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4360 Federal Register/Vol. 87, No. 18/Thursday, January 27, 2022/Rules and Regulations
<br /> Provisions:Other for additional non-exhaustive list of eligible services. housing and homeownership over the
<br /> eligibility standards that apply to uses For example, eligible services under this long term, see the eligible use for
<br /> of funds for capital expenditures. use category include:Rent,rental "promoting long-term housing security:
<br /> 2.Emergency housing assistance.The arrears,utility costs or arrears (e.g., Affordable housing and homelessness."
<br /> interim final rule included an electricity,gas,water and sewer,trash 3.Emergency assistance for pressing
<br /> enumerated eligible use for rent, removal, and energy costs, such as fuel needs:Burials,home repairs,
<br /> mortgage, or utility assistance and oil),reasonable accrued late fees (if not weatherization, or other needs. The
<br /> counseling and legal aid to prevent included in rental or utility arrears), interim final rule included an
<br /> eviction or homelessness. mortgage payment assistance,financial enumerated eligible use for emergency
<br /> Public Comment:Several commenters assistance to allow a homeowner to assistance for burials,home repairs,
<br /> supported the inclusion of eviction reinstate a mortgage or to pay other weatherization, and other needs;these
<br /> prevention activities as an eligible use housing-related costs related to a period types of programs may provide
<br /> given the high number of households of forbearance, delinquency, or default, emergency assistance for pressing and
<br /> behind on rent and potentially at risk of mortgage principal reduction, unavoidable household needs. Treasury
<br /> eviction. Following release of the facilitating mortgage interest rate did not receive comments on this
<br /> interim final rule, Treasury had also reductions,counseling to prevent eligible use and is maintaining it in the
<br /> received requests for elaboration on the foreclosure or displacement,relocation final rule.
<br /> types of eligible services in this expenses following eviction or Background on Home Repairs and
<br /> category. Some commenters also foreclosure (e.g.,rental security Weatherization:The economic
<br /> recommended including assistance to deposits, application or screening fees). downturn has meant fewer households
<br /> households for delinquent property Treasury is clarifying that assistance to had the resources needed to make
<br /> taxes,for example to prevent tax households for delinquent property necessary home repairs and
<br /> foreclosures on homes, as an taxes,for example to prevent tax improvements. In May 2021, 28 percent
<br /> enumerated eligible use. foreclosures on homes,was permissible of landlords reported deferring
<br /> Treasury Response:In response to under the interim final rule and maintenance and 27 percent of tenants
<br /> requests for elaboration on the types of continues to be so under the final rule. reported maintenance requests going
<br /> eligible services for eviction prevention, In addition,Treasury is also clarifying unanswered.114 While small and
<br /> Treasury has provided further guidance that recipients may administer utility cosmetic repairs can often wait,
<br /> that these services include "housing assistance or address arrears on behalf deferring major repairs, such as
<br /> stability services that enable eligible of households through direct or bulk plumbing needs, can result in unsafe
<br /> households to maintain or obtain payments to utility providers to and unhealthy living environments and,
<br /> housing,such as housing counseling, facilitate utility assistance to multiple eventually,the need for more expensive
<br /> fair housing counseling,case consumers at once, so long as the repairs and fixes.
<br /> management related to housing stability, payments offset customer balances and In addition to repairs,many homes
<br /> outreach to households at risk of therefore provide assistance to are in need of weatherization.
<br /> eviction or promotion of housing households. Weatherization assistance helps low-
<br /> support programs,housing related This eligible use category also and moderate-income Americans save
<br /> services for survivors of domestic abuse includes emergency assistance for energy,reduce their utility bills, and
<br /> or human trafficking,and specialized individuals experiencing homelessness, keeps them and their homes safe. One
<br /> services for individuals with disabilities either individual-level assistance (e.g., in three households is energy
<br /> or seniors that support their ability to rapid rehousing services) or assistance insecure,115 meaning they do not have
<br /> access or maintain housing,"as well as for groups of individuals (e.g.,master the ability to meet their energy needs.116
<br /> "legal aid such as legal services or leases of hotels,motels, or similar Weatherization efforts are particularly
<br /> attorney's fees related to eviction facilities to expand available shelter). important for low-and moderate-
<br /> proceedings and maintaining housing Further,Treasury is clarifying that income households. Households of
<br /> stability, court-based eviction transitional shelters (e.g.,temporary color,renters,and households with low
<br /> prevention or eviction diversion residences for people experiencing or moderate incomes are all more likely
<br /> and other legal services that homelessness) are eligible capital to report energy insecurity.117 These
<br /> programs, g help households maintain or obtain expenditures.Recipients seeking to use
<br /> . 113 Treasur housing." 114 Jung Hyun Choi,Laurie Goodman,and Daniel
<br /> g y also emphasized p p funds for capital expenditures should refer to the section Capital Expenditures Pang,The Pandemic Is Making It Difficult for Mom-
<br /> that recipients may work with court in General Provisions: Other for and-Pop Landlords to Maintain Their Properties,
<br /> systems,nonprofits, and a wide range of additional eligibility standards that Urban Institute
<br /> n t it t e(July 3,2021) deps:ll
<br /> lnakin -it-
<br /> other organizations to implement apply to uses of funds for capital difficult-mom-and-pop-landlords-maintain-their-
<br /> expenditures.to support housing stability expenditures. properties.
<br /> and prevent evictions. Note that this enumerated eligible use 115 U.S.Energy Information Administration,
<br /> In the final rule, Treasury is describes "emergency housing Residential Energy Consumption Survey(2017),
<br /> maintaining these enumerated eligible Retrieved from https://www.eia.govlconsumptionl
<br /> or assistance for responses residential/data/2015/hc/php/hc11.1.php.
<br /> uses,including those described in the interim final rule and later guidance,in to the immediate or near-term negative D.Hernandez,Understanding`energy insecurity'
<br /> economic impacts of the pandemic. The and why it matters to health,Social Science&
<br /> line with commenters' final rule also clarifies and expands the Medicine,167,1-10(2016),https://doi.orgl
<br /> recommendations. To enhance clarity, ability of recipients to use SURF funds 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.08.029.
<br /> Treasury is also elaborating on some 116 Hernandez,D.(2016).Understanding`energy
<br /> types of services included under this
<br /> to address the general lack of affordable insecurity'and why it matters to health.Social eligible use category;this remains a housing and housing challenges Science&Medicine,167,1-10.hops://doi.org/
<br /> underscored by the pandemic. For 10.10161j.socscimed.2016.08.029.
<br /> discussion of affordable housing eligible 117 U.S.Energy Information Administration,
<br /> 113 See FAQ 2.21.Coronavirus State and Local uses,including services that primarily Residential Energy Consumption Survey(RECS)
<br /> Fiscal Recovery Funds,Frequently Asked https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/
<br /> Questions,as of July 19,2021;https:// increase access to affordable,high- 2015/hc/php/hc11.1.php.(last visited November 9,
<br /> home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRPFAQ.pdf. quality housing and support stable 2021)
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