In January of 2011, HUD published Notice 2011-01, which requires ownership entities of our subsidized properties (see attached Notice for applicability) to obtain a DUNS number and have an active registration in CCR. Enforcement of the Notice has been delayed; however, this appears to be changing. HUD has brought to our attention that accounting systems will be changed around May 2012. Once the change has occurred in the accounting system, those who have yet to comply with the Notice, may not be able to receive payment.

It is strongly encouraged that owners who do not have a DUNS number and/or an active registration in CCR, comply with the Notice as soon as possible. Please know that Hub offices nationwide are now reporting to HQ on a weekly basis to monitor compliance.

HUD offices have received notification that implementation of the Auto OCAF will commence on March 1, 2012 for Ohio. For those who are not familiar with the Auto OCAF, the process is summarized below:

1. 150 days prior to the Amend Rents anniversary HUD/PBCA will generate a letter reflecting an OCAF increase and an amended Exhibit A of the contract.

2. The information will be mailed to the owner.

3. Upon receipt the Owner will:

                a. Accept the OCAF calculation and return completed/signed rent schedules to HUD/PBCA within 10 days

or

b. Not accept the OCAF calculation. Instead, submit a zero percent budget to keep rents at current or submit a budget based rent increase to HUD/PBCA within 10 days. For an owner to submit a budget (no increase/increase), the property must be eligible to receive a budget based increase to contract rents.

All remaining processes associated with rent increases remain unchanged.

Attachments:

Notice H 2011-01.pdf	[ ]	225 Kb
Owner Certification.pdf	[ ]	48 Kb

HUD published its final rule "Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity" in the Federal Register.  The rule has an effective date of March 5, 2012.

The rule:

• Requires owners and operators of HUD-assisted housing, or housing whose financing is insured by HUD, to make housing available without regard to the sexual orientation or gender identity of an applicant for, or occupant of, the dwelling, whether renter- or owner-occupied.  HUD will institute this policy in its rental assistance and homeownership programs, which include the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance programs, community development programs, and public and assisted housing programs. 
   
• Prohibits lenders from using sexual orientation or gender identity as a basis to determine a borrower's eligibility for FHA-insured mortgage financing. 
   
• Clarifies that all otherwise eligible families, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, will have the opportunity to participate in HUD programs. HUD's rule clarifies that otherwise eligible families may not be excluded because one or more members of the family may be an LGBT individual, have an LGBT relationship, or be perceived to be such an individual or in such relationship. 
   
• Prohibits owners and operators of HUD-assisted housing or housing insured by HUD from asking about an applicant or occupant's sexual orientation and gender identity for the purpose of determining eligibility or otherwise making housing available. However, this provision does not prohibit voluntary and anonymous reporting of sexual orientation or gender identity pursuant to state, local, or federal data collection requirements. 

A copy of the final rule may be found here: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-03/pdf/2012-2343.pdf

HUD has just released the instructions for renewing Project Assistance Contracts (PACs) for 2012.  The instructions provide guidance to the field for processing PAC renewals for FY 2012.  Please note that the contract for FY 2012 renewals contains changes (dates and authorizing legislative section).  Please do not use the FY 2011 contract.  Headquarters sent the instructions to the field on February 1, 2012. 

The memorandum and the FY 2012 contract are also available on the HUD website at:
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/mfh/mfhsec8

HUD has published Notice PIH 2012-04, "Effective Use of the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) System's Deceased Tenants Report to Reduce Subsidy Payment & Administrative Errors."  It was issued on January 1, 2012 and applies to HUD-PIH rental assistance programs, including: Public Housing, Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation, Project-Based Voucher, Project-Based Certificate; and Housing Choice Voucher programs.  

This notice explains the procedures PHAs are required to implement to deal with families with deceased household members.  The implementation of the procedures outlined in this notice will ensure that PHAs successfully submit accurate data to HUD via the Public and Indian Housing Information Center (PIC) and that PHAs do not make subsidy overpayments on behalf of deceased single member households. Where overpayments have been made, the PHA will recoup the overpayment from the landlord/owner of the rental property under the programs noted in Section 2 of this notice, with the exception of the Public Housing program. This notice supersedes PIH Notices 2010-50 and 2010-09.

A copy of the notice may be found here: http://portal.hud.gov/huddoc/12-04pihn.doc