We are very interested in facilitating the timely replacement of your contract when funding is received. We hope to receive funding from HUD in the very near future, and will be sending replacement contracts for the signature of the owner at that time. Upon receipt, please have the owner execute the contract and sign immediately and return to NTHDC so we can complete the process as soon as possible.

To view the revised HAP Contracts please click on the following link

==>HAP Contracts Effective August 2007

A link to the Notice that will be published in the Federal Register may be found under What’s New on the Multifamily Housing website at:  http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/hsgmulti.cfm.

The FY2009 median family income estimates include several changes from previous years.  All of these changes can be found in the documentation released today.  The highlights include the incorporation of newly released ACS three year estimates covering 2005 – 2007, the elimination of the reliance upon BLS data in the smallest areas and the incorporation of OMB area changes first implemented with HUD’s release of FY2009 Fair Market Rents.

Also new for FY2009, HUD has developed a new website and tables of information specifically for users interested in obtaining data for use with Internal Revenue Code Section 42 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects and Section 142 projects financed with private activity bonds.  Projects in these 2 categories are now referred to by HUD as Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects (MTSPs).  Documentation and data can be found at www.huduser.org/datasets/mtsp.hmtl.  Furthermore, HUD has developed an interactive documentation system for these data which will allow the user to select any area of the county and receive a summary of the appropriate income limits and maximum rental rates for these areas.  Links from the summary page will show exactly how the data were derived.  This system can be accessed directly at www.huduser.org/datasets/il/index_mtsp.html.

Users interested in HUD’s Section 8 income limits or users looking for income limits associated with IRC section 143 projects should visit http://www.huduser.org/datasets/il/il09/index.html.  The updated FY2009 documentation system for these data can be accessed directly at http://www.huduser.org/datasets/il/index_il2009.html. 

• Permits increased distributions to for-profit owners that have or are willing to enter into long term Section 8 contracts.
• Directs the Owner to use the project’s current debt service when preparing a budget-based rent increase. 

• Attachment 21, Consent to Assignment of HAP Contract as Security for Financing.
• Attachment 22, Consent to Assignment of HAP Contract as Security for FNMA Financing.
• Attachment 23, Consent to Assignment of HAP Contract as Security for FREDDIE MAC Financing.
• Attachment 24, Consent to Assignment as Security For FNMA Credit Enhancement

• Section 7-9, Preservation Updates, has been added to Chapter 7.  It discusses shallow rent subsidy and new debt in a budget-based rent increase.
• Section 16-1.C.2. has been updated to clarify when more than one rent adjustment is permitted.
• Section 16-2, REMS Reporting, has been removed and the remaining sections of Chapter 16 are renumbered. 
• The new Section 16-3 contains a clarification concerning the use of the debt service associated with the current financing when computing an OCAF rent adjustment. 
• Appendix 15-2 has been revised to be an Addendum to the Renewal Contract. 
• Attachment 1, Acronyms, has been updated. 
• Attachment 7, Section 8 Renewal Help Desk Contacts, is being removed.  The Department maintains an up-to-date list of Section 8 Renewal Help Desk Contacts on the web at:

"There is nothing more important than the health and safety of our children, and these grants are a significant investment in their futures," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "These grants will support the efforts of state and local governments to clean up lead hazards in order to protect young children and their families from the lasting effects of lead poisoning."

Even though lead-based paint was banned for use in the home in 1978, HUD estimates that approximately 24 million homes still have significant lead-based paint hazards today. Lead-contaminated dust is the primary cause of young children's lead exposure and can lead to a variety of health problems, including reduced IQ, learning disabilities, developmental delays, reduced height, and impaired hearing. At higher levels, lead can damage a child's kidneys and central nervous system and cause anemia, coma, convulsions and even death.

Applicants for this funding may be State, Tribal or local governments. Applications may be downloaded from the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control's Website at www.hud.gov/lead. The application provides instructions, including submitting proposals by Federal Express (FedEx), United Parcel Services (UPS) and overnight Express Mail delivery services. The deadline for receiving grants is 5:00 PM eastern time, July 20, 2009.

This year, HUD is announcing individual funding opportunities for programs as they become available, an action that will speed up the application process for those seeking HUD funding and who would otherwise be required to wait for the publication of HUD's comprehensive funding notice for all its competitive grant programs.

