Notice of Regulatory Waiver Requests Granted for the Second Quarter of Calendar Year 2020, 73732-73743 [2020-25476]

Download as PDF 73732 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices civil rights obligations and collect pertinent civil rights information to ascertain if the recipient has in place adequate policies and procedures to achieve compliance, and to determine what, if any, further action may be needed (technical assistance, training, compliance review, etc.) to ensure the recipient is able to meet its civil rights requirements and will carry out its programs and activities in a nondiscriminatory manner. Over the past three years, DHS has used the information collected via the DHS Civil Rights Evaluation Tool to identify gaps and deficiencies in recipient programs and directly help recipients address these gaps and deficiencies by providing technical assistance on developing or improving policies and procedures to prevent discrimination and ensure accessibility. DHS requires recipients to submit their completed forms and supporting information electronically, via email, to the Department, in an effort to minimize administrative burden on the recipient and the Department. DHS anticipates that records or files that will be used to respond to the information collection are already maintained in electronic format by the recipient, so providing the information electronically further minimizes administrative burden. DHS allows recipients to scan and submit documents that are not already maintained electronically. If the recipient is unable to submit their information electronically, alternative arrangements will be made to submit responses in hard copy. DHS is pursuing further streamlining of the submission process through development of an online portal that would allow recipients to submit the data directly in a fully electronic form and eliminate the need for recipients to email the form and supporting documents as attachments. The information collection will impact some small entities (e.g., nonprofit service providers, local fire departments, etc.), however as described in response to Question 2, recipients will only be required to provide this information once every two years, not every time a grant is awarded. Additionally, in responding to Section 4: Required Information, if the recipient’s responses have not changed in the two year period since their initial submission, the recipient does not need to resubmit the information. This will dramatically reduce the administrative burden on recipients after the initial submission. Additionally, DHS will further minimize burden on recipients by making available sample policies and procedures to assist recipients in VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 completing Section 4 of the Form, and providing technical assistance directly to the recipient as needed. In accordance with the authorities identified in Question 1, the Department is required to obtain a signed assurance of compliance from recipients and to ensure that its federally assisted programs and activities are administered in a nondiscriminatory manner. If the information collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, the Department will not be able to fulfill its obligations to ascertain recipient compliance and enforce nondiscrimination in recipient programs. This could lead to the award of federal financial assistance to recipients that are not complying with federal civil rights law, and the perpetuation of discrimination in the provision of benefits and services to members of the public. There are no confidentiality assurances associated with this collection. The only privacy-sensitive information the form collects are the names of Point of Contacts (POCs) from recipient organizations. Coverage for the collection of this information is provided under a Department Privacy Impact Assessment, DHS/ALL/PIA–006 General Contacts List. DHS is seeking an extension of the form for another three-year period. DHS is not proposing any changes to the information collected in the form but is proposing changes to Section 1 of the form on instructions to streamline the process for submitting the completed form. The changes to Section 1 do not impact the burden analysis. The changes in costs in Item 14 reflect increased hourly rates for Federal staff as reported by Office of Personnel Management for 2020, as well as an increase in the number of staff participating in the review process. Despite these increases, because the number of recipients subject to the collection has decreased from the previous reporting period, the total costs reported in Item 13 and 14 have also decreased. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments which: 1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; 2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses. Analysis Agency: Department of Homeland Security, (DHS). Title: DHS Civil Rights Evaluation Tool. OMB Number: 1601–0024. Frequency: On Occasion. Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government. Number of Respondents: 2929. Estimated Time per Respondent: 1 Hour. Total Burden Hours: 11716. Robert Dorr, Executive Director, Business Management Directorate. [FR Doc. 2020–25543 Filed 11–18–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9112–FL–P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR–6210–N–02] Notice of Regulatory Waiver Requests Granted for the Second Quarter of Calendar Year 2020 AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel, HUD. ACTION: Notice. The Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 (the HUD Reform Act) requires HUD to publish quarterly Federal Register notices of all regulatory waivers that HUD has approved. Each notice covers the quarterly period since the previous Federal Register notice. The purpose of this notice is to comply with the requirements of the HUD Reform Act. This notice contains a list of regulatory waivers granted by HUD during the period beginning on April 1, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about this notice, contact Aaron Santa Anna, Associate General Counsel for Legislation and Regulations, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 10282, Washington, DC 20410– 0500, telephone 202–708–5300 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices hearing- or speech-impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339. For information concerning a particular waiver that was granted and for which public notice is provided in this document, contact the person whose name and address follow the description of the waiver granted in the accompanying list of waivers that have been granted in the second quarter of calendar year 2020. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 106 of the HUD Reform Act added a new section 7(q) to the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3535(q)), which provides that: 1. Any waiver of a regulation must be in writing and must specify the grounds for approving the waiver; 2. Authority to approve a waiver of a regulation may be delegated by the Secretary only to an individual of Assistant Secretary or equivalent rank, and the person to whom authority to waive is delegated must also have authority to issue the particular regulation to be waived; 3. Not less than quarterly, the Secretary must notify the public of all waivers of regulations that HUD has approved, by publishing a notice in the Federal Register. These notices (each covering the period since the most recent previous notification) shall: a. Identify the project, activity, or undertaking involved; b. Describe the nature of the provision waived and the designation of the provision; c. Indicate the name and title of the person who granted the waiver request; d. Describe briefly the grounds for approval of the request; and e. State how additional information about a particular waiver may be obtained. Section 106 of the HUD Reform Act also contains requirements applicable to waivers of HUD handbook provisions that are not relevant to the purpose of this notice. This notice follows procedures provided in HUD’s Statement of Policy on Waiver of Regulations and Directives issued on April 22, 1991 (56 FR 16337). In accordance with those procedures and with the requirements of section 106 of the HUD Reform Act, waivers of regulations are granted by the Assistant Secretary with jurisdiction over the regulations for which a waiver was requested. In those cases in which a General Deputy Assistant Secretary granted the waiver, the General Deputy Assistant Secretary was serving in the VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 absence of the Assistant Secretary in accordance with the office’s Order of Succession. This notice covers waivers of regulations granted by HUD from April 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020. For ease of reference, the waivers granted by HUD are listed by HUD program office (for example, the Office of Community Planning and Development, the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, the Office of Housing, and the Office of Public and Indian Housing, etc.). Within each program office grouping, the waivers are listed sequentially by the regulatory section of title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that is being waived. For example, a waiver of a provision in 24 CFR part 58 would be listed before a waiver of a provision in 24 CFR part 570. Where more than one regulatory provision is involved in the grant of a particular waiver request, the action is listed under the section number of the first regulatory requirement that appears in 24 CFR and that is being waived. For example, a waiver of both § 58.73 and § 58.74 would appear sequentially in the listing under § 58.73. Waiver of regulations that involve the same initial regulatory citation are in time sequence beginning with the earliest-dated regulatory waiver. Should HUD receive additional information about waivers granted during the period covered by this report (the second quarter of calendar year 2020) before the next report is published (the third quarter of calendar year 2020), HUD will include any additional waivers granted for the second quarter in the next report. Accordingly, information about approved waiver requests pertaining to HUD regulations is provided in the Appendix that follows this notice. The Principal Deputy General Counsel, Michael B. Williams, having reviewed and approved this document, is delegating the authority to electronically sign this document to submitter, Aaron Santa Anna, who is the Federal Register Liaison for HUD, for purposes of publication in the Federal Register. Aaron Santa Anna, Associate General Counsel for Legislation & Regulations. Appendix Listing of Waivers of Regulatory Requirements Granted by Offices of the Department of Housing and Urban Development April 1, 2020 Through June 30, 2020 Note to Reader: More information about the granting of these waivers, including a copy of the waiver request and approval, may be obtained by contacting the person whose PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 73733 name is listed as the contact person directly after each set of regulatory waivers granted. The regulatory waivers granted appear in the following order: I. