 billion to promote preservation & creation of affordable housing in 3 places where it employs large workforcces - Nashville, Arlington County Virginia & Puget Sound area where. Bloomberg reports, it will fund 1,000 units near its Seattle HQ & 1,000 units in Bellevue. . .Oregon Community Foundation tells Oregonian it expects to announce which of 19 proposals use state funds to acquire motels to house those displaced by wildfires by early February. . .In just 3 weeks the Home Partnership Foundation & Idaho Housing & Finance Associations Avenues of Hope Housing Challenge raises record $2.6 million to support 70 non-profits statewide to help "thousands of Idahoans who are struggling to find or keep safe, stable and affordable housing."

RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT
Acting HUD Secretary Matt Ammon has announced award of $138 million to renew support for 375 projects helping to "end homelessness & help keep our most vulnerable neighbors off the streets." in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington. A list of projects funded is embedded in the press release. The awards were part of an announcement of $2.5 billion to support some 6,500 projects initiated by Continuums of Care across the country. Due to the pandemic, the funding announced today renews grants for existing programs. This process was dramatically streamlined because communities have been and will continue to be consumed with COVID-19 response and have limited capacity to participate in the traditional Continuum of care funding competition. The funding is expected to provide emergency shelter, transitional, permanent housing & other services to one million people experiencing homelessness in the coming year.

Continuum of Care Funding Awards in Region X

CONGRATS. . .
To Linnis Jellinek & the Sandpoint, Idaho Community Resource Center on being designated as a HUD EnVision Center, the second in the state of Idaho. EnVision Centers are designed to serve as one-stop service centers, bringing together the social, health, educational, employment & housing services to help a community's most vulnerable citizens. "That's something," then-HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Jeff McMorris said, "that the Sandpoint Community Resource Center has shown it does very well," adding that the Center can help "work-able" residents of Bonner & Boundary counties who just need some assistance to achieve self-sufficiency. The HUD EnVision Center doesn't come with any additional funding, but it does open the door to new resources, McMorris told the Bonner County Daily Bee. "We do the work of working with the federal agencies. It's not on Linnis' plate to do that." Jellinek agreed. HUD brings "programs and services that we don't even know exist," she said. "We just don't have the bandwidth to search for all of those." The Help Center at St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho in Coeur d'Alene was Idaho's first HUD-designated EnVision Center.

CONGRATS TOO . .
. . .to executive director Sunny Shaw, the board & the staff of Housing Alliance & Community Partnerships - Pocatello, Idaho's housing authority - on being one of 30 housing authorities nationwide invited to join HUD's Moving to Work program which allows "high performing" authorities greater flexibility in designing & delivering their services. The 30 relatively small authorities join 39 of the nation's largest authorities that already are in the program, including the Alaska Housing Finance Commission, Home Forward and the King County, Seattle, Tacoma & Vancouver authorities in Washington. "The MTW Expansion allows" authorities "to tailor services to fit their communities' unique needs, improving upon the outdated 'one-size-fits-all' approach to affordable housing," said then-HUD Secretary Carson on the selections, "At the same time, HUD will evaluate specific policy changes so we can apply "what works" to other agencies and benefit families across the nation."

