Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) led 52 of their House colleagues in a January 28 letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, HUD Secretary-designate Marcia Fudge, and Acting HUD Secretary Matt Ammon urging the agencies to rescind and replace a problematic FAQ on the administration of the recently enacted $25 billion for emergency rental assistance (ERA). NLIHC sent a similar letter on January 21.
The congressional letter notes the Trump-administration FAQ establishes an overly burdensome application process, including documentation requirements that extend beyond the requirements instituted in the relief legislation. In addition to increasing the burden on tenants, these requirements will increase the administrative burden for ERA program administrators, extend processing times, and delay the administration of desperately needed funds.
The letter also states the FAQ runs counter to best practices and lessons learned from program administrators who led the distribution of ERA funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), noting that “the new rules for the ERA program should be consistent with the input of national, state, and grassroots housing organizations working to ensure the poorest among us have stable and affordable housing.” NLIHC worked with the representatives’ offices to draft the letter.
Read the congressional letter at: https://tinyurl.com/yxnk8srq
Read NLIHC’s letter at: https://bit.ly/3tgfJxJ