Industry News

HUD: Equal Access Rule Updated to Return Decision Making to Local Shelter Providers Regarding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Rule upholds Department’s commitment to fair treatment of all individuals while allowing shelter providers to establish an admissions policy that best serves their unique communities  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today announced a proposed modification to the 2016 portion of the Equal Access rule. The Equal Access rule requires…

SBA: New Members Appointed to the National Small Business Development Center Advisory Board

SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza today announced the appointment of six new members to the National Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Advisory Board. “We are delighted to welcome new board members who bring with them a strong business acumen and extensive knowledge to the SBDC Advisory Board,” said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza.  “The SBDC Advisory Board has played an…

HUD: Over $40 Million Awarded to Fight Housing Discrimination

Grants to support and promote fair housing nationwide  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $40.8 million to support dozens of fair housing organizations working to help end housing discrimination (see grant chart below for full list of recipients). These funds are provided through the Department’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) both to…

FHFA: New Tenant Forebearance Protections Announced

Today, to help renters in multifamily properties stay in their homes and to support multifamily property owners during the coronavirus national emergency, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) are allowing servicers to extend forbearance agreements for multifamily property owners with existing forbearance agreements for up to…

OCC: Agency Highlights Key Risks for Federal Banking System

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today reported the key issues facing the federal banking system and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the federal banking industry in its Semiannual Risk Perspective for Spring 2020. Banks entered the national health emergency related to COVID-19 in sound condition but face weak economic conditions…

CFPB: Tech Sprints Will Empower Consumers, Reduce Regulatory Burden

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) today announced its first-ever Tech Sprints to reduce regulatory burden and improve consumer understanding of financial services. The Bureau’s Tech Sprints program will bring together regulators, technologists, software providers, consumer groups, and financial institutions to develop technological solutions to shared compliance challenges. The first Tech Sprint will kick off…

EDA: $1.8 Million in CARES Act Funding Invested to Boost Economic Development Programs to Help Native American and Alaska Native Planning Organizations

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $1.8 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to Native American and Alaska Native planning organizations to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. “The Trump Administration is eager to allocate these essential CARES…

EDA: Over $10 Million in CARES Act Funding Invested to Support Economic Recovery from Coronavirus Pandemic

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development (EDA) administration has awarded over $10 Million in CARES Act Funding to support economic development and economic recovery in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Investments include: $400,000 to help 17 communities in Southeastern Massachusetts $400,000 to help the Prince William Sound Region of Alaska $400,000 to help Barnstable…

FFIEC: Availability of 2019 HMDA Data on Mortgage Lending Announced

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) today announced the availability of data on 2019 mortgage lending transactions at 5,508 U.S. financial institutions covered by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Covered institutions include banks, savings associations, credit unions, and mortgage companies. The HMDA data are the most comprehensive publicly available information on mortgage market…

HUD: Nearly $1 Million in CARES Act Funding Awarded to 19 State and Local Fair Housing Organizations

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is awarding $962,160 in funding to HUD Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agencies in New York, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, Texas, Indiana, Florida, Nebraska, Hawaii, South Carolina, Maryland, Michigan, Connecticut, and New Jersey to support activities related to COVID-19. The awards…