HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) posted “CDBG-CV Notice FAQs” on September 1. The document primarily repackages key provisions of a Federal Register notice providing statutory and regulatory waivers regarding the use of the $5 billion in supplemental Community Development Block Grant program funds (CDBG-CV) Congress appropriated through the CARES Act. CPD posted an easy-to-read advance version of the CDBG-CV waiver notice on August 7 (see Memo, 8/17). There are no new policy provisions in the FAQ; however, advocates might find the question and answer format easier to use when researching a particular issue.
On page 13, CPD indicates that it will be providing more technical assistance related to the use of CDBG-CV (as well as FY19 and FY20 regular CDBG) for emergency payments, such as rental assistance and payment of back rent (arrearages). The waiver notice extended to six consecutive months (up from three) the period over which a CDBG grantee (a city, county, or state) may provide emergency rental assistance to a household unable to pay rent because its income has decreased due to the coronavirus pandemic. NLIHC urged CPD on April 20 to extend the time frame beyond three months.
NLIHC summarized the key provisions of the CDBG-CV waiver notice most important to advocates in Memo on August 17.
“CDBG-CV Notice FAQs” is at: https://bit.ly/34YNKJs
The advance version of the CDBG waiver notice is at: https://bit.ly/2QQASwk
The formal Federal Register version of the CDBG waiver notice is at: https://bit.ly/2Yl5OZX
Additional CDBG-CV related guidance is on CPD’s COVID-19 Grantee Guidance webpage at: https://bit.ly/2QLfZme
More information about CDBG is on page 8-3 of NLIHC’s 2020 Advocates’ Guide.