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Community Planning and Development II. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Government National Mortgage Association III. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Housing I. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Community Planning and Development For further information about the following regulatory waivers, please see the name of the contact person that immediately follows the description of the waiver granted. • Regulation: 24 CFR 91.105(c)(2) and (k), 24 CFR 91.115(c)(2) and (i), and, 24 CFR 91.235(e) and 24 CFR 91.401. Project/Activity: Citizen participation reasonable notice and opportunity to comment. Nature of Requirement: The regulations set forth citizen participation requirements for participating jurisdictions. For substantial amendments to the consolidated plan, a participating jurisdiction to follow its citizen participation plan, which must state how reasonable notice and opportunity for public comment will be given. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver permits participating jurisdictions amending their consolidated plans as a result of the COVID– 19 pandemic to reduce the comment period to 5 days. Given the unprecedented economic disruptions caused by the COVID–19 pandemic, participating jurisdictions may need to expeditiously reprogram HOME funds to activities that more directly meet their immediate housing needs. Requiring these participating jurisdictions to complete the required public comment period would cause undue delays in the face of urgent and growing need. Applicability: The waiver is in effect for any necessary substantial amendments to Fiscal Year 2020 and earlier consolidated plans or action plans and to any approved Annual Action Plan being amended. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 91.105(c)(2) and (k), 24 CFR 91.115(c)(2) and (i), and, 24 CFR 91.235(e) and 24 CFR 91.401. Project/Activity: Citizen participation reasonable notice and opportunity to comment. Nature of Requirement: The regulations set forth citizen participation requirements for participating jurisdictions. For substantial amendments to the consolidated plan, a E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 73734 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices participating jurisdiction to follow its citizen participation plan, which must state how reasonable notice and opportunity for public comment will be given. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver permits participating jurisdictions amending their consolidated plans as a result of the COVID– 19 pandemic to reduce the comment period to 5 days. Given the unprecedented economic disruptions caused by the COVID–19 pandemic, requiring t participating jurisdictions to complete the required public comment period would cause undue delays in commencing tenant-based rental assistance programs to address an urgent and growing need. Applicability: The waiver applies to any approved Annual Action Plan being amended to reprogram funds to TBRA to address housing needs related to the COVID– 19 pandemic. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulations: 24 CFR 91.220, 24 CFR 91.320. Project/Activity: Housing and homeless needs assessment, housing market analysis, and strategic plan in Consolidated Plan, and action plans to the extent they are limited to a specific program year. Nature of Requirement: 42 U.S.C. 12705(a)(2) requires that grantees submit and provide updates to a comprehensive housing affordability strategy, which contains a housing and homeless needs assessment, housing market analysis, and strategic plan, in order to receive CDBG funds. 24 CFR 91.220 for entitlement communities and 24 CFR 91.320 for states require that grantees incorporate the statutory comprehensive housing affordability strategy requirements in their annual action plans. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 9, 2020. Reason Waived: To expedite grantees’ use of CDBG–CV funds, HUD is waiving the requirements at 42 U.S.C. 12705(a)(2) to the extent it requires updates to the housing and homeless needs assessment, housing market analysis, and strategic plan, and 24 CFR 91.220 and 91.320 to the extent the action plan is limited to a specific program year to permit grantees to prepare substantial amendments to their most recent annual action plan, including their 2019 annual action plan. Applicability: The statutory comprehensive housing affordability strategy requirements are waived to allow grantees to prepare substantial amendments to their most recent annual action plan. In their amended annual action plans, grantees must identify the proposed use of all funds and how the funds will be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 Contact: James Ho¨emann, Office of Block Grant Assistance, Entitlement Communities Division, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7282, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–5716. • Regulation: 24 CFR 91.520(a). Project/Activity: The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (performance report) submission to HUD within 90 days after the close of a jurisdiction’s program year. Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 91.520(a) requires each grantee to submit a performance report to HUD within 90 days after the close of the grantee’s program year. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: May 7, 2020. Reason Waived: Under the authority at 24 CFR 91.600, HUD is authorized to waive this requirement when a determination of good cause is made and supported by documentation. Given the outbreak of the coronavirus known as SARS-CoV–2 and the extenuating circumstances placed on state and local governments, and citizens, HUD has determined that there is good cause for waiving this provision. The extenuating circumstances and administrative strain supporting this waiver are well documented in the broad public news coverage related to the outbreak. Applicability: For program year 2019 CAPERs, the requirement that grantees submit a performance report within 90 days after the close of a jurisdiction’s program year is waived, subject to the condition that within 180 days after the close of a jurisdiction’s program year the jurisdiction shall submit its performance report. Contact: James Ho¨emann, Office of Block Grant Assistance, Entitlement Communities Division, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7282, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–5716. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.203(a)(1) and (2), and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: Source documentation for HOME income determinations. Nature of Requirement: The regulations require initial income determinations for HOME beneficiaries by examining source documentation covering the most recent two months. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver permits the participating jurisdiction to use selfcertification of income in lieu of source documentation to determine eligibility for HOME assistance of persons requiring emergency assistance related to COVID–19. Many families affected by actions taken to reduce the spread of COVID–19, such as business closures resulting in loss of employment or lay-offs, will not have documentation that accurately reflects current income and will not be able to PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 qualify for HOME assistance if the requirement remains effective. Applicability: This waiver is applicable to initial income determinations for individuals and families that have lost employment or income either permanently or temporarily due to the COVID–19 pandemic and who are applying for admission to a HOME rental unit or a HOME tenant-based rental assistance program. This waiver also applies to homeless individuals and families who are applying for admission to a HOME rental unit or a HOME tenant-based rental assistance program. If a PJ chooses to use this waiver availability, the PJ must ensure that self-certified income takes into consideration all income, including any unemployment and emergency benefits the applicant will receive. However, for purposes of an applicant’s self-certification, emergency tax relief (commonly referred to as stimulus payments) is not to be included as an emergency benefit. Also, the PJ must arrange to conduct on-site rent and income reviews within 90 days after the waiver period. The PJ must include tenant income certifications in each project file. This requirement is waived through December 31, 2020, for rental assistance provided in response to the COVID–19 pandemic. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.203(a)(2) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: Source documentation for HOME income determinations. Nature of Requirement: The regulations require the participating jurisdiction to determine a tenant-based rental assistance tenant’s income by examining at least two months of source documentation evidencing income and projecting anticipated income forward for the next 12 months. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver permits the participating jurisdiction to use selfcertification of income in lieu of source documentation to determine eligibility for HOME assistance of persons requiring emergency rental assistance related to COVID–19. Given the rapid and unanticipated economic disruptions caused by the COVID–19 pandemic, source documentation from the past two months may not reflect the current financial circumstances of many households. Requiring participating jurisdictions to use source documentation would be administratively burdensome, may not reflect current or anticipated income, and may result in individuals and families being incorrectly disqualified from receiving TBRA. Applicability: This waiver is applicable to tenant-based rental assistance provided to individuals and families experiencing financial hardship. The PJ must ensure that E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices the tenant’s self-certification indicates how the tenant’s financial situation has changed (i.e., job loss or reduced wages), and include all income, including any unemployment or emergency benefits received by the tenant as a result of the pandemic. However, for the purposes of a tenant’s self-certification, emergency tax relief (commonly referred to as stimulus payments) is not to be included as an emergency benefit. The PJ must include tenant income certifications in each project file. This requirement is waived through December 31, 2020, for rental assistance provided in response to the COVID–19 pandemic. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.205(e)(2) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: Four-year project completion deadline. Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that projects assisted with HOME funds be completed within four years of the date that HOME funds were committed. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: This waiver is necessary to provide additional time to permit completion of HOME-assisted projects that may be delayed as a result of the impact of COVID– 19 on project timelines. Applicability: The waiver applies to projects for which the four-year project completion deadline will occur on or after April 10, 2020. The completion deadlines for covered projects are extended to December 31, 2020. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.209(a) and (h) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: Eligible tenant-based rental assistance costs and maximum TBRA subsidy. Nature of Requirement: The regulations state that eligible TBRA costs include rental assistance and security deposit payments made to income-eligible households. Participating jurisdictions can also use HOME funds to provide utility deposit assistance if such assistance is provided in conjunction with TBRA or a security deposit payment. The maximum amount of monthly assistance may not exceed the difference between the participating jurisdiction’s rent standard and 30 percent of the tenant’s monthly adjusted income. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 Reason Waived: The waiver allows participating jurisdictions to provide up to 100 percent subsidy for rent, security deposit payments, and utility bills paid by tenants affected by a reduction or loss of income from the COVID–19 pandemic. The COVID– 19 pandemic has caused widespread loss or reduction of income, significantly affecting the financial stability of households, including existing TBRA families, and rendering many unable to pay rent and/or utilities. As individuals experience financial hardship, the amount of assistance required to ensure they remain housed will often exceed the participating jurisdiction’s payment standard. Individuals may be unable to pay the participating jurisdiction’s minimum required tenant contribution toward rent. Applicability: This waiver is applicable to TBRA provided to individuals or families experiencing financial hardship, including existing TBRA families. PJs using this waiver authority must execute a rental assistance contract with the owner or tenant for a term mutually agreed upon by all parties, but not to exceed the December 31, 2020, waiver period. The PJ may make utility payments directly to the tenant or utility company based on utility bills submitted for the assisted unit, either by mail or electronically. The waiver applies through December 31, 2020. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.209(e) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: Term of rental assistance contract. Nature of Requirement: The regulations state requirements for the term of rental assistance contracts, including that the term must begin on the first day of the term of the lease. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver eliminates the requirement that the rental assistance contract begin on the first day of the term of the lease. This waiver is necessary to enable participating jurisdictions to assist tenants that are currently housed, including existing TBRA households, but have experienced sudden financial hardship as a result of the COVID–19 pandemic. Because affected households already have an executed lease, it is impossible for the TBRA contract to begin on the first day of the term of the lease. Applicability: This requirement is waived through December 31, 2020, for TBRA provided in response to the COVID–19 pandemic. The PJ’s requirement to execute a rental assistance contract with the owner or tenant is not waived. PJs using this waiver authority must execute a rental assistance contract with the owner or tenant for a term mutually agreed upon by all parties, but not to exceed the December 31, 2020, waiver PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 73735 period. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.209(f) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: HOME TBRA rent reasonableness. Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that a participating jurisdiction must disapprove a lease if the rent is not reasonable, based on an assessment of rents charged for comparable unassisted rental units. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver will permit participating jurisdictions to provide immediate rental assistance without requiring an assessment of rents charged for comparable unassisted rental units. Given the unprecedented need for rental assistance for individuals facing financial hardship during the pandemic, requiring participating jurisdictions to conduct a rent comparison prior to providing rental assistance presents an undue administrative burden. Applicability: The waiver is applicable to TBRA provided to individuals and tenant households experiencing financial hardship because of a reduction or loss of income. The requirement is waived through December 31, 2020. The waiver is available to all participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.209(g) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: HOME TBRA tenant protections—lease. Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that each HOME-assisted tenant have a lease that complies with the tenant protection requirements of 24 CFR 92.253(a) and (b). Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver will permit participating jurisdictions to assist individuals currently housed but facing financial hardship, where an executed lease is already in place. During the COVID–19 pandemic, participating jurisdictions may assist individuals that are already in rental units but are unable to pay rent and/or utilities due to job loss or reduced wages. These individuals already have an executed lease that may include one or more of the prohibited lease terms included in 24 CFR 92.253(b). Requiring participating jurisdictions to immediately execute or amend leases creates an undue E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 73736 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices administrative burden and may disqualify some in-place tenants from receiving TBRA. Applicability: The requirement that a tenant assisted by TBRA have a lease that complies with the requirements of 24 CFR 92.253(a) and (b) is waived through December 31, 2020, for rental assistance provided to tenants already housed who have an executed lease. PJs using this waiver authority are required to execute a rental assistance contract with the tenant for a term mutually agreed upon by all parties, but not to exceed the waiver period ending on December 31, 2020. PJs must still comply with all VAWA requirements contained in 24 CFR 92.359 by including, at a minimum, a lease addendum that addresses all VAWA requirements. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.209(i) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: HOME TBRA housing quality standards. Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that all housing occupied by households receiving HOME TBRA must meet the housing quality standards (HQS) at 24 CFR 982.401. The participating jurisdiction is required to inspect the unit for compliance prior to occupancy and annually thereafter. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: This waiver will permit the participating jurisdiction to rapidly house or assist individuals affected by the COVID– 19 pandemic without requiring an initial HQS inspection. The COVID–19 pandemic has created an unprecedented need for rental assistance for tenant households facing financial hardship. Participating jurisdictions must act quickly to address these needs and requiring HQS inspections of all units where HOME TBRA assistance is provided would create an administrative burden and reduce participating jurisdictions’ ability to respond timely to the housing needs created by the pandemic. Applicability: The requirement is waived through December 31, 2020, for rental assistance provided in response to the COVID–19 pandemic. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. The lead-safe housing requirements of 24 CFR part 35, subpart M, made applicable to units leased by recipients of HOME TBRA by the HOME regulation at 24 CFR 92.355, cannot be waived. Consequently, units built before 1978 must undergo visual evaluation and paint repair in accordance with 24 CFR part 35, subpart M. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.210(a) and (b) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: Use of HOME funds for operating reserves for troubled HOME projects. Nature of Requirement: The regulations establish provisions to permit HOME rental projects that are not financially viable (i.e., projects for which operating costs significantly exceed operating revenue) to be preserved through the use of HOME funds to recapitalize project reserves. The regulations also require HUD to review market needs, available resources, and the likelihood of long-term viability of the project before approving this use of HOME funds. In addition, a written memorandum of agreement between HUD and the participating jurisdiction is a precondition of this funding and the regulation places certain limitations on the amount of funding. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: Participating jurisdictions will not be required to obtain HUD approval or execute a memorandum of agreement with HUD before providing this assistance. The waiver is necessary to enable participating jurisdictions to take rapid action to preserve the financial viability of HOME-assisted affordable rental projects currently under a HOME period of affordability. Because existing tenants in HOME units may be unable to meet their rent obligations due to the economic impact of the COVID–19 pandemic, HOME rental projects may experience operating deficits due to the sudden decrease in rental revenue. Applicability: The waiver applies to HOME-assisted rental projects currently within the period of affordability established in the HOME written agreement. PJs will not be required to obtain HUD approval or execute a memorandum of agreement with HUD before providing this assistance. PJs may only exercise this waiver authority when the project owner agrees to forego: (1) Any distributions of residual receipts resulting from the project throughout the waiver period and for a period of 6 months thereafter; (2) any right under the existing lease agreement or State or local law to pursue legal action against tenants of HOMEassisted units for non-payment of rent and the collection of any fees associated with late payments without prior approval of the PJ; and (3) any adverse credit reporting against tenants of HOME-assisted units for nonpayment of rent or fees without prior approval of the PJ. The PJ may provide additional HOME funds to recapitalize operating deficit reserves for HOME-assisted rental projects if the PJ determines that the project is experiencing operating deficits related to the economic effects of the COVID–19 