• Model Lease for Subsidized Programs (HUD-90105-A)
• Model Lease for Section 202/8 or Section 202 PAC (HUD-90105-B)
• Model Lease for Section 202 PRAC (HUD-90105-C)
• Model Lease for Section 811 PRAC (HUD-90105-D)

1. Document Package for Applicant’s/Tenant’s Consent to the Release of Information (HUD 9887/A, Form HUD 9887, and Relevant Verifications)
2. **Sample** Annual Recertification Initial Notice (HUD Handbook 4350.3, Exhibit 7-1)
3. **Sample** Annual Recertification First Reminder Notice (HUD Handbook 4350.3, Exhibit 7-2)
4. **Sample** Annual Recertification Second Reminder Notice (HUD Handbook 4350.3, Exhibit 7-3)
5. **Sample** Annual Recertification Third Reminder Notice / Notice of Termination (HUD Handbook 4350.3, Exhibit 7-4)
6. **Sample** Model Form of Notification of Rent Increase Resulting from Recertification Processing (HUD Handbook 4350.3, Exhibit 7-6)
7. **Sample** Interim Adjustment Initial Notice (HUD Handbook 4350.3, Exhibit 7-7)
8. **Sample** Interim Adjustment Termination of Assistance(HUD Handbook 4350.3, Exhibit 7-8)

HUD still encourages Owners and Agents as well as other Industry Partners to comment on the revised guidance. Please send all comments and questions  via e-mail to PPSDCommunications@hud.gov by August 20, 2009. Please ensure that you put Chapter 6, 4350.1 in the subject line.

“Social Security is doing its job helping Americans maintain their standard of living,” Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security said.  “Last year when consumer prices spiked, largely as a result of higher gas prices, beneficiaries received a 5.8 percent COLA, the largest increase since 1982.  This year, in light of the human need, we need to support President Obama’s call for us to make another $250 recovery payment for 57 million Americans.”
The Social Security Act provides that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits increase automatically each year if there is an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the last year to the third quarter of the current year.  This year there was no increase in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2009.  In addition, because there was no increase in the CPI-W this year, under the law the starting point for determinations regarding a possible 2011 COLA will remain the third quarter of 2008.

Some other changes that would normally take effect in January 2010 based on the increase in average wages also will not take effect, even though average wages did increase.  Since there is no COLA, the statute prohibits an increase in the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax as well as the retirement earnings test exempt amounts.  These amounts will remain unchanged in 2010.  The attached fact sheet provides more information on 2010 Social Security changes.

Information about Medicare changes for 2010, when available, will be found at www.Medicare.gov.  The Department of Health and Human Services has not yet announced if there will be any Medicare premium changes for 2010.  Should there be an increase in the Medicare Part B premium, the law contains a “hold harmless” provision that protects about 93 percent of Social Security beneficiaries from paying a higher Part B premium, in order to avoid reducing their net Social Security benefit.  Those not protected include higher income beneficiaries subject to an income-adjusted Part B premium and beneficiaries newly entitled to Part B in 2010.  On September 24th, the House passed legislation by 406-18 that would, on a fully paid-for basis, prevent abnormally large premium increases.  The President is calling on the Senate to enact this legislation before it becomes too late for the Social Security Administration to update its computer systems to implement this needed change.

For additional information about the 2010 COLA, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

HUD is currently preparing a letter which  will ask each HUD office to send to the impacted owners.  The letter should be coming to you by early next week.

 
OMB justification for exemption from Section 1512 of ARRA:The Project-based Rental Assistance (PBRA) program provides rental assistance to low-income tenants in nearly 1.3 million housing units.  Residents generally pay 30 percent of their income toward rent and HUD pays the balance of rent and utilities to private owners/landlords of multifamily rental properties. The PBRA program is tantamount to individual benefit programs, which provide assistance to individuals to meet or help meet particular needs, such as paying for medical care, food, or college tuition.  In the PBRA program, the benefit provided is quality, safe, and affordable housing and the beneficiaries are low-income families.  Although Federal payments are made directly to owners/landlords, those payments are not intended for the benefit of the owners/landlords.  They are merely the mechanism for delivering the benefit to low-income families.  As with other individual benefit programs, families must meet certain eligibility criteria to qualify for assistance.  For example, they must be at or below 80 percent of area median income. 

Because the PBRA program is tantamount to an individual benefits program, and because 31 U.S.C. 7501(a) excludes from the term “Federal financial assistance” amounts received as reimbursement for services rendered to individuals in accordance with guidance issued by the Director, the program is properly excluded from 1512 reporting.

This brochure is available in thirteen different languages and can be found at http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/promotingfh/lep.cfm#Booklets You can also order this brochure free of charge by contacting the Clearinghouse at 1-800-685-8470.