BRIEF BRIEFS TWO
Vancouver, Washington Housing Authority, says Columbian, plans to buy Howard Johnson Hotel & Suites by Wyndham near Vancouver Mall, initially to shelter the homeless but ultimately to be converted to permanent affordable housing. . .Umpqua Bank awards Tacoma Housing & NeighborWorks Umpqua $100,000 each, says Cascade Business News, in recognition of "being stretched more than ever and it expanded to help individuals and communities overcome hurdles of the pandemic. . .Since the onset of the pandemic, reports The Lewiston Tribune, Sojourners' Alliance in Moscow, Idaho says it's sheltered well over twice the number of people & provided almost four times more bed nights in the last half of 2020 compared to the first half. . .The Puyallup Tribe & the Low Income Housing Institute, says Tacoma News Tribune, ae building "tiny home" village to provide shelter for up to35 Tribal members experiencing homelessness. . .Portland, Oregon City Council unanimously approves $67 million plan, Oregonian reports, to construct 40 to 50 houses for homeownership & up to 300 affordable rental units in city's historically African-American North & Northeast neighborhood. . .With funding from Washington Housing Trust Fund, the Coastal Community Action Program in Aberdeen tells The Daily World it's working with IndieDwell of Boise Idaho to develop energy-efficient, affordable modular 4-plexes to be placed in six scattered sites. . .Spokane County, Washington Commissioners Commission votes to unanimously approve $1 million in HUD Community Development Block Grant funds to CDBG funds for rent, utility & food assistance for those hard hit by COVID-19 says Spokesman Review. . .Facing a pronounced affordable housing crunch, could micro-apartments be coming to Boise, Idaho? Could be, says BoiseDEV.

UPDATED
HUD publishes final rule updating its manufactured housing construction & safety standards & removes regulatory barriers to expanding use of manufactured housing to relieve affordable housing crisis.

GOT VIEWS?
HUD has set March 15th as the deadline to submit comments on a proposed rule on the implementation of national standards for the physical inspection of real estate. Published in The Federal Register on January 13, the proposed rule is intended "to reduce regulatory burden and improve HUD oversight through the alignment and consolidation of the inspection regulations used to evaluate HUD housing across multiple programs, which are currently evaluating housing quality through differing standards, protocols, and frequencies."

! ! !REGISTER NOW! ! !
Registration's now open for HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes four-part Lead Safe Housing Rule webinars (plus four "virtual office hour" sessions) from February 3rd to 25th. You'll need to have a HUD Exchange link to register. Visit

OPEN-TUNITY
Eligible small businesses & non-profits hard-hit by the pandemic can now apply for new round of PPP -Payroll Protection Plan-forgivable loans from U.S. Small Business Administration to help them keep the doors open, lights on & employees get paychecks. The best place to get started? The Small Business Administrations Lender Match.

NOFA-TUNITY
HUD sets April 15th deadline for Tribes & Tribally designated Housing Entities for $3.2 million for up to 25 new HUD Tribal VASH-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing - grants either with Tribes or TDHEs that already have VASH programs & Tribes that have not yet participated in the program. HUD's Office of Native American Programs will hold Webinars on this funding opportunity on February 17 & 18 and on March 3 & 4.

NOFA-TWO-NITY
HUD sets May 26th deadline for non-profits to apply for up to 45 Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Low-Income Elderly capital advance awards & project-based rental assistance totaling $150 million.

NOFA-THREE-NITY
HUD sets March 22nd deadline for housing authorities with Housing Choice Voucher programs to apply for up to 40 grants totaling $20 million for its FYI - Foster Youth to Independence - program that's helping young people "aging-out" of foster care from becoming homeless.

NO-FOUR-TUNITY
The U.S. Department of Labor VETS program sets March 1st deadline for local governments, Tribes, non- & for-profit organizations to apply for $500,000 Homeless Veterans Reintegration Grants to get vets back into the workforce.

BRIEF BRIEFS THREE
City Commissioner Dan Ryan named Commissioner-in-Charge of Portland, Oregon Housing Bureau. . .Lutheran Community Services Northwest & Compass Housing Alliance, both celebrating their 100th anniversaries serving the Seattle area this year, formally affiliate tapping Compass' expertise in emergency services & housing & LCS' in behavioral health, child welfare, family services, crime victims & seniors. . .KOBI-TV reports that All Care Community Foundation & Rogue Retreat say construction of Foundry Village - 17 "tiny homes" to provide "a stepping stone. . .to long-term housing" for the homeless - has begun in Grants Pass, Oregon. . .Jill Stanton, currently with the King County Housing Authority, who on January 25th will become the executive director of the Bremerton Housing Authority succeeding Kurt Wiest who has retired says Kitsap Sun. . .Coos Bay, Oregon World says Operation Rebuild Home 12-room Bryan's House in North Bend expects to begin housing disabled & homeless vets in two months. . .Seattle's South East Effective Development names Michael Seiwerath, formerly with Community Roots Housing, as its new executive director. . .The 40-unit Haystack Heights - Spokane, Washington's first co-housing community – is half-finished, &, reports KGW-TV, is expects to be completed by the summer of 2021. . .Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board invests $4.6 million in two Spokane County infrastructure projects.

