Housing

HUD: Opportunity and Revitalization Council Report Issued

During the North Carolina “Opportunity Now” Summit, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson issued a report to the President on behalf of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (“Council”), of which Secretary Carson is the Chair. This report includes 180 action items that have already been undertaken by the Council…

HUD: Additional $260,000 Announced to Public Housing Authorities to Assist Young People Aging Out of Foster Care

Today, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced an additional $258,606 in funding for HUD’s new Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative. Seven housing authorities will receive this funding, continuing HUD’s efforts to assist young adults transitioning out of foster care and who are at risk of homelessness. Last month, HUD awarded nearly $500,000…

HUD: Final Rule Announced to Update Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards

During Bus Tour, Secretary Carson Cuts Federal Barriers to Manufactured Housing.  During a visit to Clayton Homes as part of the “Driving Affordable Housing Across America Bus Tour,” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced a final rule on formaldehyde emissions for manufactured homes, and a proposed rule to revise the federal Manufactured Home Construction…

FHFA: Realignment of Agency Structure Announced

Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced a realignment that will further bolster FHFA’s capacity as a world-class regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) and the Federal Home Loan Banks. The realignment of its structure is designed to ensure that the Agency is well-positioned for the Enterprises to responsibly exit conservatorship.  “The changes we are…

HUD: Guidance Issued on Reasonable Accommodations under the Fair Housing Act Relating to Assistance Animals

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced the publication of guidance clarifying how housing providers can comply with the Fair Housing Act when assessing a person’s request to have an animal in housing to provide assistance because of a disability. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing against individuals who…

FHFA: House Price Index Up 0.2 Percent in November; Up 4.9 Percent from Last Year

U.S. house prices rose in November, up 0.2 percent from the previous month, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI).  House prices rose 4.9 percent from November 2018 to November 2019.  The previously reported 0.2 percent increase for October 2019 was revised upward to 0.4 percent. For the nine census divisions, seasonally adjusted monthly…

HUD and Census Bureau: Residential Construction Activity Report for December 2019

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for December 2019. Building Permits Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,416,000. This is 3.9 percent (±1.6 percent) below the revised…

HUD: New Rule Proposed Recognizing Additional Building Codes and Standards to Encourage More Housing Development

Proposed Rule to Adopt New Safe Harbors for Complying with the Fair Housing Act’s Design and Construction Requirements in Multifamily Housing The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced a proposed rule that would recognize additional sets of standards and model building code editions that, when followed in the design and construction of new…

HUD: Nearly $500,000 Awarded to Public Housing Authorities to Help Young People Aging Out of Foster Care

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today awarded $482,000 to four housing authorities to assist young people aging out of foster care and who are at risk of experiencing homelessness. See chart below. Secretary Ben Carson made the announcement during an interview with Jericka Duncan on CBS This Morning. Funded through HUD’s new Foster…

HUD: Building HOME Online Training Series Launched

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today launched the new Building HOME online training series for the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program. Building HOME online training is an interactive, self-paced online training which guides grantees through 12 modules, providing a foundation of the regulatory requirements of the program and practical advice for implementing…