Download Document here

In order to provide easier access to the Resident’s Rights and Responsibilities brochures a link to the English version was placed on the FHEO site along with the other 13 translated editions of the document.  Users can go to http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/promotingfh/lep.cfm, scroll down to “Resident’s Rights and Responsibilities Brochure.”  Those interested in finding the English version on the HUD’s Multifamily website can still find it located at http://www.hud.gov/groups/tenants.cfm  Also, please remember that the Department has provided copies of the English document and the translations available from the Multifamily Housing Clearinghouse.  The Clearinghouse can be reached by calling 1-800-685-8470. 

DON'T WAIT - ACT NOW!

 Housing Notice 10-02, was posted on HUDclips yesterday. This notice states that owners, “using the EIV system must provide each tenant household with the EIV & You brochure at the time of annual recertification along with a copy of the HUD Fact Sheet  “How Your Rent is Determined”.  O/As must also provide applicant households who have been selected from the waiting list for screening and final application processing with a copy of the EIV & You brochure.  The brochure will be translated into thirteen languages for distribution to non-English speaking households.”

 You can find the notice by following this link: portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/program_offices/administration/hudclips/notices/hsg/files/10-02hsgn.doc

In order to attend, you must RSVP through www.nthdc.org. If you have any topics you wish to have included in any of the presentations, please send your request using this link.

Regards,

NTHDC Staff

https://hudapps1.hud.gov/apps/part_reg/apps040.cfm

Housing Notice H10-10, Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) System, has been signed and posted to HUDCLIPS and is located HERE.  This Notice revises Housing’s previous

EIV system users and O/A staff who do not have access to the EIV system but who use EIV reports to perform their job function are required by Housing Notice 2010-10 to complete security training annually.  The Notice indicates the security training portion of HUD’s most recent EIV webcast, currently December 2009, will satisfy this requirement.  The Office of Multifamily Housing is introducing another available option for users to complete security awareness training.  Acceptable training now includes completion of the online Federal ISS Awareness training program.  The Federal ISS Awareness training program includes a Certificate of Completion for users to print.

 To complete the Federal ISS Awareness online Security Awareness Training:

 Open your web browser.

• Type http://iase.disa.mil/eta/index.html#onlinetraining.
• Press Enter.
• Click on Federal ISS Awareness icon on the IA Education, Training and Awareness Screen.
• Click on Launch New Information Systems Security Awareness on the Information Systems Security Awareness screen.
• Proceed with the training.
• When the training is complete, print and maintain the Certificate of Completion.

 Note:  The Security Awareness Training described above is the same training required for those individuals who transmit TRACS files.  If the training has been completed to satisfy TRACS security training requirements, this will satisfy EIV security training requirements as well so long as the completion date represented on the Certificate of Completion is not older than one year.

You can view the RHIIP Tips Archives, under "Listserv-Multifamily RHIIP Tips" at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/rhiip/mfhrhiip.cfm

Click Here to access the Income limits.

Housing Notice 2010-10 states the Income Report identifying the Social Security benefit information in EIV must be used as third party verification of the tenant’s income and will be used to calculate the tenant’s income.  Additionally, the O/A must confirm with the tenant that the current benefit amount in EIV is correct.  If the tenant agrees that the Social Security benefit information reported in EIV is correct, the O/A must use the gross benefit amount reported in EIV for calculating the tenant’s income by annualizing the gross benefit amount projected forward for the next 12 months.  This requirement allows the O/A to use the amount represented in EIV (even if no cents are included) to calculate income.  Social Security Award Letters are not required to be viewed or included in the tenant’s file if the EIV Income Report is being used to verify and calculate benefits.

 The revised Notice: 

• Clarifies that IPAs may use printed EIV documents when auditing an owner’s compliance (An IPA is an Independent Public Auditor hired to audit a property’s financial statements)

• Clarifies the requirement on resolving discrepancies between TRACS and the current form HUD-50059
• Indicates the following reports must be run by selecting the “All” recertification month:
  • No Income Report
  • New Hires Report
  • Identity Verification Report
  • Deceased Tenant Report
• States the O/A must make sure that the income appearing on the EIV Income Report does not meet a regulatory income exclusion.
• Clarifies that a tenant’s monthly repayment agreement payment may exceed 40% of the family’s monthly adjusted income if the family agrees to the amount stated in the repayment agreement.
• Recommends that an O/A has the head of household and, if applicable, the family member who had the unreported income sign a repayment agreement.
• Indicates the comment field on the voucher must be completed when explaining payment and costs retained even if no costs were retained.
• Identifies an updated penalty for not using the EIV system. The O/A will now incur a penalty of a five percent decrease in the voucher payment for the month following the date the violation was found and each subsequent voucher payment until the MOR finding is cured.
• Indicates a new security training requirement. EIV users are now required to complete the online Federal ISS Awareness training program. The most recent HUD EIV webcast will no longer satisfy the security training requirement.
• Clarifies that when mailing EIV data, data must be sent to an office of the O/A and must not be mailed to Independent Auditor offices
• New Attachment 9: Assessing the Five Percent Penalty in Voucher Payment has been added
• New Attachment 10: Sample Tenant Consent to Disclose EIV Income Information has been added

