NOTICE H 2020-11, "Continued Availability of Funds for COVID-19 Supplemental Payments for Properties Receiving Project-Based Rental Assistance under the Section 8, Section 202, or Section 811 Programs" (published 11-24-2020)
COVID-19 Supplemental Payment Request Form 52671-E
COVID-19 Supplemental Payment Request HUD Form 52671-E Tips and Explanations
Mortgagee Letter 2020-11 – Section 223(f) Underwriting Mitigants for MFH Projects Due to COVID-19
PIH Notice 2020-05: COVID-19 Statutory and Regulatory Waivers for Public Housing, HCV, Indian Housing programs, and suspension of PHAS and SEMAP (issued 04-10-2020) – topics covered include income verifications, HQS, amendments to ACOP and other administrative requirements. PHAs that elect to implement waivers must notify affected residents and project owners, document implementation, and utilize alternative requirements in some cases. This notice was revised and is superseded by PIH Notice 2020-13 (HA), REV-1 published 07-02-2020, see above.
- REAC: Inspector Notice 2020-01 Outlining Inspection Protocols during the COVID-19 Pandemic (10-05-2020)
- REAC: Memorandum Indicating Intent to Return to Physical Inspections (08-10-2020)
- Annual Audited Financial Statements due on or before June 30 are now due September 30. (07-16-2020)
- FHEO: HUD Statement on Fair Housing and COVID-19 and FAQs for Section 3-Covered Grantees and Applicants
- Office of Environment and Energy COVID-19 guidance, including Electronic Signature and Certification and Consultation, Review and Comment on Environmental Review Records (03-23-2020)
- Suspension of MORs. HUD is examining options to monitor property operations that do not require access to occupied units. (03-16-2020)
- HUD Contingency Plans for Closing Multifamily and Commercial Loans (03-16-2020) and Best Practice Recommendations for Electronic Submission of Multifamily Closing Documents (03-19-2020)
H.R. 748 – Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”)
- $1.25B for tenant based rental assistance, of which $400B is for voucher renewals and $850B is for administrative fees and other new eligible expenses defined by HUD
- $685M for public housing operating funds, which may be combined with prior year operating and capital funds and used for any eligible operating or capital fund purposes
- $1B for Section 8 PBRA assistance to owners and sponsors for normal operations and other necessary actions
- $50M for Section 202 Elderly Housing, including $10M for resident coordinator services
- $4B for homelessness assistance for normal operations and other necessary actions
- $5B in CDBG funds for various purposes to prepare for, and respond to coronavirus
Regulations
Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Final Rule – On March 27, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued the following in response to COVID-19: “To address the possibility that some aliens impacted by COVID-19 may be hesitant to seek necessary medical treatment or preventive services, USCIS will neither consider testing, treatment, nor preventative care (including vaccines, if a vaccine becomes available) related to COVID-19 as part of a public charge inadmissibility determination, nor as related to the public benefit condition applicable to certain nonimmigrants seeking an extension of stay or change of status, even if such treatment is provided or paid for by one or more public benefits, as defined in the rule (e.g. federally funded Medicaid).”
- Social Distancing/Protection – Follow CDC guidelines and post signs informing residents and staff of proper social distancing and recommended hygienic practices. Minimize tenant-to-tenant and staff-to-tenant contact as much as possible. Post signs reminding residents to maintain safe distances between themselves and others and to stay in their units if they are sick. Close community rooms and cancel all activities and meetings larger than the CDC recommended guidelines. Use technology to communicate with residents and perform basic management functions, such as rent collection, obtaining electronic signatures on documents. HUD cancelled REAC and MOR inspections until further notice, so consider cancelling all non-emergency unit inspections and restricting unit entry to emergency maintenance needs only. Provide protective gear to staff as needed.
- Cleaning – Follow CDC guidelines. Clean and disinfect hard surfaces regularly, especially frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles, light switches, handrails, elevator buttons, countertops, appliances, restrooms. Offer sanitizing wipes and hand gel in areas where residents and staff congregate. Encourage residents to adopt these practices in their units.
- Fair Housing Considerations/Reasonable Accommodation Requests – Disabled individuals may require additional services or assistance to protect themselves from the effects of COVID-19, such as food or medicine deliveries, or the assistance of aides or health care workers. Respond to all oral requests for assistance and keep written records of the request and management’s response. Each tenant’s need is individualized, but be mindful of treating tenants as similarly as possible and avoid discriminatory practices. For example, do not impose additional social distancing requirements on particular classes of people (national origin, race, families, disabled, sex or religion).
