July 2022
Serving Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington
A Message from Regional Administrator Margaret Solle Salazar
Dear HUD Partners,
June was a busy month for HUD in Region X as we got out in the community to launch Secretary Fudge's new housing supply initiative Our Way Home and released some unprecedented funding opportunities including HUD's first ever NOFO dedicated to addressing unsheltered and rural homelessness.
I was honored to attend events in all four states in our region during the month of June. In meetings with Tribal Housing Authorities, Mayors and City Councilmembers, housing developers, shelter providers and many more HUD partners, I heard a similar theme: we need more housing. That's exactly what Our Way Home is all about. In May, the White House released the Biden Administration's Housing Supply Action Plan as part of the President's efforts to tackle rising costs. This plan includes legislative and budget requests, as well as administrative actions to be taken by several federal agencies to boost the supply of housing. Our Way Home is the Secretary's effort to connect this to the work of HUD, and to communities on the ground.
HUD launched Our Way Home on June 1st with a National Day of Action, holding events in all 10 federal regions. Here in Region X, we focused our launch on Boise, Idaho, which was no accident. Boise is one of the nation's fastest growing metro areas, and the housing shortage there has caused prices to skyrocket in recent years. The good news is that Boise is tackling this challenge head on through housing investments, Permanent Supportive Housing development, zoning changes and more. Mayor McLean hosted HUD for a round table discussion at Boise City Hall that included Public Housing Authorities, homeownership developers, multifamily rental housing developers, Tribal housing leaders, and local elected officials. You can see some of the media coverage here, here, and here.
On the heels of my trip to Boise, I traveled to Eastern Washington to attend the Spokane Housing Authority's 50th Anniversary Celebration and to continue our emphasis on housing supply with a housing supply round table in another quickly growing part of our region. I visited a few sites including Gonzaga Family Haven, as well as the Carl Maxey Center, which is committed to changing lives and improving the well-being of Spokane's African American community by expanding educational, economic, and cultural opportunities.
This month I also traveled to Alaska and met with the Alaska Association of Housing Authorities to discuss the unique challenges of housing development in rural Alaska. I am so grateful to the Cook Inlet Housing Authority for hosting me on a tour of their incredible developments, and was moved and filled with hope as I toured MyHouse and the Covey Academy, which are changing the lives of youth experiencing homelessness.
Back home in Oregon, I spoke at the grand opening of Viewfinder – a brand new affordable housing complex in Washington County, one of our House America communities.
Increasing housing supply is at the core of what we do at HUD, and it is an integral part of the HUD Strategic Plan. The only way Our Way Home will work is if we make it real and tangible on the ground – which is why I have made it a priority to get out into the community to have discussions on the ground with our stakeholders, connect communities to HUD resources, and share solutions being used across the nation.
A huge thank you to all the communities and partners that hosted and joined us for conversations over the past month and we look forward to meeting with many more partners and stakeholders in the coming weeks and months. We want to hear from you about solutions and innovations in your neighborhoods, and we want to help amplify this work, so please let us know of upcoming events we can spotlight here and in other arenas.
Block by block, we are making a difference. As always, thank you for your dedication to this work.
HUD Region X News
POCATELLO, ID: Additional Families Able to Qualify for Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Program After Income Limit Increase
The city of Pocatello has up to $5,000 in HUD grants to purchases things like high efficiency particulate air filter vacuums, fire extinguishers, fire and carbon monoxide alarms, and educate families on national healthy home standards.
TIGARD, OR: Tigard Affordable Housing Apartments Open as State Moves Toward 25,000-Home Goal
An affordable housing project is complete, adding dozens of new homes in Washington County. The Viewfinder is an affordable apartment building with 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments, laundry facilities, and access to public transportation, made possible in part with HUD funds.
OLYMPIA, WA: City of Olympia to Again Offer Rental House Rehab Loans Through Local Housing Nonprofit
Since the 1990s, the city of Olympia has been providing funds to make improvements on rental homes for low-income renters. The city announced that its Rental Rehabilitation Revolving Loan Fund program is back, using HUD Community Development Block Grant funds.
SALEM, OR: Polk County Agencies Among Salem's Recipients of 2022 Entitlement Funds
The city of Salem annually receives HUD HOME and Community Development Block Grant program funds to implement a wide range of projects and activities to address homelessness, expand affordable housing, and provide supportive services.
