STATE

Covid Impacted Shelter Program. Last week, the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery announced a new $6 million fund to help existing homeless shelters address pandemic related expenses for 2021. The Covid Impacted Shelter Program is available to existing homeless shelters in New Hampshire (homeless service providers providing shelter and related services to homeless individuals and families as of January 1, 2021) for modifications and operating costs. More details regarding eligible expenses and submission deadlines can be found in GOFERR’s FAQs on the program. The application period opened on October 28, 2021 and closes on December 15, 2021. 
 
HomeHelpNH. HomeHelpNH recently relaunched its website to provide a consolidated portal for rent and mortgage assistance. Applicants can apply to the NH Emergency Rental Assistance Program and learn about the new Homeowners Assistance Fund expected to launch soon. According to the website, eligible HAF Program expenses will likely include: 1) mortgage payment assistance and mortgage reinstatement; 2)homeowner’s association fees or liens, condominium association fees and manufactured home park rent; 3) homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, mortgage insurance; 4) property taxes; 5) utilities, including electric, gas, home energy, water, wastewater; and 6) internet services.
 
Housing Caucus. Following the release of the Council on Housing Stability’s Strategic Plan, Housing Action NH helped establish a new legislative housing caucus. Co-chaired by Senator Rebecca Perkins Kwoka and Representative Joe Alexander, the mission of the caucus is to engage and educate other policymakers on issues related to affordable housing, housing stability, and homelessness and supports policy advancements to address the housing crisis. Current members include: Senator Jeb Bradley; Senator Perkins Kwoka; Senator Giuda; Senator Whitely; Senator Rosenwald; Representative Alexander; Representative DiLorenzo;
Representative Porter; Representative Willis; Representative Umburger; Representative Wallner; Representative Sweeney; Representative Major; Representative Espitia; Representative Yokela; and Representative Vann.
 
Community Toolbox Bill. Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley has filed a legislative service request 2888 for the 2022 legislative session. The bill includes the policy proposals from the Governor’s housing task force and proposes improvement to the local regulatory process through enabling policies and some requirements regarding improved transparency.
 
RFP for Project Based Vouchers. NH Housing is seeking applications for financing from qualified developers for projects that will provide supportive housing in any area of the state to extremely low-income individuals, with a priority for persons experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The competitive scores of respondents to this RFP will also be used to award up to 50 Project Based Vouchers (reference 24 CFR Part 983) to projects that receive a Housing Trust Fund loan. PBVs will be awarded through a competitive process based on applications received in each monthly application cycle under the Multi-Family Supportive Housing Program or housing financed with Tax-Exempt Bonds.

Eviction Diversion.  The NH Judicial Branch has launched a new eviction diversion program. Funded with ERA funds, the program will provide a mediation resource statewide. To request mediation services (must be requested before a case is filed), call of email the Alternative Dispute Resolution office (603) 271-6418, evictiondiversion@courts.state.nh.us. 
 

FEDERAL

Build Back Better. Following the passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the US House of Representatives failed to vote on the Build Back Better (BBB) Act. The latest version of the Build Back Better Act, now scheduled for House action next week, includes $150 billion to support housing and community development. Key housing provisions of the current BBB Act include: 1) $25 billion in rental assistance; 2) $65 billion for public housing; 3) $15 billion for the national Housing Trust Fund; 4) $2 billion for rural housing; 5) expansion and technical fixes to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program; 5) $10 billion for HOME; 6) $800 million for fair housing activities; and 7) $1.75 to address zooning barriers to affordable housing. The House has not pre-negotiated the current BBB legislative text with the Senate, which means if and when the package passes the House, there remain a number of legislative steps to final passage.
 
Treasury Guidance on ERA Reallocation. The Treasury Department recently published a frameworkregarding the reallocation of unspent Emergency Rental Assistance funding. The guidance notes that state and local grantees that did not obligate at least 65 percent of their first-round funding (ERA1) by September 30, 2021, should submit a Program Improvement Plan by November 15, 2021. 

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