- Tenant Certifications – HUD permits housing providers to consider “extenuating circumstances” if tenants are unavailable to attend the certification interview, sign consent forms or the HUD-50059 form, which provides a 90-day extension of the recertification due date. In these cases, the Total Tenant Payment/Tenant Rent and the HUD assistance payments are applied retroactively to the recertification anniversary date. Document the tenant file and prepare to collect all required signatures once normal operations resume. As of 04-02-2020, Multifamily Housing will allow assisted tenants who have lost income due to COVID-19 to self-certify for annual- or interim-certifications, and HUD will also accept alternative signature methods. PIH provided similar flexibility for PHAs via the COVID-19 Statutory and Regulatory Waivers notice issued 04-10-2020.
- Late Rent Payments/Decreases in Tenant Income – Section 4024 of the CARES Act suspended all evictions for non-payment of rent in federally assisted or insured housing for a 120-day period and prohibited the imposition of late fees, penalties or any other charges due to late payment of rent. This provision expired on July 25, 2020. Effective September 4, 2020 through December 31, 2020, the CDC’s Eviction Moratorium restricts landlords, owners of residential properties and other persons with a legal right to pursue eviction proceedings from undertaking eviction actions for failure to make timely rent payments. See 85 FR 55292, “Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions To Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19.” The CARES Act also provided additional funding for project-based rental assistance and housing for the elderly and disabled to help make up the loss of tenant rental payments. Housing providers should process Interim Recertifications for any tenant loss of income that is expected to continue for more than 30 days. HUD notes that stimulus payments up to $1,200 (the advance tax credit) and $600 per week in enhanced unemployment benefits should not be included in income calculations.
- Eviction and Mortgage Forbearance. On 03-23-2020, FHFA announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will offer mortgage forbearance relief to multifamily property owners who suspend all evictions for at least 60 days for renters unable to pay rent due to COVID-19. Fannie and Freddie are working with mortgage servicers to implement the program. See Mortgagee Letter 2020-09, issued 04-10-2020. Mortgage forbearance and tenant eviction relief pursuant to Section 4024 of the CARES Act expired on 07-25-2020. Effective 09-04-2020 through 12-31-2020, the CDC’s Eviction Moratorium restricts landlords, owners of residential properties and other persons with a legal right to pursue eviction proceedings from undertaking eviction actions for failure to make timely rent payments. See 85 FR 55292, “Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions To Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19.” Additionally, housing providers should be mindful of state or local directives suspending evictions that may be more expansive than the Federal provisions.
- Owner Advances/Accessing Reserve for Replacements and/or Residual Receipts – Owners should communicate with their HUD Account Executive and obtain approval before making any financial advances to the property to ensure that such advances may be repaid promptly when program funds become available. Follow the guidelines in HUD Handbook 4350.1 regarding use of Residual Receipts and Reserve for Replacements and obtain the appropriate HUD approvals.
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Visitors – The CDC recommends visitor restrictions at long-term care facilities, and retirement/independent living communities – which includes federally-assisted housing for seniors. Visitor restriction recommendations include limiting to one non-essential visitor per resident per day. Visitors and/or volunteers with COVID-19 symptoms or who have traveled recently should not be permitted entry. HUD has suggested only restricting visitors at other properties if mandated by federal, state or local authorities to avoid infringing on residents’ civil rights. R&C recognizes that each property owner/housing provider will need to use their best judgement when it comes to balancing various interests impacting tenant safety, particularly if there are actual or suspected COVID-19 infection(s) on site.
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Access to Tenant Units – HUD recommends restricting occupied unit access to only emergency issues. HUD advises that maintenance and other staff should not inquire into the medical status of tenants, but may ask tenants “Is it safe to come inside? Has anyone been sick recently? Has anyone in your household traveled recently?” The staff/maintenance team member should make their own decision about whether they feel safe to enter the unit. Tenants may also refuse entry if they so choose. When showing units to prospective tenants, show only unoccupied units.
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Emergency Funds – Operating accounts may be used for reasonable and necessary COVID-19 expenses, including supplies and staff overtime, and advance HUD approval is not required.
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Rent Comp Studies/Comprehensive Needs Analysis – HUD RCS are suspended nationally as long as the emergency declaration exists. HUD will accept owner-provided RCS on a provisional basis up to 5% above current rent levels. For CNAs, the Office of Recap will extend milestones and deadlines as needed if these cannot be completed and submitted timely.