Press Releases

As the federal government partial shutdown continues to drag on, multifamily housing owners across the country are feeling its impact and consumers are increasingly concerned that this unprecedented crisis of governing could literally impact their ability to remain in their homes. While the National Housing Conference (NHC) is not aware of anyone who has lost their home as a result of the shutdown yet, anxiety is high and multifamily property managers and owners are under increasing pressure as their reserves shrink. If the shutdown continues into February, the situation will deteriorate due to non-payments to owners of federally subsidized properties, as was noted in a comprehensive legal analysis written by the National Housing Law Project (NHLP) staff.

As the partial government shutdown crawls into its fourth week, anxiety among those housed with money from the unfunded Department of Housing and Urban Development continues to rise. “This crisis is completely unnecessary and irresponsible,” said David M. Dworkin, NHC president and CEO. Dworkin cautioned that “no one is currently at risk of losing their home due to the government shutdown,” adding that “affordable housing advocates need to be careful to provide vitally needed facts to our constituents and avoid unnecessarily stoking the fears of innocent low-income people, especially the thousands of senior citizens and people with disabilities living in Section 202 and 811 units.”

“Pam Patenaude has been a dynamic and effective deputy secretary, which is one of the most important housing positions in any administration,” said NHC President and CEO David M. Dworkin. “She has been a passionate advocate for relief efforts in Puerto Rico, and a key voice on behalf of housing within the Trump administration.”

Housing leaders from around the country meet to develop solutions for the growing affordability crisis, which has left one in five adults, age 25-35 living with their parents, according to research conducted by the National Association of Home Builders. “We need to fix this housing crisis before it’s too late,” said NHC President and CEO David M. Dworkin.

The Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) 2018 audit report on the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMIF) is another step on the road to full recovery from the housing crisis. However, the report also noted continued losses in the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program, the leading driver of FHA losses.

The National Housing Conference (NHC) will host Solutions for Affordable Housing, a post-midterm election examination of federal housing policies and their impacts on local communities. Solutions will feature a roster of top housing, political and community leaders. NHC’s first-ever Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill will follow the next day on Nov. 28. NHC is a national nonprofit dedicated to educating decision makers and the public about federal, state and local affordable housing policies.

NHC has called on HUD to reinstate its Assessment Tool and continue requiring communities to submit Assessments of Fair Housing (AFH) over its outdated and inefficient predecessor. HUD ended the new approach earlier this year. The request was made in comments submitted by NHC to HUD’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH): Streamlining and Enhancements advanced notice of proposed rulemaking.

The National Housing Conference (NHC) announced today that Tristan Bréaux officially joined NHC as its new policy director.

The National Housing Conference (NHC) submitted a letter today to urge THUD appropriations subcommittee chairs Sen. Susan Collins (D-Maine) and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and ranking members, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Rep. David Price (D-N.C.) to maintain the highest level of funding for the HUD title of the appropriations bill for FY 2019.

NHC submitted comments on Opportunity Zones (OZ) to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. NHC believes that to be eligible for the tax incentive, any tax-deferred investments targeted specifically at distressed communities should avoid the elimination of affordable housing leading to displacement of current residents.