NOT-SO-FACT-ASTIC
According to the results of the third phase of the U.S. Census' Housing Pulse Survey released in January 27th, some 32.4 percent of American adults live in households not current on their rent or mortgage payments where evictions or foreclosure are somewhat or very likely. Topping the list is Louisiana where 59.3 percent of adults are in that position while at the bottom just 10.1 of New Hampshire adults are experiencing it. In our region, 21.6 percent of adults in Washington, 28.4 percent of adults in Idaho, 42.7 percent of adults in Alaska and 45.1 percent of adults in Oregon face that prospect.

QUOTEWORTHY
"Racially discriminatory housing practices and policies have kept communities of color from accessing safe, high-quality housing and the chance to build wealth that comes through homeownership. To this day, people of color disproportionately bear the burdens of homelessness, pollution, climate-related housing instability, and economic inequality because of deliberate and systemic efforts to deny them fair and equal access to housing opportunity. Only by recognizing and acknowledging our nation's history of housing discrimination can we begin to lift the barriers to safe, accessible, and affordable housing. With this executive order, President Biden is taking meaningful action to advance racial equity in housing and expand opportunity for all. HUD looks forward to working closely with the President and his administration to expand equitable access to housing for millions of Americans." - Acting HUD Secretary Mathew Ammon on President Joseph R. Biden's executive order on Redressing Discriminatory Housing Practices & Policies, January 27, 2021.

JUST PUBLISHED
Washington Department of Commerce publishes A Blueprint for a Just & Equitable Future: The 10-Year Plan to Dismantle Poverty. . .NeighborWorks America launches StopHomeScams.org to help homeowners & renters "to know the signs, get the facts & stop home scams". . .HUD economists publish Housing Market Profile for Tacoma-Lakewood metropolitan area. . .Centers for Disease Control publish guide on reducing exposure to COVID-19 by insuring your home is well-ventilated. . .Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies publishes 3 papers of interest – Conserving Forests & Preserving Housing Affordability, The Rent Eats First: Rental Housing Unaffordability in the U.S. & Are Millennials Leaving Town? - Reconciling Peak Millennials & Youthification Hypotheses. . .FHA's Santa Ana Homeownership Center which administers HUD single-family mortgages program in 3 territories & 8 states including AK, ID, OR & WA issues 2020 annual report.

NOTES TO NOTE
Business Oregon Website is now accepting on-line applications from non-entitlement areas of the state on first-come, first-served basis for a total of more than $5.2 million in HUD Community Development Block Grant funds from the CARES Act to be split between a Small Business & Micro-enterprise Assistance fund & an Emergency COVID-19 Impact Assistance for non-profits serving low-income people. . .The U.S. Department of Labor sets February 2nd 2021 deadline for eligible organizations to apply for an estimated 75 YouthBuild grants of up to $1.5 million each. . .U.S. Department of Veterans A sets February 18th deadline for 127 organizations with currently operational Grants & Per Diem Case Management Program grants to seek renewal funding of up to $225,000 each. . .U.S. Department of Labor VETS program sets March 1st deadline for local governments, Tribes, non- & for-profit organizations to apply for $500,000 Homeless Veterans Reintegration Grants to get vets back into the workforce. . .HUD sets March 15th deadline to submit comments on proposed rule on the implementation of national standards for the physical inspection of real estate. . HUD sets March 22nd deadline for housing authorities with Housing Choice Voucher programs to apply for up to 40 grants totaling $20 million for its FYI - Foster Youth to Independence - program that's helping young people "aging-out" of foster care from becoming homeless. . .HUD sets April 15th deadline for Tribes & Tribally designated Housing Entities for $3.2 million for up to 25 new HUD Tribal VASH-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing - grants. . .HUD sets May 26th deadline for non-profits to apply for up to 45 Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Low-Income Elderly capital advance awards & project-based rental assistance totaling $150 million. . .USDA's Rural Utilities Services is now accepting letters of intent from potential applications from eligible intermediaries for its Rural Energy Savings Program to help families & small businesses achieve savings from cost-effective, energy-efficient measures.