This Notice provides information and references to best practices regarding the prevention and control of bed bug infestations. It also provides guidance on the rights and responsibilities of HUD, Owners and Management Agents (O/As) and tenants with regard to bed bug infestations. The Notice has been attached and is also available on HUDCLIPS at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=11-20hsgn.pdf.

http://www.hud.gov/emarc/ 

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to storm-ravaged Volusia County in Florida and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes last week.

Yesterday, President Obama issued a disaster declaration in Volusia County allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to extend disaster assistance through its Individual Assistance Program to families. The President's declaration also allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to certain families living in the county.

This presidential declaration triggers a variety of federal assistance including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

"Families who may have been forced from their homes need to know that help is available to begin the rebuilding process," said Donovan. "Whether it's foreclosure relief for FHA-insured families or helping these counties to recover, HUD stands ready to help in any way we can."

HUD is:  

  * Offering the State of Florida the ability to re-allocate existing federal resources toward disaster relief - HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs give the State the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars to address critical needs, including housing and services for flood victims. HUD is currently contacting State and local officials to explore streamlining the Department's CDBG and HOME programs in order to expedite the repair and replacement of damaged housing;
    * Granting immediate foreclosure relief - HUD granted a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages;
    * Making mortgage insurance available - HUD's Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims who have lost their homes and are facing the daunting task of rebuilding or buying another home. Borrowers from participating FHA-approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs;
    * Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation - HUD's Section 203(k) loan program enables those who have lost their homes to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home; and
    * Offering Section 108 loan guarantee assistance - HUD will offer state and local governments federally guaranteed loans for housing rehabilitation, economic development and repair of public infrastructure. For more information about these and other HUD programs designed to assist disaster victims, visit HUD's website.

The Refinement of Income and Rent Determination Requirements in Public and Assisted Housing Final Rule CANNOT be implemented prior to the current effective date of September 30, 2009.  Also, existing tenants and applicants are encouraged to start the process of applying for a Social Security Number (SSN) if they do not already have them.  The majority of current tenants without SSNs are under the age of six. 

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1248.pdf

http://www.nthdc.org/media/Tenant_Participation_Memo_Carol_Galante.pdf

This Notice encourages owners and management agents participating in one of Multifamily Housing rental assistance programs to adopt smoke-free housing policies and provides instructions on implementing these policies.

Comments may be submitted by email to Section8RenewalGuide@hud.gov or by overnight mail to:

The 2011 OCAF Factor for Florida is 2.7%

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2011-6065.pdf

North Tampa Housing Development Corporation

 http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/notices/hsg/

http://www.nthdc.org/media/ContractRenewal/9624_Contract%20Renewal_Request_Form_6.8.10.pdf

Please contact the SAHMA Office at 800-745-4088 with questions.

Comments are due to HUD 20 business days after the publication of the Federal Register Notice and must be identified by specific page and paragraph reference.  Comments may be submitted by email to Section8RenewalGuide@hud.gov or by overnight mail to:

EIV System 9.2 was successfully released last week.  Below are the new functionalities that have been added to Multifamily EIV.

Any questions related to Multifamily Housing in EIV should be directed to the Multifamily helpdesk at 1-800-767-7588 or by email at mf_eiv@hud.gov.

 WHAT’S NEW IN THE EIV SYSTEM 9.2 RELEASE FOR MF USERS? 

The table below describes changes included in the EIV system 9.2 release.

 Transitioning from paper HUD 2530 to electronic filing of the Previous Participation Certification:  When you have a change in your entity (for example, new board members) that would normally require you to submit a new HUD 2530 to your Project Manager, you can use the opportunity to transition to the APPS system.  Only the new participants need to certify their records.  First the coordinator would submit a baseline with all participants, both those approved and those that are new.  Then you would initiate the property submission, but only the new participants need certify.  For more details about how to submit an APPS, you may refer to the APPS Industry User Guide at:  http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/mfh/apps/appsindustryug

Reasons and roles for a property submission.  The choices have expanded.  When you make a property submission in APPS, please review the entire drop down list to be sure you select the one that best describes your role and reason for submission.

