January 2021: Governor's Budget, Rent Assistance

This was originally published in the February 2, 2021 OCDCA newsletter.

Federal News

Federal Eviction Moratoriums Extended
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended the national moratorium on evictions until March 31, as ordered by President Biden on his first day in office. In addition, HUD and USDA extended eviction and foreclosure moratoriums through March 31. FHFA extended foreclosure and REO eviction moratoriums until February 28. Go to NACEDA's COVID-19 housing resources page for more information.

Federal Reserve Issues Community Reinvestment Act ANPR

Submit comments by February 16 for the Federal Reserve Board's Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The Fed proposal improves upon the current CRA exam structure in contrast to previous rulemaking by the Office of the Comptroller, which dramatically weakens CRA. These two federal agencies regulate different banks and were unable to agree upon common rulemaking. NCRC has posted sample comment letters.

Senator Portman Reintroduces Tax Credit Bill to Encourage Revitalization of Distressed Homes

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (NHIA) was introduced on January 28 by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), and co-sponsored by Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Todd Young (R-IN), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). NHIA would encourage private investment in an estimated 500,000 homes that currently cannot be developed or rehabilitated because the costs to do so exceed the value of the home. The tax credit supports development of homes in rural communities struggling with the costs of new construction, as well as the rehabilitation of homes in distressed urban communities. For NHIA info relative to Ohio, watch the OCDCA webinar recording from December 8th. View the slides from Matt Josephs of LISC and the Cleveland data from Kate Monter Durban at CHN Housing Partners. Learn more.

President Biden Directs HUD to Reverse Anti-Fair Housing Policies

The President signed an executive order on January 27 directing his administration to end policies that enable discrimination in housing and lending, and acknowledging the federal government's role in erecting systemic barriers to fair housing. The previous day, he issued a memorandum directing HUD to examine Trump Administration revisions making it harder to utilize the Fair Housing Act's Disparate Impact Standard, as well as the abandonment of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing provisions within the Act. The president also pledged federal action to pursue environmental justice, lift restrictions on housing production, and ease the racial gap in homeownership and homelessness. Read Biden Lays Out His Blueprint for Fair Housing from Bloomberg CityLab for analysis plus information on HUD appointments.

Rep. Marcia Fudge Gets Hearing on HUD Secretary Nomination

The Senate Banking Committee held a hearing January 28 on the nomination of Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH) to serve as HUD Secretary. Pat Toomey (R-PA), the acting committee chairman, and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the likely incoming Chairman, applauded Fudge's long career in public service and highlighted her commitment and passion in their public statements. Her nomination has bipartisan support and advocates believe her confirmation process will be smooth in the coming weeks.

State News

Governor Dewine Unveils Budget Proposal

The DeWine Administration unveiled its second budget proposal Monday for the biennium from July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2023, with the spending bill coming to nearly $171.6 billion over two years. Gov. Mike DeWine touted $1 billion in targeted investments aimed at the state's recovery from an economic and public health crisis, what is perhaps most notable about the budget is what isn't in it. There isn't tax increases or decreases, a plan to borrow from the state's "rainy day" Budget Stabilization Fund, or a significant slash in spending.

Of note are proposed single occurrence expenditures to invest in Ohio communities focused on pandemic recovery including:

• $450 million under what's called "Investing in Ohio by Enhancing our Communities" by investing in community infrastructure projects ($200 million) and expanding broadband access ($250 million).

• $460 million for small business relief, such as entertainment and hospitality enterprises.

• $20 million for new businesses that started in 2020.

• Enhanced services to minority businesses.

• $70 million for workforce development.

The budget will now move to the Ohio House of Representatives and then the Ohio Senate. Click here for broad budget details from the Associated Press.

Rent, Utility Assistance Approved

The first round of federal aid dollars from the latest federal relief bill to pass through the Controlling Board will go toward rent and utility assistance. The board gave its OK to the use of $100 million in funding for the aid programs, which will be administered by community action agencies through the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA). Renters in the U.S. owe an estimated $57 billion in back rent, with the typical renter almost four months and $5,600 behind on their monthly rent and utilities. ODSA recently allocated $55.8 million from the state's federal Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus relief funding for the Home Relief Grant Program to provide assistance into early 2021. Congress approved $25 billion for emergency rental assistance in the new economic stimulus package with Ohio's distribution of $778.1 million expected soon. Ohioans seeking assistance should contact their local community action agency. For more information and a listing of local community action agencies visit ODSA's Home Relief Grant web page.