pandemic during the waiver period. The PJ may only provide this assistance to projects experiencing operating deficits that will not be covered by insurance or other sources (e.g., other private, local, state, or federal funds). The maximum amount of HOME assistance that may be provided is equal to the total of PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the project’s operating expenses, previously scheduled payments to a replacement reserve, and actual debt service (excluding debt service of loans in forbearance) multiplied by the proportionate share of HOME-assisted units to the total number of units in the project for the period beginning on April 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2020. Project operating expenses may be demonstrated by one of the following: • The Owner’s most recent year to date financials for the project; • Certified project-level accounting records covering the most recent 3 months; and • Copies of project-level bank statements covering the most recent 3 months. Project operating expenses may also be adjusted due to COVID–19-related expenditures and foregone expenses due to social distancing measures and other COVID– 19-related impacts. An owner may demonstrate these expenses with recent receipts, copies of work orders, revised budgets that have been certified by the project owner as true, accurate representations of current expenditures. In order to take advantage of this waiver, PJs must amend the HOME written agreement with the project owner to include the amount of HOME funds that will be provided to an operating reserve (i.e., the proportion of total costs attributable to HOME units as described in the paragraph above), the costs eligible to be paid with HOME funds in the operating reserve (i.e., operating expenses, scheduled payments to a replacement reserve, and qualifying debt service), and the documentation the PJ is required to maintain to demonstrate the allowable amounts and eligibility of costs paid with the HOME funds in the operating reserve. The written agreement must specify that the owner must forego: (1) Any distributions of residual receipts during the period this waiver is in effect and for a period of 6 months thereafter; (2) any right under the existing lease agreement or State or local law to pursue legal action against tenants of HOME-assisted units for non-payment of rent and the collection of any fees associated with late payments without prior approval of the PJ; and (3) any adverse credit reporting against tenants of HOME-assisted units for nonpayment of rent or fees without prior approval of the PJ. Within six months following the waiver period, the PJ must review the project’s records of actual revenue and operating expenses, total amount of HOME funds expended from the operating reserve, and the eligibility of expenses by examining invoices and receipts. The written agreement must require the project owner to repay any expenditures for costs determined to be ineligible and any balance of HOME funds remaining in the reserve after December 31, 2020. Any HOME funds repaid to the PJ must be deposited in the local HOME account and reported as program income in IDIS. The waiver is effective through December 31, 2020. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) Utility Allowance Requirements. Project/Activity: San Luis Obispo County, California, requested a waiver of 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) to allow use of the utility allowance established by local public housing agency (PHA) for a HOME-assisted project—Iron Works Apartments. Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) requires participating jurisdictions to establish maximum monthly allowances for utilities and services (excluding telephone) and update the allowances annually. However, participating jurisdictions are not permitted to use the utility allowance established by the local public housing authority for HOME-assisted rental projects for which HOME funds were committed on or after August 23, 2013. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 8, 2020. Reason Waived: The HOME requirements for establishing a utility allowances conflict with Project Based Voucher program requirements. It is not possible to use two different utility allowances to set the rent for a single unit and it is administratively burdensome to require a project owner establish and implement different utility allowances for HOME-assisted units and nonHOME assisted units in a project. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) Utility Allowance Requirements. Project/Activity: Los Angeles County, California, requested a waiver of 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) to allow use of the utility allowance established by local public housing agency (PHA) for two HOMEassisted projects—Francisquito Senior Apartments and Athens Vistas Senior Apartments. Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) requires participating jurisdictions to establish maximum monthly allowances for utilities and services (excluding telephone) and update the allowances annually. However, participating jurisdictions are not permitted to use the utility allowance established by the local public housing authority for HOME-assisted rental projects for which HOME funds were committed on or after August 23, 2013. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: May 11, 2020. Reason Waived: The HOME requirements for establishing a utility allowances conflict with Project Based Voucher program requirements. It is not possible to use two different utility allowances to set the rent for a single unit and it is administratively burdensome to require a project owner VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 establish and implement different utility allowances for HOME-assisted units and nonHOME assisted units in a project. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) Utility Allowance Requirements. Project/Activity: The city of Santa Cruz, California, requested a waiver of 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) to allow use of the utility allowance established by local public housing agency (PHA) for a HOME-assisted project—Water Street Apartments. Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) requires participating jurisdictions to establish maximum monthly allowances for utilities and services (excluding telephone) and update the allowances annually. However, participating jurisdictions are not permitted to use the utility allowance established by the local public housing authority for HOME-assisted rental projects for which HOME funds were committed on or after August 23, 2013. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: May 11, 2020. Reason Waived: The HOME requirements for establishing a utility allowances conflict with Project Based Voucher program requirements. It is not possible to use two different utility allowances to set the rent for a single unit and it is administratively burdensome to require a project owner establish and implement different utility allowances for HOME-assisted units and nonHOME assisted units in a project. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) Utility Allowance Requirements. Project/Activity: Ventura County, California, requested a waiver of 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) to allow use of the utility allowance established by local public housing agency (PHA) for a HOME-assisted project—Willett Ranch Apartments. Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) requires participating jurisdictions to establish maximum monthly allowances for utilities and services (excluding telephone) and update the allowances annually. However, participating jurisdictions are not permitted to use the utility allowance established by the local public housing authority for HOME-assisted rental projects for which HOME funds were committed on or after August 23, 2013. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: May 11, 2020. Reason Waived: The HOME requirements for establishing a utility allowances conflict with Project Based Voucher program PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 73737 requirements. It is not possible to use two different utility allowances to set the rent for a single unit and it is administratively burdensome to require a project owner establish and implement different utility allowances for HOME-assisted units and nonHOME assisted units in a project. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) Utility Allowance Requirements. Project/Activity: Sonoma County, California, requested a waiver of 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) to allow use of the utility allowance established by local public housing agency (PHA) for a HOME-assisted project—Altamira Family Apartments. Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) requires participating jurisdictions to establish maximum monthly allowances for utilities and services (excluding telephone) and update the allowances annually. However, participating jurisdictions are not permitted to use the utility allowance established by the local public housing authority for HOME-assisted rental projects for which HOME funds were committed on or after August 23, 2013. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: June 3, 2020. Reason Waived: The HOME requirements for establishing a utility allowances conflict with Project Based Voucher program requirements. It is not possible to use two different utility allowances to set the rent for a single unit and it is administratively burdensome to require a project owner establish and implement different utility allowances for HOME-assisted units and nonHOME assisted units in a project. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.254(a)(3) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: Nine-month deadline for sale of HOME-assisted homebuyer units Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that a homebuyer housing unit developed with HOME funds have a ratified contract for sale to an eligible homebuyer within nine months of the date of completion of construction or rehabilitation. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: Many participating jurisdictions will not be able to meet this deadline due to the effect the COVID–19 pandemic will have on the ability of eligible households to qualify for mortgages as a result of income losses or the inability to schedule inspections, title searches, or closings during periods of business closures. E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 73738 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices The waiver is necessary to prevent the loss of homeownership opportunities for HOMEeligible families and temporarily suspend the required corrective action of repayment of HOME funds or conversion of the homebuyer units to rental housing. Applicability: The waiver applies to projects for which the nine-month homebuyer sale deadline occurs on or after the date of this memorandum and extends the deadline for those projects to December 31, 2020. This waiver does not apply to the remaining requirements of the regulation, including that a homebuyer must receive housing counseling, and that a PJ must determine eligibility of a family by including the income of all persons living in the housing. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.504(d)(1)(ii) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: On-site inspections of HOME-assisted rental housing. Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that during the period of affordability participating jurisdictions perform on-site inspections of HOME-assisted rental housing at least once every three years to determine compliance with the property standards and to verify the information submitted by the owners in accordance with the income and rent requirements. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: Waiving the requirement to perform ongoing on-site inspections will help protect participating jurisdiction staff and limit the spread of COVID–19. To protect participating jurisdiction staff and reduce the spread of COVID–19, this waiver extends the timeframe for participating jurisdictions to perform on-going periodic inspections and on-site reviews to determine a HOME rental project’s compliance with property standards and rent and income requirements. Applicability: The waiver is applicable to ongoing periodic inspections and does not waive the requirement to perform initial inspections of rental properties upon completion of construction or rehabilitation. The waiver is also applicable to on-site reviews to determine a HOME rental project’s compliance with rent and income requirements if the project owner is unable to make documentation available electronically. The waiver is in effect through December 31, 2020. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.504(d)(1)(iii); 24 CFR 92.209(i) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 Project/Activity: Annual inspection of units occupied by recipients of HOME tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA). Nature of Requirement: The regulations require participating jurisdictions to annually inspect each unit occupied by a recipient of HOME TBRA. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: Waiving the requirement that these annual inspections be performed according to schedule will protect the health of both inspectors and TBRA tenants by observing physical distancing recommendations to limit the spread of COVID–19. Applicability: The waiver is applicable to annual housing quality standards inspections required to occur from April 10, 2020, through December 31, 2020. PJs shall make reasonable efforts to address any tenant reported health and safety issues during the waiver period. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 92.551(b)(1) and 24 CFR 92.64(a). Project/Activity: Timeframe for a HOME participating jurisdiction’s response to findings of noncompliance. Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that if HUD determines that a participating jurisdiction has not met a provision of the HOME regulations, the participating jurisdiction must be notified and given an opportunity to respond within a time period prescribed by HUD, not to exceed 30 days. Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver is necessary to permit HUD to provide participating jurisdictions with an extended period to respond to findings of noncompliance in recognition of the unanticipated circumstances created by the COVID–19 pandemic. Requiring participating jurisdictions to respond to all findings of noncompliance within 30 days may interfere with a participating jurisdiction’s ability to address the unprecedented housing needs caused by the COVID–19 pandemic. Applicability: The waiver applies to all findings of HOME regulatory noncompliance issued from April 10, 2020, through December 31, 2020. In the notice of findings, HUD will specify a time period for the participating jurisdiction’s response. HUD may also extend time periods imposed before April 10, 2020. The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions. Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708–2684. II. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Government National Mortgage Association For further information about the following regulatory waivers, please see the name of the contact person that immediately follows the description of the waiver granted. • Regulation: 24 CFR 320.15(a). Project/ Activity: Regulatory Waiver of Issuer Default Status in Connection with The Pass-Through Assistance Program Related To The COVID– 19 National Emergency. Nature of the Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 320.15(a) establishes that any failure or inability of the issuer to make payments as due, as well as such other events as may be identified by the Association and included in the applicable guaranty agreement, contractual agreement or MBS Guide, shall constitute a default of the issuer. Granted By: Seth D. Appleton, Principal Executive Vice President, Ginnie Mae. Date Granted: April 10, 2020. Reason Waived: On March 13, 2020, the President declared a National Emergency related to the COVID–19 pandemic. For the first time, with the COVID–19 National Emergency, Ginnie Mae is facing a situation in which the potential liquidity threat from the emergency has virtually no limitations within the universe of approved Issuers. Because of statutory changes by Congress, such as CARES Act, Public Law 116–136, and policy changes by the insuring and guaranteeing agencies made in response to the COVID–19 National Emergency, it is conceivable that a broad cross section of nonbank Issuers participating in the Ginnie Mae program would seek assistance as the result of liquidity concerns and inability to make payments as due. Ginnie Mae’s program allows for the pass-through assistance (PTAP) in limited situations. Given the potential number of issuers that may be impacted, Ginnie Mae has determined that this situation warrants a regulatory waiver because the potential breadth and scale of the impact, and subsequent need for assistance, makes it impractical—and unwise—to assume that there would be no negative impact on the secondary mortgage market if a large number of issuers are declared to be in default because of financial challenges caused by statutes and policies related to a Presidentially-declared National Emergency. Therefore, modifying the definition of default as inapplicable to issuers that request PTAP assistance due to COVID–19 National Emergency is reasonable to meet Ginnie Mae’s statutory mission to provide stability in the secondary market for residential mortgages. Contact: Rene Mondonado, Director, Monitoring & Asset Management, Office of Issuer & Portfolio Management, Government National Mortgage Association, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 425 Third St. SW, 4th FL, Washington, DC 20024, Telephone (202) 475–7992. E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices III. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Housing—Federal Housing Administration (FHA) For further information about the following regulatory waivers, please see the name of the contact person that immediately follows the description of the waiver granted. • Regulation: 24 CFR 5.801 (c)(2). Project/Activity: Financial Statement Due Date. Nature of Requirement: For specified Multifamily and Residential Care Borrowers otherwise required to submit Annual Financial Statements on or before June 30, 2020, extend the due date of the Borrower Annual Financial Statements to September 30, 2020, and as otherwise provided by law. Granted By: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: June 25, 2020. Reason Waived: Due to COVID–19 National Health Emergency the Borrower Annual Financial Statements have been extended by 90-days. Contact: Brandt Witte, Program Analyst, Multifamily Asset and Counterparty Oversight Division, Office of Housing, Office of Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room, telephone (202) 402–2614. • Regulation: 24 CFR 200.73 (c). Project/Activity: Henderson Heights Apartment, Hendersonville, North Carolina, Project No. 053–11454. Nature of Requirement: HUD’s regulation at 24 CFR 200.73 (c) requiring that ‘‘not less than five rental dwelling units [of an FHA insured multifamily housing project] shall be on one site. The Housing Authority has and will continue to manage the project postconversion. Henderson Heights consists of 19 residential parcels with 164 buildings with a total of 352 units. The cluster of units/ projects were acquired by HHA over a 22year period. Two satellite sites are located north and west of Hendersonville and are not located within the city limits. The units were acquired and/or developed in seven phases/ projects between 1960 and 1982. Out of the 19 parcels, 4 parcels are non-conforming as they each contain fewer than 5 units. The 4 non-conforming parcels contain a total of 12 units. All the non-conforming parcels are located within the City of Hendersonville in close proximity to the larger, conforming parcels. Three of the parcels are located on the same street within a block of each other. Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: May 22, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver will meet HUD’s goal of preserving and maintaining affordable rental housing for low income families. The proposed FHA-insured loan/ RAD conversion will preserve and rehabilitate necessary affordable housing and will contribute to the revitalization of this Hendersonville community. Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 6132, Washington, DC 20410–8000, telephone (202) 402–5693. • Regulation: 24 CFR 200.73 (c). Project/Activity: Neighborhood Apartments, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Project No. 047–11246. Nature of Requirement: HUD’s regulation at 24 CFR 200.73 (c) requiring that ‘‘not less than five rental dwelling units [of an FHA insured multifamily housing project] shall be on one site. All sites composing the Neighborhood Apartment project are located in one neighborhood outside downtown Kalamazoo. The project constitutes one manageable, marketable real estate asset. The project offers 12 one bedroom/one bath units and 32 two bedroom/one bath housed within 11 one-story and two-story buildings. The project consists of three one-story buildings and seven two-story buildings located on 8 separate scattered sites. Two of the parcels are contiguous and contain two units each. One parcel contains 4 units. The remaining 5 parcels all contain 5 or more units. Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: June 23, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver will meet HUD’s goal of preserving and maintaining affordable rental housing for low income families. The proposed FHA-insured loan/ RAD conversion will preserve and rehabilitate necessary affordable housing and will contribute to the revitalization of this Kalamazoo community. Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–5693. • Regulation: 24 CFR 200.73(c). Project/Activity: Satchmo Plaza, New Orleans, LA, Project No. 064–11213. Nature of Requirement: The 24 CFR part 200.73 (c) which states that a site must contain no less than five rental dwelling units. Section 3.1.CC of the 2016 MAP Guide permits a project with two or more noncontiguous parcels of land when the parcels comprise one marketable, manageable real estate entity. Bedford Lending Corporation has applied for mortgage insurance under the Section 223(f) program to refinance Satchmo Plaza. The proposal is to combine two separate, scattered site, Section 8 assisted properties known as Satchmo Plaza and Armant Plaza into a single manageable property consisting of 46 total units and to be known as Satchmo Plaza. The projects are now owned by mortgagors controlled by the same non-profit entity. The existing Satchmo Plaza is 7 buildings on 5 sites totaling 30 units. It is a Section 202 property for the elderly. The existing Armant Plaza is 8 buildings on 3 sites with a total of 16 units. Armant is assisted with HOME/CDBG funds but is not presently age restricted. All of the combined scattered sites (8 sites, 15 buildings) are located in the same neighborhood near downtown New Orleans. Of the 8 sites, 4 have less than five units. The mortgage amount is $2,668,000. Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 73739 Date Granted: June 24, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver will meet HUD’s goal of preserving and maintaining affordable rental housing for low income families. The proposed FHA-insured loan/ RAD conversion will preserve and rehabilitate necessary affordable housing and will contribute to the revitalization of this New Orleans community. Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–5693. • Regulation: 24 CFR 200.194(d). Project/Activity: FHA Single Family Waiver for Non-Profit Roster Recertification. Nature of Requirement: Under 24 CFR 200.194 (d), HUD-approved nonprofit organizations must reapply for approval before the expiration of an existing 2-year authorization term to continue participating in FHA programs. Approximately 30 HUDapproved non-profit organizations that have been impacted by the COVID–19 pandemic are within 90–120 days of their approval or recertification date. Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: June 20, 2020. Reason Waived: A temporary 120-day extension makes it possible for FHAapproved non-profit organizations to operate without disruption during the COVID–19 pandemic. The temporary waiver is consistent with the Departments mission to promote and support affordable housing objectives and it does not violate any statutory requirements. Contact: Kevin Stevens, Acting Director, Office of Single Family Program Development, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 9266, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–4317. • Regulation: 24 CFR 203.255(b)(11). Project/Activity: COVID–19 Certification and Pre-Endorsement Review Requirements for The United States and Its Surrounding Territories. Nature of Requirement: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) regulation at 24 CFR 203.255(b) addresses the documentation that must be submitted to HUD for mortgages originated under the Direct Endorsement and Lender Insurance Programs. Additionally, subsection 203.255(b)(11) requires a mortgage certification on a form prescribed by the Secretary, stating that the authorized representative of the mortgagee has reviewed the mortgage documents and certifies that the mortgage complies with the requirements of paragraph (b) incorporating all certification items that apply to the mortgage loan as set forth in the applicable handbook (i.e., HUD Handbook 4000.1). The referenced prescribed form is Form HUD 92900–A. A mortgagee must certify at the time of insurance endorsement the loan is in compliance with all FHA origination and underwriting requirements including that the borrower’s employment status and ability to make mortgage payments is accurate. E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 73740 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: June 3, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver of the requirement in 24 CFR 203.255(b)(11) that states the mortgagee must certify, as prescribed on the 92900–A, at the time of insurance endorsement that the loan is in compliance with all FHA origination and underwriting requirements solely to the extent that the borrower’s employment status and ability to make mortgage payments, will permit the mortgagee that grants the borrower an Accommodation as defined at 4021 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) for forbearance of mortgage payments, after closing of the mortgage transaction to be in compliance with all FHA origination and underwriting requirements. Contact: Kevin Stevens, Acting Director Single Family Program Development, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 9266, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–4317. • Regulation: 24 CFR 219.220(b). Project/Activity: City View Park Walnut I, FHA Project Number 083–14002; City View Park Chestnut II, FHA Project Number 083– 12004; and City View Park Acorn III, FHA Project Number 083–12005, Louisville, KY. The owner of City View Park I, II, and III seeks approval to defer repayment of the Flexible Subsidy Operating Assistance Loans on the subject projects. Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 219.220(b) (1995), which governs the repayment of operating assistance provided under the Flexible Subsidy Program for Troubled Properties, states ‘‘Assistance that has been paid to a project owner under this subpart must be repaid at the earlier of the expiration of the term of the mortgage, termination of mortgage insurance, prepayment of the mortgage, or a sale of the project.’’ Granted by: Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: January 31, 2020. Reason Waived: The owner requested and was granted waiver of the requirement to repay the Flexible Subsidy Operating Assistance Loans in full when they became due. Deferring the loan payments will preserve these affordable housing resources for an additional 40 years through the execution and recordation of a Rental Use Agreement. Contact: Walter D. Wynn, Director, FAMD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 6164, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–2231. • Regulation: 24 CFR 242.17(c)(2). Project/Activity: Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York. Nature of Requirement: 24 CFR 242.17(c)(2) prohibits FHA from extending Commitments for Insurance of Advances for more than 180 days following the original commitment date. Granted By: Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 Date Granted: April 28, 2020. Reason Waived: Initial Endorsement of Maimonides Medical Center’s supplement (Section 241) loan was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The waiver allowed the Federal Housing Administration to schedule closing of Maimonides Medical Center’s supplemental (Section 241) construction loan for August 2020. Contact: Paul Giaudrone, Underwriting Director, Office of Hospital Facilities, Office of Healthcare Programs, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 409 3rd Street SW, Washington, DC 20024, telephone (202) 708– 0599 Ext. 5684. • Regulation: 24 CFR 266.200(b)(2). Project/Activity: Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) The Department requires, in 24 CFR 266.200(b)(2), Substantial Rehabilitation, that substantial rehabilitation (S/R) is defined as any combination of the following work to an existing facility of a project that aggregates to at least 15 percent of the project’s value after the rehabilitation and that results in material improvement of the project’s economic life, livability, marketability, and profitability. Boston, Massachusetts. There is no project number. Nature of Requirement: The Waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(b)(2), Substantial Rehabilitation. The waiver would permit Mass Housing Partnership (MHP) to use the revised definition published in the Revised MAP Guide on January 29, 2016, such that S/R is: Any scope of work that either (a) exceeds in aggregate cost a sum equal to the ‘base per dwelling unit limit’ times the applicable *High Cost Factor, or (b) replacement of two or more building systems. Replacement is when the cost of replacement work exceeds 50 percent of the cost of replacing the entire system. *The High Cost Factors for 2019 were published through a Housing Notice (HN) on May 20, 2019, and the revised statutory limits were recently published in the Federal Register on January 1, 2018. The 2019 base dwelling unit amount to determine substantial rehabilitation for FHA insured loan programs has been increased from $15,933 (changed from $6,500 per unit in the 2016 MAP guide) to $15,933. This amount will change annually based upon the change in the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI), along with the statutory limits or other inflation cost index published by HUD. The regulatory waiver is subject to the following conditions: 1. The waiver is limited to forty-eight (48) projects and expires on December 31, 2023 for waiver request related to regulation 24 CFR 266.200(b)(2) and (c)(2). 2. MHP must elect to take 50 percent or more of the risk of loss on all transactions. 3. Mortgages made under this waiver may have amortization periods of up to 40 years, but with a minimum term of 17 years. 4. All other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410—Mortgage Provision remain applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under MHP’s Risk Sharing Agreement. 5. Projects must comply with Davis-Bacon labor standards in accordance with 24 CFR 266.225. PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 6. MHP must comply with regulations stated in 24 CFR 266.210 for insured advances or insurance upon completion transactions. 7. The loans exceeding $50 million require a separate waiver request. 8. Occupancy is no less than 93 percent for previous 12 months. 9. No defaults in the last 12 months of the HFA loan to be refinanced. 10. A 20-year affordable housing deed restriction placed on title that conforms to the Section 542(c) statutory definition. 