Link to main APPS page: for other links and information,      http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/mfh/apps/appsmfhm

For a better listing of the FMRs by county, visit http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html

The FMRs became effective on October 1, 2011.

The notice can be viewed by clicking the following link: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=11-29hsgn.pdf

In a memo issued by the The Office of Multifamily Housing on October 12, 2011, HUD is now issuing a broader interpretation of the Section 524 of MAHRA rules.

If an owner does not wish to have a rent adjustment for the budget year, they may now submit a zero budget-based request lieu of the OCAF adjustment by providing HUD with a written certification that the owner has reviewed the project's income and expenses and elects a zero budget-based rent adjustment for the year.HUD will be providing a sample certification form in the near future.

The new income limits are to be used for all new move-in transactions effective 12/1/2011. 

http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/il/il12/index.html

The change to HUD Handbook 4381.5, REV-2 revises the current requirements for Retirement Accounts for Front-Line Staff. HUD received many concerns from the housing industry, which prompted a review of current policies regarding this issue. HUD has increased the base pay cap of eligible employees for which the projected cost of employer contributions may be paid out of project funds. In addition, HUD has decreased the weekly hour cap for permanent, front-line employees that are considered eligible for Retirement Accounts.

To view the updated section, please click on the following link.  HUD Handbook 4381.5, REV-2

The Notice contains the following clarifications:

• O/A’s must ask whether the applicant, or any member of the applicant’s household, is subject to a lifetime sex offender registration requirement in any state.
• Applicants must provide a complete list of all states in which any household member has resided. Failure to accurately respond to any question during the application process is cause to deny the family admission.
• If screening determines that an applicant’s household includes an individual subject to a State lifetime sex offender registration, the O/A must offer the family the opportunity to remove the ineligible family member from the household. If the family is unwilling to remove that individual from the household, the O/A must deny admission to the family.Not applicable for admissions before June 25,2001.

During a news conference today, the agencies were joined by the American Lung Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics as they unveiled the toolkits HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control (OHHLHC) developed with the partnering agencies.  These kits provide housing owners/managers and residents with user-friendly information related to the adoption of smoke-free housing policies.

“A healthy home is a smoke-free home,” said Jon Gant, Director of HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control. “If we’re serious about promoting healthy living conditions in federally assisted housing, then we have to get serious about promoting smoke-free housing.  HUD is pleased to join hands with our partners in this important effort to create a healthy home environment for families and their children.”

HUD Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing Sandra Henriquez added: “HUD is working hard to promote health and prevent disease by encouraging public housing agencies, multifamily owners and agents, as well as residents, to work with their local public health and medical communities to adopt smoke-free housing policies. We want to provide them with resources as we work together to create healthy homes.”

The new Smoke-Free Housing Toolkits can be used by residents, multifamily housing managers/owners, including public housing authorities, to promote healthier housing.  The owner’s toolkit includes HUD’s guidance to public housing authorities and multifamily housing owners/managers, such as: a guide to implementing no-smoking policies, a sample resident survey, frequently asked questions, and other useful resources.  The residents’ kit includes a going smoke-free guide, a home smoke-free pledge kit, and additional education materials about second-hand smoke. 

Additionally, the new toolkits advise private landlords and public housing authorities to:

• Advertise units as non-smoking to attract tenants who either don’t smoke or only smoke outside;
• Talk to prospective tenants about their smoke-free policy when showing the property;
• Include no-smoking policies in lease agreements and read through the rule with tenants as they sign their lease;
• Display no-smoking signage in buildings and on the property;
• Consider partnering with organizations to offer smoking cessation support to residents;
• Inform tenants that if they smoke in their units, they will be financially responsible for the costs of restoring the unit;
• Use the same warning/enforcement methods for smoke-free rule violations used for any other lease infractions; and 
• Visit and inspect properties regularly.  

During a news conference today, the agencies were joined by the American Lung Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics as they unveiled the toolkits HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control (OHHLHC) developed with the partnering agencies.  These kits provide housing owners/managers and residents with user-friendly information related to the adoption of smoke-free housing policies.

“A healthy home is a smoke-free home,” said Jon Gant, Director of HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control. “If we’re serious about promoting healthy living conditions in federally assisted housing, then we have to get serious about promoting smoke-free housing.  HUD is pleased to join hands with our partners in this important effort to create a healthy home environment for families and their children.”

