HUD: New “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” Rule Proposed to Root Out Longstanding Inequities in Housing and Foster Inclusive Communities
Rule expands upon HUD’s previous policy, implementing opportunities for transparency and accountability while bolstering economic equity for American families The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will imminently publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register to fulfill the promise of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. The proposed rule aims to remedy the…
HUD: Step Announced Towards Addressing Bias in the Home Appraisal Process for People Seeking FHA Financing
A preview of the policy update is available for public feedback on FHA’s Drafting Table web page Today, at an event at the Brookings Institute, HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge announced that HUD, through the Federal Housing Administration, is creating a process that people seeking FHA financing can use to request a review of their appraisal…
HUD: 2022 Year in Review
This year, Secretary Marcia L. Fudge led the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to bold action in pursuit of the agency’s mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes. These actions aligned with key Biden-Harris Administration priorities, including easing the burden of housing costs, removing barriers to homeownership, expanding…
HUD: Over $9 Million Awarded to Public Housing Agencies for Jobs Plus Program
Awards will help bridge the wealth gap by connecting residents of public housing to employment and education The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded over $9 million to 4 Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to help families increase their earned income and improve their economic mobility through the Jobs Plus program. Jobs…
HUD: Agency Seeking First-of-Its-Kind Input to More Equitably and Accurately Allocate Disaster Recovery Funds
Two new Requests for Information (RFIs) to mark inaugural feedback effort for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released two new Requests for Information (RFIs), marking the first time the Department has asked the public for feedback on how to simplify, modernize, and…
Census Bureau: New Data Released on Minority-Owned, Veteran-Owned, and Women-Owned Businesses
The U.S. Census Bureau today released new estimates on the characteristics of employer businesses. According to the 2021 Annual Business Survey (ABS), which covers reference year 2020, approximately 1.15 million or 19.9% of employer businesses in 2020 were minority-owned; 320,864 (5.6%) were veteran-owned; and around 1.24 million (21.4%) were owned by women. This release also includes demographic data by…
FDIC: New National Survey Finds that Despite COVID-19 Pandemic, Record 96% of U.S. Households Were Banked in 2021
Latest FDIC national survey finds record low six million households remain unbanked Despite unprecedented economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 96 percent of U.S. households were banked in 2021, according to the latest national survey released today by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The FDIC’s 2021 National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households also…
ABA: New Partnership Between ABA and National Bankers Association Announced to Serve Minority Depository Institutions
The American Bankers Association and the National Bankers Association today announced a new series of semiannual MDI partnership summits designed to connect midsize and regional banks with minority depository institutions (MDIs) across the United States. Sponsored by ABA’s Minority Depository Institutions Advisory Council (MDIAC), the summits will begin in 2023 and will be held during an ABA spring…
EDA: 51 “Build to Scale” Grants Totaling $47 Million Announced to Fuel Innovation and Tech-Based Economic Development
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding 51 “Build to Scale” grants – totaling $47 million – to organizations that support technology entrepreneurs, catalyze innovation and fuel economic growth. EDA’s “Build to Scale” program provides annual grants that aim to accelerate technology entrepreneurship by increasing inclusive access to entrepreneurial…
HUD: FHA Takes New Step to Explore Increasing Availability of Small Balance Mortgages
Request for Information published today seeks industry input as a starting point to encourage greater origination of small balance mortgages for FHA insurance. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is announcing today the publication of a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register seeking input on ways it can facilitate increased access to smaller balance mortgages through its Single…