11. A Property Capital Needs Assessment (PCNA) must be performed and funds escrowed for all necessary repairs, and reserves funded for future capital needs; and 12. For projects subsidized by Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contracts: a: Owner agrees to renew HAP contract(s) for 20-year term, (subject to appropriations and statutory authorization, etc.), and b: In accordance with regulations in 24 CFR 883.306(e), and Housing Notice 2012–14— Use of ‘‘New Regulation’’ Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts Residual Receipts of Offset Project-Based Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments, if at any time MHP determines that a project’s excess funds (surplus cash) after project operations, reserve requirements and permitted distributions are met, MHP must place the excess funds into a separate interest-bearing account. Upon renewal of a HAP Contract the excess funds can be used to reduce future HAP payments or other project operations/purposes. When the HAP Contract expires, is terminated, or any extensions are terminated, any unused funds remaining in the Residual Receipt Account at the time of the contract’s termination must be returned. Granted By: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: June 30, 2020. Reason Waived: The Department is approving your request for forty-eight (48) insured under the 542(c) HFA Risk Sharing Program expiring on December 31, 2023. The waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(b)(2) would permit MHP to use the revised definition published in the Revised MAP Guide on January 29, 2016, such that S/R is: Any scope of work that either (a) exceeds in aggregate cost a sum equal to the ‘base per dwelling unit limit’ times the applicable *High Cost*High Cost Factor, or (b) replacement of two or more building systems. Replacement is when the cost of replacement work exceeds 50 percent of the cost of replacing the entire system. Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–5693. • Regulation: 24 CFR 266.200(c)(2). Project/Activity: The Waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(c)(2), Existing Project ‘‘Equity Takeout’’, that the refinancing of HFA refinance loan is permissible if the preservation is the result, with certain conditions: (1) Occupancy at least 93 percent for previous 12 months; (2) underwrite to the lower of E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices Section 8 or market rents; (3) no equity takeouts: Risk sharing loan cannot exceed sum of existing indebtedness, cost of repairs, and transaction costs; (4) no defaults in the last 12 months of HFA loans. This waiver’s Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) in Boston, Massachusetts, no project name, or number listed. Nature of Requirement: The Waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(c)(2), Existing Projects ‘‘Equity Take-outs’’. The waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(c)(2) would permit equity take-outs for any existing property, including both MHP-financed developments and those outside of MHP’s portfolio, to be refinanced by MHP, where MHP and HUD split the risk of loss 50/50. In order to mitigate risk to FHA, ensure affordability of projects, loans to be refinanced cannot have been in default in the 12 months prior to the date of application for refinancing, the owner must agree to renew the HAP contract for a 20-year term, if applicable, existing and post-refinance HAP residual receipts must be set aside to be used to reduce future HAP payments, the property must be maintained as affordable housing for a period of at least 20 year, regardless of whether the loan is prepaid, and a capital needs assessment must be performed and funds escrowed for all necessary repairs and replacement reserves funded for future capital repairs. Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: June 30. 2020. Reason Waived: The approval of MHP’s underwriting guidelines as indicted in Appendix B—Multifamily Loan Underwriting Standards and Reference Manual revised on November 2018. MHP will meet massive affordable housing needs in post MHP requests a waiver of two existing risk sharing requirements to meet agency’s massive affordable housing needs in a post 1414B environment. The Department is approving your request forty-eight (48) insured under the 542(c) HFA Risk Sharing Program expiring on December 31, 2023. Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–5693. • Regulation: 24CFR 266.200(d). Project/Activity: The waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(d), for projects receiving Section 8 rental subsidies or other rental subsidies. For refinancing of Section 202 projects, and for Public Housing Authority (PHA) projects converting to Section 8 through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Initiative, Boston, Massachusetts. No project number or name listed. Nature of Requirement: The waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(d), for projects receiving Section 8 rental subsidies or other rental subsidies. The Department would permit Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) to underwrite Section 202 projects and PHA projects converting to Section 8 through RAD using the current or to-be-adjusted projectbased Section 8 rents, even though they exceed the market rates, consistent with HUD VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 Housing Notice 04–21. ‘‘Amendments to Notice 02–16: Underwriting Guidelines for Refinancing of Section 202, and Section 202/ 8 Direct Loan Repayments’’, which grants authority only to those lenders refinancing with mortgage programs under the National Housing Act. Granted By: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: June 30, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver would allow Supportive Housing program projects of MHP’s assuming at least 50 percent of the risk of loss on mortgages insured under Section 542(c) would be subject to the same underwriting standard as other Section 202 projects in that the loans may be underwritten to contract rents. This waiver better aligns requirements between HUD programs, thereby streamlining and facilitating program administration by HFAs. Waiver will create and preserve affordable housing in the State of Massachusetts. The waiver is limited to forty-eight (48) projects and expires on December 31, 2023. Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–5693. • Regulation: 24 CFR 266.410(e). Project/Activity: District of Columbia Housing Agency (DCHFA), Washington, DC, no project name or number listed. Nature of Requirement: The 24 CFR 266.410(e), which requires mortgages insured under the 542(c) Housing Finance Agency Risk Sharing Program to be fully amortized over the term of the mortgage. The waiver would permit DCHFA to use balloon loans that would have a minimum term of 17 years and a maximum amortization period of 40 years for the projects identified in the ‘‘Multifamily Pipeline Projects’’. Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: June 22, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver was granted to allow DCHFA’s clients additional financing options to their customers and to align DCHFA business practices with industry standards, thus furthering the creation of a preservation of affordable housing throughout Washington, DC. The regulatory waiver is subject to the following conditions: 1. This waiver is limited to the projects listed in DCHFA’s ‘‘Multifamily Pipeline Projects’’ and expires on December 31, 2022. 2. DCHFA must elect to take 50 percent or more of the risk of loss on all transactions. 3. Mortgages made under this waiver may have amortization periods of up to 40 years, but with a minimum term of 17 years. 4. All other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410—Mortgage Provision remain applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under DCHFA’s Risk Sharing Agreement. 5. In accordance with 24 CFR 266.200(d), the mortgage may not exceed an amount supportable by the lower of the Section 8 or comparable unassisted rents. PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 73741 6. Projects must comply with Davis-Bacon labor standards in accordance with 24 CFR 266.225. 7. DCHFA must comply with regulations stated in 24 CFR 266.210 for insured advances or insurance upon completion transactions. 8. A 20-year affordable housing deed restriction placed on title that conforms to the Section 542(c) statutory definition. 9. Occupancy is no less than 93 percent for previous 12 months. 10. No defaults in the last 12 months of the HFA loan to be refinanced. 11. A Property Capital Needs Assessment (PCNA) must be performed and funds escrowed for all necessary repairs, and reserves funded for future capital needs; and 12. For projects subsidized by Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contracts: i. a: Owner agrees to renew HAP contract(s) for 20-year term, (subject to appropriations and statutory authorization, etc.), and b: In accordance with regulations in 24 CFR 883.306(e), and Housing Notice 2012–14— Use of ‘‘New Regulation’’ Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts Residual Receipts of Offset Project-Based Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments, if at any time DCHFA determines that a project’s excess funds (surplus cash) after project operations, reserve requirements and permitted distributions are met, DCHFA must place the excess funds into a separate interest-bearing account. Upon renewal of a HAP Contract the excess funds can be used to reduce future HAP payments or other project operations/purposes. When the HAP Contract expires, is terminated, or any extensions are terminated, any unused funds remaining in the Residual Receipt Account at the time of the contract’s termination must be returned. Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–5693. • Regulation: 24 CFR 266.410(e). Project/Activity: California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) no project name or number. Nature of Requirement: The 24 CFR 266.410(e), which requires mortgages insured under the 542(c) Housing Finance Agency Risk Sharing Program to be fully amortized over the term of the mortgage. The waiver would permit CalHFA to use balloon loans that would have a minimum term of 17 years and a maximum amortization period of 40 years for the projects identified in the ‘‘Multifamily Pipeline Projects’’. CalHFA had previously been granted a waiver of 24 CFR 266.410(e) on May 25, 2018 which expired on December 31, 2019. This was the second waiver granted to CalHFA related to 24 CFR 266.410(e). The first waiver was approved on July 1, 2014 with an expiration date of June 30, 2016. Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting, Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: June 8, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver was granted to allow CalHFA’s clients additional financing E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 73742 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices options to their customers and to align CalHFA business practices with industry standards. This waiver is effective through December 31, 2022. The regulatory waiver is subject to the following conditions: This waiver expires on December 31, 2022. All other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410— Mortgage Provision remain applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under CalHFA’s Risk Sharing Agreement. The regulatory waiver is subject to the following conditions: 1. This waiver is limited to the projects listed in CalHFA’s ‘‘Multifamily Pipeline Projects’’ and expires on December 31, 2022. 2. CalHFA must elect to take 50 percent or more of the risk of loss on all transactions. 3. Mortgages made under this waiver may have amortization periods of up to 40 years, but with a minimum term of 17 years. 