HUD Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing Sandra Henriquez added: “HUD is working hard to promote health and prevent disease by encouraging public housing agencies, multifamily owners and agents, as well as residents, to work with their local public health and medical communities to adopt smoke-free housing policies. We want to provide them with resources as we work together to create healthy homes.”

The new Smoke-Free Housing Toolkits can be used by residents, multifamily housing managers/owners, including public housing authorities, to promote healthier housing.  The owner’s toolkit includes HUD’s guidance to public housing authorities and multifamily housing owners/managers, such as: a guide to implementing no-smoking policies, a sample resident survey, frequently asked questions, and other useful resources.  The residents’ kit includes a going smoke-free guide, a home smoke-free pledge kit, and additional education materials about second-hand smoke. 

Additionally, the new toolkits advise private landlords and public housing authorities to:

• Advertise units as non-smoking to attract tenants who either don’t smoke or only smoke outside;
• Talk to prospective tenants about their smoke-free policy when showing the property;
• Include no-smoking policies in lease agreements and read through the rule with tenants as they sign their lease;
• Display no-smoking signage in buildings and on the property;
• Consider partnering with organizations to offer smoking cessation support to residents;
• Inform tenants that if they smoke in their units, they will be financially responsible for the costs of restoring the unit;
• Use the same warning/enforcement methods for smoke-free rule violations used for any other lease infractions; and 
• Visit and inspect properties regularly.  

A number of operational issues have arisen from the implementation of these page changes and the Department is considering further revisions of the guidance.

Effectively immediately, the requirements in these section are suspended. Appraisers do not have to follow these guidelines nor can Field staff or PBCA enforce these provisions.

You can find the Final FY 13 FMRs HERE.

The notice can be found here

The notice can be viewed by clicking the following link: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=11-29hsgn.pdf

The change to HUD Handbook 4381.5, REV-2 revises the current requirements for Retirement Accounts for Front-Line Staff. HUD received many concerns from the housing industry, which prompted a review of current policies regarding this issue. HUD has increased the base pay cap of eligible employees for which the projected cost of employer contributions may be paid out of project funds. In addition, HUD has decreased the weekly hour cap for permanent, front-line employees that are considered eligible for Retirement Accounts.

To view the updated section, please click on the following link.  HUD Handbook 4381.5, REV-2

• Sign the submission package, scan and save it, using the submission ID, as a PDF file on a computer.
• From the APPS Home page select Upload Signed 2530 Submission Package from the Submission Processing drop down list and click the Go button.
• Click the Browse button next to Submission ID and select the submission package file from its saved location on your computer.  Click the Upload button.
• File Upload Successful message will display.

•  Added a Name column between Signature and Date on the signature page to enter the name of the person who signs.
• Removed the check box beside each participant name on the signature page as this has no significance.
• Added a check box Attach proof of signature authority to the signature page.
• Added a check box All principal who have not signed have the same previous participation record to the signature page for the applicant to check if this stipulation applies.

The notice can be found here

Further Encouragement for O/As to Adopt Optional Smoke-Free Housing Policies -- Housing Notice 2012-22 Posted To HUDCLIPS

Housing Notice 2012-22, Further Encouragement for O/As to Adopt Optional Smoke-Free Housing Policies, has been signed and posted to HUDCLIPS and is located at http://portal.hud.gov/huddoc/12-22hsgn.pdf. This Notice re-issues Housing Notice 2010-21 and further encourages owners and management agents participating in one of Multifamily Housing rental assistance programs to adopt smoke-free housing policies if they have not yet done so.

Two key points for Users registering DUNS numbers in the SAM system:

• CCR no longer exists
• SAM (System for Award Management) has replaced CCR

SAM went live on July 29, 2012. If you had an account in CCR, all your information is now in SAM -- but your CCR login info will not work in SAM. Unless you opted out of the public search, you should be able to see your record by logging into SAM at http://sam.gov and doing a public search on your DUNS.

Unless a change in your business circumstances requires a change in order for you to be paid, or to be awarded a contract or a grant, you should not have to update your records right away (check your expiration date). If you need to update/renew/change your record, start by going to http://sam.gov, click on Create an Account, and follow the prompts to create an individual account and migrate your records/roles from CCR. The attached migration roles document will tell you how to do so. Then, log in, click on Register/Update Entity, find your record in the Complete Registrations section and begin your update. The attached updating or renewing document provides instructions. This document and other help options are available on the Help tab of sam.gov.

Should you encounter any issues in the process, please submit a ticket via the SAM help desk, which is called the Federal Service Desk (FSD) (http://fsd.gov). It is recommended you do so online, rather than wait on the phone on hold. If you don't have an account with FSD already, you'll need to create one on the “Your Account” page in order to submit a ticket.

