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-…
Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates for Counties
In 2016, the median household income for all counties ranged between $22,045 and $134,609, with a median county-level value of $47,589, according to the new Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Between 2007 (the year before the most recent recession) and 2016, 70 counties had a statistically…
Federal Reserve: FEDS | On Intergenerational Immobility – Evidence that Adult Credit Health Reflects the Childhood Environment
March 2017 (Revised November 2017) On Intergenerational Immobility: Evidence that Adult Credit Health Reflects the Childhood Environment (PDF) Sarena Goodman, Alice Henriques, and Alvaro Mezza Abstract: Using a novel dataset that links socioeconomic background to future credit, postsecondary education, and federal student loan and grant records, we document that, even though it is not and…
FHFA: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Will Re-enter the LIHTC Market
Equity Investments Will Support Underserved Markets The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will be allowed limited re-entry into the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) market as equity investors, effective immediately. The LIHTC, established in the Tax Reform Act of 1986, is the primary government program…
FEMA: Disaster Assistance Will Not Affect Social Security or Other Benefits
Hurricane survivors who receive federal disaster assistance will not pay additional taxes, lose their Social Security or disability benefits, or face a reduction in benefits from any other income-based program. Virgin Islanders affected by Hurricane Irma or Hurricane Maria may be eligible for grants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance program for…
CFPB: Rule Finalized To Stop Payday Debt Traps
Lenders Must Determine If Consumers Have the Ability to Repay Loans That Require All or Most of the Debt to be Paid Back at Once The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today finalized a rule that is aimed at stopping payday debt traps by requiring lenders to determine upfront whether people can afford to repay…
Federal Reserve: FEDS Notes | The Decline In Lending To Lower-Income Borrowers By The Biggest Banks
Neil Bhutta, Steven Laufer, and Daniel R. Ringo1 Data collected under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) reveal that the largest banks have significantly reduced their share of mortgage lending to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households in recent years. We present evidence suggesting that this reduction is explained in part by a decrease in the…
Federal Reserve: FEDS Notes | Are Rising Home Values Restraining Homebuying For Lower-Income Families?
Neil Bhutta, Steven Laufer, and Daniel R. Ringo1 Since bottoming out in 2012, house prices in the U.S. have been recovering rapidly. According to Zillow, the median home value has been growing about 6 percent per year. While incomes have also been recovering, they have not quite kept pace with home prices. The median household…
CFPB: FFIEC Announces Availability Of 2016 HMDA Data On Mortgage Lending
The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) today announced the availability of data on mortgage lending transactions at 6,762 U.S. financial institutions covered by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Covered institutions include banks, savings associations, credit unions, and mortgage companies. The HMDA data cover 2016 lending activity and include: Applications, originations, purchases, sales of…