FEMA: President Trump Signs Emergency Declaration for California
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal emergency aid has been made available to the state of California to supplement state, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from wildfires beginning on December 4, 2017, and continuing. The President’s action authorizes FEMA to…
CDFI Fund: Conference Call on 2018 Bond Guarantee Program Round on December 18th and 19th
On November 1, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) opened the fiscal year (FY) 2018 application period for the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program. A total of up to $500 million in bond guarantee authority is available to eligible Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in FY 2018, pending…
FEMA: Progress Update on Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the U.S. Virgin Islands
After Hurricane Irma devastated much of St. Thomas and St. John three months ago, St. Croix became a base of operations for first responders, who began life-saving and life-sustaining missions to support survivors. But within two weeks, fierce winds and torrential rains from Hurricane Maria struck St. Croix, devastating even more infrastructure and services. Hurricane…
FEMA: Applicants May Appeal an Initial FEMA Determination Letter
If you registered with FEMA following Hurricane Irma and received a determination letter regarding your eligibility for assistance, read the letter carefully. It might not be the final answer. You may just need to submit extra documents for FEMA to process your application. Examples of missing documentation may include an insurance settlement letter, proof of…
Census Bureau: Communting Times, Median Rents and Language other than English Use
New American Community Survey Statistics Provide Local Data for Every Community Nationwide DEC. 7, 2017 — The nation experienced an increase in commuting time, median gross rent and a rise in English proficiency among those who spoke another language. These are only a few of the statistics released today from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012-2016…
HUD: New FHA Loan Limits for 2018 Announced
Loan limits to increase in more than 3,000 counties The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced the agency’s new schedule of loan limits for 2018, with most areas in the country to experience an increase in loan limits in the coming year. These loan limits are effective for FHA case numbers assigned on or after…
HUD: FHA to Halt Insuring Mortgage with PACE Assessments
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced it is reversing a short-lived policy announced in July of 2016 and will no longer insure new mortgages on properties that include Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) assessments. Read FHA’s mortgagee letter. FHA’s decision is part of a larger effort to protect the health of its Single Family…
HUD: Secretary Carson Launches EnVision Center Initiative
Today, Dr. Ben Carson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the launch of EnVision Centers, a new initiative designed to help HUD-assisted households achieve self-sufficiency. Located on or near public housing developments, EnVision Centers will be centralized hubs that serve as an incubator for the four key pillars of self-…
HUD: Homelessness Declines in Most Communities with Increases Reported in High-Cost Areas
Lack of affordable rental housing in Los Angeles and NYC driving increases nationally WASHINGTON – Homelessness crept up in the U.S., especially among individuals with long-term disabling conditions according to the latest national estimate by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD’s 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress found that 553,742…
FEMA: Coping with Holiday Stress after a Disaster
If you lost your home, business or personal property due to Hurricane Irma, you or your family may be struggling to cope with the emotional impact of the disaster. For individuals and families looking to rebuild, the approaching holidays may be especially difficult. FEMA’s online information, Coping with Disaster provides suggestions that may ease the…