A REMINDER
HUD offices in Anchorage, Boise, Portland & Seattle are open for business. But as of May 1st due to limited on-site staffing during the coronavirus outbreak, and consistent with local public health social distancing guidelines, the best way to contact ush is via e-mail at AK_Webmanager@hud.gov in Alaska, ID_Webmanager@hud.gov in Idaho, OR_Webmanager@hud.gov in Oregon or WA_Webmanager@hud.gov in Washington, or call us at 206-220-5101. And, of course, you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook or at four state Web sites. You'll find their addresses in the masthead above. We look forward to hearing from you.

COMING UP
HUD hosts Lead Safe Housing Rule Subparts J & K Webinar on Rehabilitation, Acquisition, Leasing, Support Services, or Operation, February 2, on-line. Visit

Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians host virtual National Tribal Leadership Climate Summit - Youth Session, February 2, on-line. Visit

HUD hosts virtual Tribal Consultation on the Final Rule for Housing Counseling Certification - Session 2, February 4, on-line. Visit

Oregon Affordable Housing Management Association hosts Webinar on Apples to Apples - Bids& Estimating, February 9, on-line. Visit

HUD hosts Lead Safe Housing Rule Subpart J - Rehabilitation Planning Phase Webinar, February 10, on-line. Visit

HUD hosts Lead Safe Housing Rule Subpart J - Rehabilitation Construction Phase, February 17, on-line. Visit

Oregon Affordable Housing Management Association hosts Back to REAC Webinar, February 18, on-line. Visit

Washington State Housing Finance Commission hosts Tax Credit Fundamentals Webinar, February 9 to 12 on-line. Visit

HUD's Office of Native American Programs hosts Webinar on Tribal VASH Expansion Notice of Funding Availability, February 17-18, on-line. Visit

Oregon Affordable Housing Management Association hosts Back to REAC Webinar, February 18, on-line. Visit

National Congress of American Indians hosts virtual 2021 Executive Council Conference, February 21 to 25, on-line. Visit

HUD hosts Lead Safe Housing Rule Subpart K - Acquisition, Leasing, Support Services, & Operations Webinar, February 24, on-line. Visit

National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials hosts virtual Washington Conference, March 2 to 4, on-line. Visit

HUD's Office of Native American Programs hosts Webinar on Tribal VASH Expansion Notice of Funding Availability, March 3-4 on-line. Visit

Oregon Affordable Housing Management Association hosts IHTC Average Income Minimum Set Aside Test Webinar, March 4, on-line. Visit

Oregon Affordable Housing Management Association hosts Conquering LIHTC Utility Allowances Webinar, March 9, on-line. Visit

Washington State Housing Finance Commission hosts Tax Credit Fundamentals Webinar, March 16 to 19, on-line. Visit

Urban Land Institute hosts virtual Housing Opportunity Conference, March 16 & 17, on-line. Visit

Oregon Affordable Housing Management Association hosts Conquering the Top Five Most Common Eligibility Errors in Affordable Housing Webinar, March 17, on-line. Visit

Tanana Chiefs Conference hosts virtual Annual Convention, March 17 & 18, on-line. Visit

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