Housing Report: January 24, 2005
Latest Funding Outlook
Take a Second Look at Mixed Financing for Section 202
National Housing Trust Fund Legislation
AASC and OSU Add New Online Education Module on Aging
KnowledgePlex Offers Online Data Source
HUD Publication Highlights Study on Accessibility in Multifamily Buildings
Learn about Medicare Education in Housing Facilities
Audio Conference on Section 202 Refinancings Redux???
Housing Report
Policy
We are still awaiting House Appropriations Committee appointment of the new VA-HUD
Subcommittee chair, but rumor has it that it could be Henry Bonilla of Texas. His district
covers a wide swath of southwest Texas and he has offices in San Antonio, Laredo, Alpine,
and Del Rio. With all the leaks about HUD funding in the news this past week, fortunately
there has been no mention of Section 202. So far, HUD’s CDBG and HOME programs
have been targeted for cuts, along with the section 8 voucher program. It has even been
proposed that the CDBG program be transferred to the Commerce Department, lopping
a $4 billion program for governors and mayors from the HUD budget. Chances are, as they
say in DC, this proposal is D.O. A. The budget will be released February 7th.
At a recent conference in Washington, some low income housing tax credit allocating agencies
expressed concern about the lack of non profits applying for tax credits. Each state is required
to set aside 10 percent of their credits for non profit projects and several states, including New
Jersey and Maryland, have noticed a drop in applications. Some states have been in danger
of not meeting their set aside requirement. So Section 202 sponsors should take another look
at the mixed financing option for Section 202 development in anticipation of next year’s
Section 202 NOFA. To learn about Low Income Housing Tax Credits,
click
here
and to read about the mixed finance interim regulation,
click
here.
There are plans afoot once again to enact legislation establishing the National Housing Trust
Fund; only the discussion this year centers on finding a dedicated source of revenue to fund
the program that does not have to receive an appropriation. The Policy Committee on the
Trust Fund on which AAHSA serves has been meeting to discuss ways to revise and refine
the legislation in the new Congress. Stay tuned for the new campaign.
New and Notable Resources
The American Association of Service Coordinators and Ohio State University are now offering
the fourth module of an online training for the service coordinator certificate program. The
program currently includes four modules - The Role of the Service Coordinator, Professional
Conduct and Ethics, Medication Use and the Older Population and What is Healthy Aging?
The program will add other modules throughout the year. In addition to the initial Service
Coordinator certification, the program will offer continuing education units for Service
Coordinators. For more information got to
www.aasc.osu.edu
KnowledgePlex, a publication of the Fannie Mae Foundation, is offering a new one-stop
online source for housing, poverty, employment and demographic data on communities
throughout the country. The source provides tools such as maps, charts and data tables.
This information will be extremely helpful for members submitting funding applications and
state associations active in advocacy. The site is free and relies on a number of sources for
information. To visit the site, go to
http://dataplace.knowledgeplex.org
The December issue of HUD's ResearchWorks includes an article, Accessibility Study
Measures Multifamily Conformance, which examines multifamily conformity with the 1991
Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines. The Guidelines are intended to provide a safe harbor
for compliance with the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act. The article includes
information on HUD's continuing work to gather information on compliance in multifamily
buildings. ResearchWorks is produced by HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research.
To download a free copy go to
http://www.huduser.org/periodicals/Researchworks.html
The Center for Medicare Education has issued a brief describing a pilot project that tested
different methods used to educate housing and social services staff about Medicare. It will
help housing staff assist residents with Medicare-related issues, and perhaps to better serve
as a resource to the broader community. It may be particularly helpful as the new Medicare
Prescription Drug Program is implemented.
Read the housing facility brief.
AAHSA News
In order to provide the best and most up to date information on the Section 202 Refinancings
to our members, we are considering additional educational programs. So if you are one of the
100 AAHSA members who participated in the December 15th audio conference, we’d like
your feedback. If you did not participate in the teleconference, but would have liked to, we’d
like to know whether you would be interested in a reprise of the teleconference or other
material covering the opportunities for refinancing, rehabilitating and enhancing amenities
for seniors aging in place. Please take a moment to complete a survey by clicking
here.
Last Updated : 1/19/2006 11:38:26 AM
