Agenda - Council - 09/13/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Additionally, as noted above, Treasury is finalizing the rule with some changes to the treatment of affordable housing development designed to clarify that permanent supportive housing or other programs or services to improve access to stable, affordable housing among individuals who are homeless, and the development of affordable housing to increase supply of affordable and high -quality living units, are responsive to individuals and households that were impacted by the pandemic in addition to those that were disproportionately impacted. This shift is in line with commenters' recommendations and consistent with the facts described above, which demonstrate that lack of supply of affordable housing units contributed to the pandemic's impact on housing insecurity and unsustainable housing cost burdens and that these impacts were experienced broadly across the country. Public Comment: Eligible Activities: Many commenters asked for clarity on what types of activities (e.g., land acquisition, construction, pre -construction costs, operating costs, etc.) are eligible uses of SLFRF, and what affordability criteria must be applied to affordable housing development. Commenters encouraged Treasury to allow the full array of affordable housing activities, including particular requests for broad flexibility for Tribal communities, and to specify that "development" should include construction, preservation, rehabilitation, and operation. Other commenters requested clarification about permissible program administration approaches for affordable housing, such as contracting methods and distribution of funds. Some commenters asked that Treasury require SLFRF funds to be focused on the lowest - income households, who suffer the most severe rent burdens and risks of housing instability, and whose housing situation has left them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. For example, one commenter argued that SLFRF funds should only be used to support affordable housing for households making 50 percent of AMI or less and that recipients should be required to set aside 105