Ohio's Vaccine Resources

The Ohio Department of Health has created a COVID-19 Vaccine Myth v Fact sheet, which is available in several languages. There is other information and resources available on their portal as well to help with an adequate vaccine distribution and information campaign.

JobsOhio Inclusion Grants

The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant exists to provide financial support for eligible projects in designated distressed communities and/or for businesses owned by underrepresented populations across the state.

Grant decisions are based on a number of project factors, including but not limited to company location, company ownership, jobs created and/or retained, and project fixed asset investment. Support is generally intended for small to medium-sized companies with eligible projects.

Learn more about these factors and how to help your community's businesses apply.

Aug 2020: State Approves Millions More In Local Government Relief, Safety Net Not Priority

This was originally published on September 2, 2020 in the OCDCA Newsletter.

Federal News

Take Action Now: Call For Emergency Rental Assistance

Congress is back to work to negotiate the next pandemic relief bill. With mass unemployment and over 500,000 Ohio tenants wondering how they'll pay next month's rent, emergency rental assistance must be part of the solution!

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has introduced legislation (S. 3685, H.R. 6820) to provide a $100 billion time-limited emergency rental assistance program. The U.S. House has already passed similar legislation, but so far Senate leaders have been reluctant to act. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) could help break the partisan divide.

Please take a couple of minutes to ask Sen. Portman and your U.S. House member to support emergency rental assistance for unemployed workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Sen. Portman, who introduced the Eviction Crisis Act in December, understands the damage eviction causes to people, but he has not yet publicly advocated for emergency rental assistance to help the millions of unemployed Americans facing eviction during the public health crisis.

White House Issues Broad Moratorium on Evictions

From the National Low-income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)...Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control took the extraordinary and unprecedented action of issuing a national moratorium on most evictions for nonpayment of rent. The action is long overdue, badly needed and will provide essential protection to millions of renters. The very least the federal government ought to do during a global pandemic is assure each of us that we won't lose our homes in the midst of it: the administration's action would do just that and will provide relief from a growing threat of eviction for millions of anxious families. The moratorium takes effect on September 4.

While an eviction moratorium during the pandemic is essential, it is a half-measure that delays but does not prevent evictions. Congress and the White House must get back to work on negotiations to enact a COVID-19 relief bill with at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance.

Together with a national eviction moratorium, this assistance would keep renters stably housed and small landlords able to pay their bills and maintain their properties during the pandemic.

Read NLIHC's statement on the eviction moratorium here.

State News

State Approves Millions More In Local Government Relief, Safety Net Not Priority

Another $175 million in federal coronavirus aid dollars are headed to Ohio's local governments after recent Controlling Board approval. The General Assembly already authorized $350 million of the $1.2 billion in federal aid dollars earmarked for local governments in separate legislation earlier this year.

The latest installment comes with the same restrictions on how the money can be spent - namely, direct costs associated with the pandemic. Local governments have until Oct. 15 to allocate it before the funds are returned to counties and until Dec. 28 before unspent funds are returned to the state.

Local governments have used previously distributed CARES Act funds to fund public health efforts, emergency rental assistance, provide support to small businesses and individuals facing hardship, and to fund other relief efforts. Members may consider contacting their local governments to explore partnership opportunities to aid your community needs.

Advocates led by the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) have asked the DeWine administration to use $100 million of the aforementioned funds for emergency rental assistance to avoid a looming eviction crisis. The administration has stated that for now the coronavirus fight has to take priority over the safety net. Mitigating evictions not only alleviates family suffering but also is a logical strategy to control virus transmission by keeping people safely housed.

This Cleveland woman's eviction case highlights the growing struggle among Ohioans to pay rent during the pandemic. Matthew Desmond author of "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" recently described the danger of not addressing evictions during the pandemic citing data from Hamilton County.

Congress is currently debating a relief bill that includes a U.S. House passed provision for $100 billion in emergency rental assistance. Please see the federal section for information to call Congress and Senator Portman to support this most critical resource.