RENTON, WA: $49.3M Affordable Housing Project in Renton Breaks Ground
Renton's Sunset Gardens, which provide 76 affordable housing units for veterans, persons with disabilities and seniors, broke ground. Near $49.4 million was collected through various outlets for the project, including nearly $600k in HUD HOME funds and 37 Project-Based Vouchers.
Region X Funding Awards
HUD Makes Over $30 Million Available to State and Local Fair Housing Enforcement Partners (6/22/2022)
HUD allocated $30.1 million for HUD's state and local fair housing enforcement agencies across the country under its Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP), including to the Washington State Human Rights Commission and the City of Tacoma Office of Equity and Human Rights.
Funding Opportunities
Impact Evaluation of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program – CLOSING 7/28/2022
The objective of this NOFO is to fund rigorous evaluations of the impact of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program on housing stability outcomes. HUD's primary outcome of interest is eviction, but applicants can propose other housing stability measures.
FY22 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants NOFO – CLOSING 7/28/2022
Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants support the development of comprehensive plans to revitalize severely distressed public housing and/or HUD-assisted housing and the surrounding neighborhood. Communities will develop a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy.
FY22 Jobs Plus Initiative – CLOSING 7/29/2022
The Jobs Plus program develops locally-based, job-driven approaches that increase earnings and advance
employment outcomes through work readiness, employer linkages, job placement, educational advancement, technology skills, and financial literacy for public housing residents.
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Competitive NOFO for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 – CLOSING 8/8/2022
This NOFO announces the availability of approximately $15 million for housing voucher assistance to youth 18-24 years old who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, and are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older aging.
Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program – CLOSING 8/8/2022
The purpose of the program is to assist states, cities, counties/parishes, Native American Tribes or other units of local government in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing.
Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot Program – CLOSING 8/24/2022
This competitive grant of up to $1 million to nonprofit organizations that provide national or state programs that primarily serve veterans and/or low-income individuals may be used to modify or rehabilitate eligible veterans' primary residences or support grantees' affiliates.
Continuum of Care Supplemental to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness – CLOSING 10/20/2022
This Special NOFO to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness is designed to provide new funds dedicated to serving highly vulnerable individuals and families with histories of unsheltered homelessness.
HUD Announcements
Secretary Fudge Launches “Our Way Home” Initiative to Increase Affordable Housing Supply in Local Communities (6/1/2022)
HUD Secretary Fudge launched the Our Way Home initiative, a new effort to boost the nation's affordable housing supply. Our Way Home builds on the Biden-Harris Administration's actions to address communities' housing supply needs in an equitable, inclusive, and sustainable fashion.
HUD Announces Fair Lending Agreement with Mortgage Company (6/2/2022)
HUD announced a Conciliation Agreement between the National Community Reinvestment Coalition and Movement Mortgage LLC, resolving allegations that it engaged in discriminatory lending practices based on race and national origin, in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
HUD Expands Housing Counseling Agency Locator Tools (6/7/2022)
HUD announced new technology for those seeking assistance from a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. The technology includes an enhanced and easy-to-use online search capability and a new telephonic information delivery system.
Secretary Fudge Announces $520 Million to Protect Low-Income Households from Lead and Other Home Health and Safety Hazards (6/17/2022)
HUD announced the availability of $520 million to state and local government agencies to protect children and families from lead-based paint and other home health hazards. This is the largest lead and healthy homes funding ever made available by HUD.
Biden Administration Announces First-Ever Funding Opportunity for Coordinated Approaches to Address Unsheltered Homelessness, Including Resources for Rural Communities (6/22/2022)
HUD released $365 million to address unsheltered homelessness and homeless encampments, including funds for rural communities. The resources include grants and vouchers that will enhance communities' capacity to humanely and effectively address unsheltered homelessness.
HUD and Council on Foundations Announce Winners of 2022 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships (6/28/2022)
HUD and the Council on Foundations announced the winners of the 2022 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships This award recognizes excellence in partnerships that have led to measurable benefits in housing and community development.
HUD and Census Bureau Report New Residential Sales in May 2022 (6/28/2022)
HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced new residential sales statistics for May 2022.
Upcoming Training and Events
NFHTA Forum | Strategies for Addressing Discrimination: Housing Providers' Use of Criminal Records
July 20, 2022 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT - This National Fair Housing Forum will focus on how housing providers' criminal records policies may violate the Fair Housing Act and other civil rights laws.
NFHTA Basics of Fair Housing
July 25-28, 2022 - The Basics of Fair Housing course ensures that FHIP and FHAP participants have a foundational framework which they can build upon to carry out their duties in a professional and proficient manner.
