Please see the following information included in this email:
- Back-to-Back Video Series
- No Good Cause for Discrimination: Some Evictions Are Never Allowed Factsheet
- BEAD Program Challenge Process Opening
- Connect Home USA Application Deadline Extension
Multifamily has developed the Managing HUD Multifamily Properties: Back-to-Basic Video Series
This video series is intended for owners and management agents of HUD-assisted and/or insured multifamily properties, particularly those whose properties have converted through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program and are now under the jurisdiction of HUD’s Office of Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight (OAMPO).
The first video provides an overview and describes the roles and responsibilities entrusted to project owners and their management agents when owning and operating a HUD-insured or HUD-assisted property. The subsequent videos address expectations regarding the managerial, financial, physical, and regulatory aspects of owning and operating a HUD-insured or HUD-assisted property. Think of them as HUD’s “Four Essentials.” Together, the videos create a framework for providing housing that is equitable, resilient, and sustainable.
This information is available on HUD Exchange at: Managing HUD Multifamily Properties: Back-to-Basics Video Series – HUD Exchange
No Good Cause for Discrimination: Some Evictions Are Never Allowed Factsheet
HUD has created a new resource on eviction and fair housing: “No Good Cause for Discrimination: Some Evictions Are Never Allowed”, a factsheet about situations where evictions violate civil rights laws and are not allowed. The information in the factsheet applies to almost all forms of housing, including subsidized housing and private housing paid for with a voucher. This factsheet is written in accessible language and uses specific examples based on actual court cases and FHEO charges of discrimination. This factsheet is intended to be a resource for property managers, owners and tenants. HUD invites you to share the factsheet with anyone who might find it useful – especially people like property managers and other front-line professionals who may need clearly worded information about what kinds of evictions are not allowed under federal civil rights laws.
The factsheet is available here.
BEAD Program Challenge Process Opening
Background:
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program provides $42.5 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, BEAD is a federal grant program that aims to get all Americans online by funding partnerships between states or territories, communities, and stakeholders to build infrastructure where we need it to and increase adoption of high-speed internet. BEAD prioritizes unserved locations that have no internet access or that only have access under 25/3 Mbps and underserved locations only have access under 100/20 Mbps.
Purpose:
The goal of the largest federal grant program supporting the deployment of broadband infrastructure is to connect locations that are unserved (slow to no broadband), underserved (less than 100/20 Mbps), and Community Anchor Institutions (in some states PHAs/HUD-assisted housing organizations may be considered CAIs). HUD’s housing partners have a unique opportunity to benefit from the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment grant program. Now is a critical time in this multi-step, multi-year program. States are either currently running or preparing to run (a few have already held) challenge process whereby units of local government, nonprofits, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can challenge connectivity information that states will use to determine where to invest their BEAD dollars. HUD-assisted organizations may be eligible to submit challenges. This process will only happen once and the window to submit a challenge is between 14-30 days. PHAs and other affordable housing organizations will only have one opportunity to ensure that their properties are accurately reflected on their state’s broadband map. If properties are incorrectly shown on a state’s map as served by broadband, the state will likely not invest their BEAD dollars in that area.
What PHAs and other affordable housing organizations should do now:
- View this webinar hosted by HUD’s nonprofit partner, EducationSuperHighway, explaining how to participate in the challenge process.
- Check the status of your state’s challenge period by going to the BEAD Dashboard. If your state’s challenge process hasn’t begun, but its Volume I proposal has been approved, your state can launch the challenge process soon.
- Contact your State Broadband Office. If you have difficulty reaching them, please contact the Federal Program Officer with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the federal agency that is managing BEAD. Contact information for both can be found here: States | BroadbandUSA (doc.gov)
- If you need help submitting a challenge, look for digital inclusion coalitions in your area that might be submitting challenges on behalf of other organizations. Or, ask your local economic development office.
- This site will allow you to access your state’s digital equity and BEAD-related proposals (it’ll also take you to your state’s broadband website). Your state’s Digital Equity Plan will likely show other organizations, including nonprofits, that are working in digital inclusion. These could be possible partners in the challenge process.
- Questions can also be directed to BEAD@ntia.gov.
CHUSA Application Deadline Extended to April 12, 2024!
| We have an exciting update: Applications to apply for ConnectHomeUSA have been extended to April 12, 2024. PIH Notice FR-6338-N-02 also expands CHUSA eligibility to Continuum of Care (CoC) and Housing for People with AIDS (HOPWA) grantees. |  |
If you have not yet submitted your Letter of Intent to join ConnectHomeUSA, there is still time! Applications are being accepted for the Tier 1 introductory level and for Tier 2, which is reserved for existing (or prior) CHUSA communities.
Why Should You Apply to Join?
Tier 1: If you’ve noticed a digital divide in your community, and you’ve been wanting to solve it but are unsure how to begin, CHUSA is for you! Tier 1 will help you put in place the key components that are necessary for building a comprehensive digital inclusion program. We will be accepting 50-100 new communities for this tier.
Tier 2: If you want to build on your existing CHUSA efforts, continue to have access to existing and future CHUSA stakeholders, the CHUSA community of practice, and HUD support, you’ll want to apply to join as a Tier 2 community!
Resources to Assist with Preparing the Letter of Intent:
Click on the links below to watch our webinar on how to apply for CHUSA and/or read through the attached instructions. The CHUSA team is also ready to assist you: for support with your application, or for any questions, send us a note at ConnectHome@hud.gov.
We look forward to working with you!
– The ConnectHomeUSA Team