Please note that SAM is completely free of charge, both to register and to use.

This is a good tool to help owners, agents, and tenants navigate the intricacies of Fair Housing.

http://portal.hud.gov/huddoc/1686.pdf

NTHDC is offering a three hour EIV course which will cover topics such as running and interpreting reports, tenants obligation to repay and other EIV issues.

Locations include Tampa, Jacksonville and Ft. Lauderdale.

Training sessions are free of charge and seating is limited.

Don't miss out and sign up today.

Click here to reserve your spot in Tampa.

Click here to reserve your spot in Jacksonville.

The Ft. Lauderdale session is not currently open, please check back.

• Revised IG2000.04 Handbook    The Office of Inspector General revised the Consolidated Audit Guide IG2000.04, for owners with fiscal years ending 3/31/13 and thereafter and it is optional for owners with fiscal years ended 12/31/12. The FASSUB system has not yet been modified to comply with the new guide but we have created a workaround document that will allow auditors to prepare the audit under the new guidelines, but submit it using the existing FASSUB template. The REAC FASS-MF team are hoping to have a revised submissions template available later this year. Workaround document.
• Accounting Requirement for Housing Notice H-2012-14- Housing Notice H-2012-14 required certain owners to offset future Housing Assistance Payments with residual receipts. FAQ document suggests owners financial reporting methodology.

• Revised IG2000.04 Handbook    The Office of Inspector General revised the Consolidated Audit Guide IG2000.04, for owners with fiscal years ending 3/31/13 and thereafter and it is optional for owners with fiscal years ended 12/31/12. The FASSUB system has not yet been modified to comply with the new guide but we have created a workaround document that will allow auditors to prepare the audit under the new guidelines, but submit it using the existing FASSUB template. The REAC FASS-MF team are hoping to have a revised submissions template available later this year. Workaround document.
• Accounting Requirement for Housing Notice H-2012-14- Housing Notice H-2012-14 required certain owners to offset future Housing Assistance Payments with residual receipts. FAQ document suggests owners financial reporting methodology.

MEMO

MEMO

•  Adds Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Demonstration units under a Rental Assistance Contract to the Applicability section (Section II).
•  Includes a description of the active link found in the Identity Verification Report Statistics.  The resulting report identifies the number of households represented as not-verified (verification in process) (Section VII).
• Modifies the name of the No Income Report to No Income Reported by HHS or SSA (Section VII).
•  Includes a description of the new report No Income Reported on 50059 and discusses how the report should be used (Section VII).
•  Identifies the New Hires report as a Verification Report along with its previous location in the Income Reports section of the system (Section VII).
• Allows a violation for an owner/agent not having access and/or not using the EIV system in its entirety to be identified and the penalty to be assessed outside the scope of the MOR (Section XI).

•  Adds Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Demonstration units under a Rental Assistance Contract to the Applicability section (Section II).
•  Includes a description of the active link found in the Identity Verification Report Statistics.  The resulting report identifies the number of households represented as not-verified (verification in process) (Section VII).
• Modifies the name of the No Income Report to No Income Reported by HHS or SSA (Section VII).
•  Includes a description of the new report No Income Reported on 50059 and discusses how the report should be used (Section VII).
•  Identifies the New Hires report as a Verification Report along with its previous location in the Income Reports section of the system (Section VII).
• Allows a violation for an owner/agent not having access and/or not using the EIV system in its entirety to be identified and the penalty to be assessed outside the scope of the MOR (Section XI).

The Annual Adjustment Factors (AAF) are effective May 22, 2013

http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/aaf/FY2013_tables.pdf

For a better listing of the FMRs by county, visit http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html

The FMRs became effective on October 1, 2011.

For a better listing of the FMRs by county, visit http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html

The FMRs became effective on October 1, 2011.

In a memo issued by the The Office of Multifamily Housing on October 12, 2011, HUD is now issuing a broader interpretation of the Section 524 of MAHRA rules.

If an owner does not wish to have a rent adjustment for the budget year, they may now submit a zero budget-based request lieu of the OCAF adjustment by providing HUD with a written certification that the owner has reviewed the project's income and expenses and elects a zero budget-based rent adjustment for the year.HUD will be providing a sample certification form in the near future.