Increasing Access to Pre-Purchase Counseling Symposiums: Scaling Pre-Purchase Housing Counseling
July 26, 2022 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDT - This symposium will discuss developing strategies to scale pre-purchase counseling programs and build fee for service business models.
PHA Disaster Readiness, Response, and Recovery Webinar Series: Wildfires
July 26, 2022 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT - This webinar will provide an overview of how PHAs can prepare for the potential impact of wildfires and recommended resources for post-disaster response and recovery.
NCRC Training: Navigating Eviction
July 27-29, 2022 - This training explores available resources, key components of the eviction process, and discusses strategies that will help tenants attain housing stability as quickly as possible.
Increasing Access to Pre-Purchase Counseling Symposiums: A Closer Look at HCAs and Their Clients
July 27, 2022 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDT - This symposium will discuss how HCAs deliver services and client characteristics that impact effective service delivery.
Increasing Access to Pre-Purchase Counseling Symposiums: Housing Counseling Services Through Data
July 28, 2022 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDT - This symposium will discuss how The First-Time Homebuyer Education and Counseling Demonstration results can be used to market and deliver homebuyer education and counseling services.
NFHTA Fundamentals of Fair Housing - Intake
August 8-11, 2022 - This course will provide an overview of the responsibilities and customer service orientation to conducting intake.
HUD Office of Housing Counseling 2022 Community Conference
August 9-11, 2022 - This OHC conference will allow housing counseling agencies to learn about updated OHC policies and initiatives and network with other housing counseling agencies.
PHA Disaster Readiness, Response, and Recovery Webinar Series: Tornadoes
August 9, 2022 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT - This webinar will provide an overview of how PHAs can prepare for the potential impact of tornadoes and recommended resources for post-disaster response and recovery.
PHA Disaster Readiness, Response, and Recovery Webinar Series: Flooding
August 23, 2022 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT - This webinar will provide an overview of how PHAs can prepare for the potential impact of flooding and recommended resources for post-disaster response and recovery.
NFHTA Litigating Fair Housing Cases
August 23 - September 1, 2022 - This course is designed for those who are involved in FHIP and FHAP litigation to understand and apply the methods and strategies for effective fair housing enforcement.
PHA Disaster Readiness, Response, and Recovery Webinar Series: Building Fires
September 6, 2022 | 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT - This webinar will provide an overview of how PHAs can prepare for the potential impact of building fires and recommended resources for post-disaster response and recovery.
In Case You Missed It
PD&R Quarterly Update: The Intersectionality of Youth Homelessness
Evidence Matters: Transforming Knowledge into Housing and Community Development Policy
AFHEO Table Talk: Advancing LGBTQIA+ Fair Housing and Equity
Seattle Regional Office
Regional Administrator: Margaret Solle Salazar
Deputy Regional Administrator: Michael Look
Regional Public Affairs Officer: Vanessa Krueger
Email: Vanessa.J.Krueger@hud.gov
Customer Service: WA_Webmanager@hud.gov
Phone:(206) 262-8608
Web: www.hud.gov/washington
State Field Offices
Alaska
Anchorage Field Office Director: Chad Stovall
Customer Service: AK_Webmanager@hud.gov
Phone: (907) 677-9800
Web: www.hud.gov/alaska
Idaho
Idaho State Director: Brian Dale
Customer Service: ID_Webmanager@hud.gov
Phone: (208) 334-1990
Web: www.hud.gov/idaho
Oregon
Portland Field Office Director: Bryan Guiney (Acting)
Customer Service: OR_Webmanager@hud.gov
Phone: (971) 222-2600
Web: www.hud.gov/oregon
Washington
Seattle Field Office Director: Gary Gant
Customer Service: WA_Webmanager@hud.gov
Phone: (971) 220-5101
Web: www.hud.gov/washington
Additional Resources
For Public Housing: 1-800-955-2232
For Housing Counseling: 1-800-569-4287
For Housing Discrimination: 1-800-669-9777 (or 1-800-927-9275 for TTY)
For Multifamily Complaints: 1-800-MULTI-70 (1-800-685-8470)
For Office of Inspector General: 1-800-347-3735
At www.hud.gov, you can find information on most of our programs, including information and resources related to COVID-19 at www.hud.gov/coronavirus.
If your mortgage is insured by FHA: 1-800-Call-FHA (1-800-225-5342) or email: answers@hud.gov
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the most up-to-date information on COVID-19. For updates from CDC, visit www.coronavirus.gov.
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