Update on NHTF Regulations
National Housing Trust Fund
Memo to Members: Vol 15, No. 4, January 29, 2010
HUD officials report the program regulations for the National Housing Trust Fund are nearing completion at HUD. The next step is a review by the Office of Management and Budget. It is unclear whether the rule will be issued as “interim” or “proposed.” An interim rule is one that can be implemented while it is open for comment. A proposed rule would require that the comments be received and that the final rule reflect changes based on the comments before the rule is implemented.
On behalf of the NHTF campaign, NLIHC President Sheila Crowley sent a letter to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan on January 21 requesting that HUD issue a proposed rule. Given that the legislation creating the NHTF provided fewer specifics on program operations than the NHTF campaign had proposed (see Memo, 7/25/2008), the campaign wants to maximize the opportunity to influence the final regulations before the program is actually implemented. The Secretary has not yet replied.
Meanwhile, the comment period on the regulations governing the formula for distributing the NHTF funds will close on February 2 (see Memo, 12/4/2009). NLIHC submitted its comments on the rule on January 29, expressing full support for the rule as proposed. Earlier, NLIHC issued an estimate of how $1 billion would be allocated to the states and territories, and how many jobs would be created in each state as a result.
To read the NHTF campaign letter to Secretary Donovan, go to http://www.nlihc.org/doc/1-21-10-letter-Sec-NHTF-regs.pdf
To read the NLIHC comments on the proposed formula rule, go to http://www.nlihc.org/doc/Comment-Letter-NHTF-Formula.pdf
To see the NLIHC estimate of what each state will receive, go to http://www.nlihc.org/doc/NHTF-State-Estimates.pdf
