HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-21 Correspondence - J. Girard - HUD Eviction GuidanceFrom:David Fine
To:Agenda
Cc:Jeff Mihelich; Brit Fontenot; Martin Matsen
Subject:FW: HUD Eviction Guidance
Date:Friday, September 10, 2021 3:43:16 PM
Attachments:image003.png
Importance:High
See the communication from HUD below.
David Fine | City of Bozeman Economic Development
C: 406.551.0209 |dfine@bozeman.net | www.bozeman.net | he / him / his
From: Girard, Jacqueline M <Jacqueline.M.Girard@hud.gov>
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2021 3:23 PM
To: David Fine <DFine@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: HUD Eviction Guidance
Importance: High
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
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Hello David,
Will you please send this announcement internally at the City of Bozeman and out to your network?
Thanks in advance for your help with this.
Best,
Jackie Girard
__________________________________
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that invalidated the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention’s (CDC) eviction moratorium, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) is using every tool at our disposal to help safeguard the millions of the nation’s
individuals and families now in danger of losing their homes.
Our programs and resources protect HUD-assisted households from eviction and should be sought
out by all Americans who are seeking assistance in avoiding eviction, relocating to new homes in the
event an eviction moves forward, and fighting unfair evictions. Through our Office of Fair Housing
and Equal Opportunity, we are ready to protect people of color, families with children, people with
disabilities, LGBTQ people, and others who may disproportionately face eviction through
discriminatory policies and practices.
HUD also has a responsibility to assist landlords, owners, public housing authorities, and all of our
stakeholders in weathering this public health crisis.
HUD and our partners are taking a broad range of actions to help prevent evictions. They include:
Fighting unfair evictions – HUD is making over $19 million available to fair housing partners
to help them respond to possible fair housing violations, many of which relate to the
pandemic and evictions. The funds will enable private fair housing enforcement
organizations to respond to fair housing inquiries and complaints, conduct fair housing
testing, and implement education and outreach activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funds will also be used to address fair housing issues affecting individuals and families
experiencing housing instability, including those who may face displacement due to
discriminatory evictions and foreclosures. HUD is also ramping up funding and education for
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies to work with clients to understand their options
if they are facing eviction.
Providing legal assistance – HUD is making $20 million available to non-profit or
governmental entities to improve the availability of legal assistance at no cost to low-income
tenants at risk of or subject to eviction. These funds will provide services in areas with high
rates of evictions or prospective evictions, including rural areas. This grant program plays an
integral role in helping individuals and families—including people of color, people with
limited English proficiency, and people with disabilities—avoid eviction or minimize the
disruption and damage caused by the eviction process.
Keeping people housed – HUD has instituted an eviction moratorium to protect borrowers
with HUD-supported or FHA-insured mortgages. This includes people living on Tribal lands
with HUD Section 184 Indian Home Loans. HUD will also act to require public housing
authorities and owners participating in HUD’s project-based rental assistance program to
provide tenants facing eviction for non-payment of rent with additional time and other
protections to allow them the opportunity to secure emergency rental assistance that may
stave off eviction entirely. For the duration of the presidentially-declared national
emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic, HUD will extend the time its programmatic
regulations require before a tenant must vacate a unit once a notice of lease termination for
non-payment has been issued from 14 days to 30 days, consistent with CARES Act
protections and the protections already in place for FHA-insured Multifamily mortgages
where the borrower is under a forbearance agreement. Additionally, in order to initiate
eviction, HUD may require additional steps of covered landlords.
Connecting people with rent and utility relief – HUD is working with the Department of
Treasury to help Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) grantees connect tenants
behind on rent and utilities with financial assistance. Throughout this year, HUD has brought
our expertise on housing programs to Treasury, providing advice and assistance on program
design and implementation, and engaged HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. As
part of a whole-of-government approach, we call on state and local ERAP grantees to lean
into the flexibilities provided in this program and get assistance out quickly to those who
need it the most.
Providing Tools to Help Public Housing Authorities, HUD-assisted Landlords/Tenants, and
People Experiencing Homelessness – HUD program offices have delivered webinars,
created documents answering frequently asked questions, granted waivers to ease
administrative burdens created by the pandemic, and are distributing relief resources such
as Emergency Housing Vouchers and additional assistance to people experiencing
homelessness as quickly as possible.
HUD is here to help. You can find more information https://www.hud.gov/rent_relief and you can
also reach out to your local field office.
Respectfully,
Jackie Girard
State Director
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Field Policy and Management
Region VIII | Helena, MT Office
O: (406) 449-5050 | C: (202) 230-8148 | E: Jacqueline.M.Girard@hud.gov
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