The FY 2012 Factor for the Virgin Islands is 2.3%

For the complete notice, please click on the following link: FY 2012 OCAF Factors

The FY 2012 Factor for Florida is 1.3%

For the complete notice, please click on the following link: FY 2012 OCAF Factors

The new income limits are to be used for all new move-in transactions effective 12/1/2011. 

http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/il/il12/index.html

Check the Notice and all attachments:        http://portal.hud.gov/huddoc/12-08hsgn.pdf

The Notice contains the following clarifications:

• O/A’s must ask whether the applicant, or any member of the applicant’s household, is subject to a lifetime sex offender registration requirement in any state.
• Applicants must provide a complete list of all states in which any household member has resided. Failure to accurately respond to any question during the application process is cause to deny the family admission.
• If screening determines that an applicant’s household includes an individual subject to a State lifetime sex offender registration, the O/A must offer the family the opportunity to remove the ineligible family member from the household. If the family is unwilling to remove that individual from the household, the O/A must deny admission to the family.Not applicable for admissions before June 25,2001.

You can find the Final FY 13 FMRs HERE.

A number of operational issues have arisen from the implementation of these page changes and the Department is considering further revisions of the guidance.

Effectively immediately, the requirements in these section are suspended. Appraisers do not have to follow these guidelines nor can Field staff or PBCA enforce these provisions.

Further Encouragement for O/As to Adopt Optional Smoke-Free Housing Policies -- Housing Notice 2012-22 Posted To HUDCLIPS

Housing Notice 2012-22, Further Encouragement for O/As to Adopt Optional Smoke-Free Housing Policies, has been signed and posted to HUDCLIPS and is located at http://portal.hud.gov/huddoc/12-22hsgn.pdf. This Notice re-issues Housing Notice 2010-21 and further encourages owners and management agents participating in one of Multifamily Housing rental assistance programs to adopt smoke-free housing policies if they have not yet done so.

 Two key points for Users registering DUNS numbers in the SAM system:

•  CCR no longer exists

• SAM (System for Award Management) has replaced CCR

 SAM went live on July 29, 2012. If you had an account in CCR, all your information is now in SAM -- but your CCR login info will not work in SAM. Unless you opted out of the public search, you should be able to see your record by logging into SAM at http://sam.gov and doing a public search on your DUNS.

Unless a change in your business circumstances requires a change in order for you to be paid, or to be awarded a contract or a grant, you should not have to update your records right away (check your expiration date). If you need to update/renew/change your record, start by going to http://sam.gov, click on Create an Account, and follow the prompts to create an individual account and migrate your records/roles from CCR. The attached migration roles document will tell you how to do so. Then, log in, click on Register/Update Entity, find your record in the Complete Registrations section and begin your update. The attached updating or renewing document provides instructions. This document and other help options are available on the Help tab of sam.gov.

Should you encounter any issues in the process, please submit a ticket via the SAM help desk, which is called the Federal Service Desk (FSD) (http://fsd.gov). It is recommended you do so online, rather than wait on the phone on hold. If you don't have an account with FSD already, you'll need to create one on the “Your Account” page in order to submit a ticket.

Please note that SAM is completely free of charge, both to register and to use.

This is a good tool to help owners, agents, and tenants navigate the intricacies of Fair Housing.

http://portal.hud.gov/huddoc/1686.pdf

The Annual Adjustment Factors (AAF) are effective May 22, 2013

http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/aaf/FY2013_tables.pdf

Check the Notice and all attachments:        http://portal.hud.gov/huddoc/12-08hsgn.pdf

The transmittal sheet provides a summary of the changes.  The changes are posted under “Page Changes May 18, 2012" athttp://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/mfhsec8.cfm.  In addition, the pdf of the entire Guide has been updated on the same website and can be found under SECTION 8 RENEWAL POLICY GUIDE (updated 5-18-12).

The transmittal sheet provides a summary of the changes.  The changes are posted under “Page Changes May 18, 2012" athttp://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/mfhsec8.cfm.  In addition, the pdf of the entire Guide has been updated on the same website and can be found under SECTION 8 RENEWAL POLICY GUIDE (updated 5-18-12).

• Sign the submission package, scan and save it, using the submission ID, as a PDF file on a computer.
• From the APPS Home page select Upload Signed 2530 Submission Package from the Submission Processing drop down list and click the Go button.
• Click the Browse button next to Submission ID and select the submission package file from its saved location on your computer.  Click the Upload button.
• File Upload Successful message will display.

•  Added a Name column between Signature and Date on the signature page to enter the name of the person who signs.
• Removed the check box beside each participant name on the signature page as this has no significance.
• Added a check box Attach proof of signature authority to the signature page.
• Added a check box All principal who have not signed have the same previous participation record to the signature page for the applicant to check if this stipulation applies.