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HAF Program Helped a Half Million Homeowners Through 2023, Treasury Reports

The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) assisted more than 500,000 homeowners through 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced earlier this week. Treasuryā€™s announcement coincided with the release of HAF program data through the fourth quarter of 2023. The agency also published a blog post highlighting how state and tribal HAF programs have applied lessons from the Hardest Hit Fund program when implementing HAF.

Biden Administration Releases FY25 Budget

The Biden ā€“ Harris Administration earlier today released its Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget request. This blog highlights several items of particular interest for HFAs and their partners.

White House Calls for Lower Housing Costs, Increased Supply; Previews Proposals in State of the Union, FY25 Budget Request

This afternoon, the White House published a fact sheet outlining major affordable housing proposals President Biden will reference in his State of the Union address tonight and his Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request scheduled for release on March 11. The president will call on Congress to pass legislation to lower the costs of rent and homeownership and significantly increase the supply of rental and for-sale housing by building and preserving more than two million homes.

Treasury Modifies SLFRF, ERA Rules to Amplify Housing Production; Announces Collaboration with Regulators Studying Insurance Cost Impact

Yesterday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced updated guidance for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Emergency Rental Assistance programs authorized in the American Rescue Plan Act, making it easier for states and local governments to use these programs to build and preserve affordable housing.

House and Senate Appropriators Release Partial FY24 Omnibus Spending Legislation

On March 3, House and Senate appropriators released bill text for the first tranche of final Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) spending legislation that Congress must now pass by March 8. Among other agencies, the legislative package sets FY24 spending levels for the Departments of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Cortez Masto, Beatty Introduce Legislation to Reauthorize HOME Program

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH) recently introduced the HOME Investment Partnerships Program Reauthorization and Improvement Act (S. 3793/H.R. 7075) to reauthorize the HOME program, increase the authorized funding level to $5 billion, and make a number of needed program improvements. The legislation, if enacted, would represent the first time the HOME program was reauthorized in three decades, since 1994.

House Passes Tax Bill with Housing Credit Expansion By Wide, Bipartisan Margin

Last night, the House of Representatives passed the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (H.R. 7024), which would significantly increase Housing Credit resources over the next two years. The bill is the result of a deal struck by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) after months of negotiation. Ā 

Tax Deal Would Restore Housing Credit Authority and Lower Bond Test Through 2025

This morning, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) announced they had reached a deal on tax legislation they hope Congress will pass before the January 29 start of the 2023 tax filing season. After concerted efforts from Housing Credit champions on the Hill and advocacy by NCSHA and our partners in the ACTION Campaign, the deal includes an increase in Housing Credit authority and lowering the multifamily bond financing threshold for 4 percent developments.

FHFA Ups Cap on GSE Housing Credit Investment, Prohibits GSEs from Investing in Deals If Owners Do Not Waive Qualified Contract Option

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today issued an announcement that it will allow the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to invest up to $1 billion in the Housing Credit equity market in 2024, an increase from the $850 million it allowed each GSE to invest in 2023. Any Housing Credit investments the GSEs make above $500 million each year must be for developments FHFA identifies as having difficulty attracting investors, thus the increase is targeted to housing located in rural areas consistent with the GSEsā€™ Duty-to-Serve requirements, preservation, mixed-income properties, and supportive housing.