4. All other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410—Mortgage Provision remain applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under CalHFA’s Risk Sharing Agreement. 5. In accordance with 24 CFR 266.200(d), the mortgage may not exceed an amount supportable by the lower of the Section 8 or comparable unassisted rents. 6. Projects must comply with Davis-Bacon labor standards in accordance with 24 CFR 266.225. 7. CalHFA must comply with regulations stated in 24 CFR 266.210 for insured advances or insurance upon completion transactions. 8. A 20-year affordable housing deed restriction placed on title that conforms to the Section 542(c) statutory definition. 9. Occupancy is no less than 93 percent for previous 12 months. 10. No defaults in the last 12 months of the HFA loan to be refinanced. 11. A Property Capital Needs Assessment (PCNA) must be performed and funds escrowed for all necessary repairs, and reserves funded for future capital needs; and 12. For projects subsidized by Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contracts: i. a: Owner agrees to renew HAP contract(s) for 20-year term, (subject to appropriations and statutory authorization, etc.), and b: In accordance with regulations in 24 CFR 883.306(e), and Housing Notice 2012–14— Use of ‘‘New Regulation’’ Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts Residual Receipts of Offset Project-Based Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments, if at any time CalHFA determines that a project’s excess funds (surplus cash) after project operations, reserve requirements and permitted distributions are met, CalHFA must place the excess funds into a separate interest-bearing account. Upon renewal of a HAP Contract the excess funds can be used to reduce future HAP payments or other project operations/purposes. When the HAP Contract expires, is terminated, or any extensions are terminated, any unused funds remaining in the Residual Receipt Account at the time of the contract’s termination must be returned. Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–5693. • Regulation: 24 CFR 266.410(e). Project/Activity: Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), no project name or number listed. Nature of Requirement: The 24 CFR 266.410(e), which requires mortgages insured under the 542(c) Housing Finance Agency Risk Sharing Program to be fully amortized over the term of the mortgage. The waiver would permit MHP to use balloon loans that would have a minimum term of 17 years and a maximum amortization period of 40 years for the projects identified in the ‘‘Multifamily Pipeline Projects’’. MHP had previously been granted a waiver of 24 CFR 266.410(e) on May 25, 2018 which expired on December 31, 2019. This was the second waiver granted to MHP related to 24 CFR 266.410(e). The first waiver was approved on July 1, 2014 with an expiration date of June 30, 2016. Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting, Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: June 30, 2020. Reason Waived: The waiver was granted to allow MHP ’s clients additional financing options to their customers and to align MHP business practices with industry standards. This waiver is effective through December 31, 2023. The regulatory waiver is subject to the following conditions: This waiver expires on December 31, 2023. All other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410—Mortgage Provision remain applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under MHP’s Risk Sharing Agreement. The regulatory waiver is subject to the following conditions: 1. This waiver is limited to the projects listed in MHP’s ‘‘Multifamily Pipeline Projects’’ and expires on December 31, 2023. 2. MHP must elect to take 50 percent or more of the risk of loss on all transactions. 3. Mortgages made under this waiver may have amortization periods of up to 40 years, but with a minimum term of 17 years. 4. All other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410—Mortgage Provision remain applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under MHP’s Risk Sharing Agreement. 5. In accordance with 24 CFR 266.200(d), the mortgage may not exceed an amount supportable by the lower of the Section 8 or comparable unassisted rents. 6. Projects must comply with Davis-Bacon labor standards in accordance with 24 CFR 266.225. 7. MHP must comply with regulations stated in 24 CFR 266.210 for insured advances or insurance upon completion transactions. 8. A 20-year affordable housing deed restriction placed on title that conforms to the Section 542(c) statutory definition. 9. Occupancy is no less than 93 percent for previous 12 months. 10. No defaults in the last 12 months of the HFA loan to be refinanced. 11. A Property Capital Needs Assessment (PCNA) must be performed and funds escrowed for all necessary repairs, and reserves funded for future capital needs; and PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12. For projects subsidized by Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contracts: ii. a: Owner agrees to renew HAP contract(s) for 20-year term, (subject to appropriations and statutory authorization, etc.), and b: In accordance with regulations in 24 CFR 883.306(e), and Housing Notice 2012–14—Use of ‘‘New Regulation’’ Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts Residual Receipts of Offset ProjectBased Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments, if at any time MHP determines that a project’s excess funds (surplus cash) after project operations, reserve requirements and permitted distributions are met, MHP must place the excess funds into a separate interest-bearing account. Upon renewal of a HAP Contract the excess funds can be used to reduce future HAP payments or other project operations/purposes. When the HAP Contract expires, is terminated, or any extensions are terminated, any unused funds remaining in the Residual Receipt Account at the time of the contract’s termination must be returned. Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–5693. • Regulation: 24 CFR 3282.14(b). Project/Activity: Manufactured housing regulatory oversight. Nature of Requirement: This regulation requires manufacturers of manufactured homes to submit a request for Alternative Construction consideration. Granted By: Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: April 16, 2020. Reason Waived: Supply chain disruption of conforming windows was impacted due to COVID–19 pandemic. The waiver allows HUD to allow any manufacturer to use an Alternative Construction letter without having supplied a request in advance. Contact: Jason McJury, Deputy Administrator, Office of Manufactured Housing Programs, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 9170, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–2480. • Regulation: 24 CFR 3286.211(a). Project/Activity: Manufactured Housing Regulatory Oversight. Nature of Requirement: This regulation requires each installation license issued or renewed by HUD to expire 3 years after the date of its issuance or renewal. Granted By: Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner. Date Granted: May 29, 2020. Reason Waived: Due to impacts from COVID–19 manufactured home installers have been unable to complete continuing education requirements and needed extensions to avoid lapses in licensing that would negatively impact housing installations across the country. Contact: Angelo Wallace, Civil Engineer, Office of Manufactured Housing Programs, E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1 73743 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 224 / Thursday, November 19, 2020 / Notices Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 9170, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402–3848. [FR Doc. 2020–25476 Filed 11–18–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR–7029–N–09] 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Reporting for HUD Research, Evaluation, and Demonstration Cooperative Agreements Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, HUD. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment. DATES: Comments Due Date: January 19, 2021. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Anna P. Guido, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SUMMARY: Information collection Number of respondents SW, Room 4176, Washington, DC 20410–5000; telephone 202–402–5534 (this is not a toll-free number) or email at Anna.P.Guido@hud.gov for a copy of the proposed forms or other available information. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at (800) 877– 8339. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna P. Guido, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20410; email Anna P. Guido at Anna.P.Guido@hud.gov or telephone 202–402–5535. This is not a toll-free number. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at (800) 877– 8339. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Guido. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that HUD is seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in Section A. A. Overview of Information Collection Title of Information Collection: Reporting for HUD Research, Evaluation, Demonstration and Data Analysis Cooperative Agreements. OMB Approval Number: 2528–0299. Description of the need for the information and proposed use: PD&R intends to establish cooperative agreements with qualified for-profit and nonprofit research organizations and universities to conduct research, demonstrations, and data analysis. PD&R will issue a Notice of Funding Frequency of response Responses per annum Burden hour per response Availability (NOFA) describing the cooperative research program. Management of PD&R cooperative agreements for research and demonstrations will require periodic reporting of progress. This information collection will be limited to recipients of cooperative agreements. Type of Request: (i.e., new, revision or extension of currently approved collection): Revision. Agency Form Numbers: No agency forms will be used. The quarterly reporting will be accomplished through a short narrative report. Respondents: HUD anticipates that approximately 14–18 organizations will be selected for cooperative agreement award. Recipients of the cooperative agreements will be the sole members of the affected public for the reporting requirement. Members of Affected Public: For-profit and nonprofit organizations that apply to participate under the cooperative research agreements NOFA. Estimated Number of Respondents frequency of response, and hours of response: HUD anticipates that a maximum of 10 organizations will receive cooperative agreements. Quarterly progress reporting, other mandatory federal reporting and recordkeeping requirements are estimated at 72 labor hours annually for each awardee during the life of the agreement. The total estimated burden for progress reporting by all participants is 648 hours annually. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 648. Estimated Total Annual Cost: The only cost to the respondents is that of their time. Annual burden hours Hourly cost per response Cost Quarterly Reports ......... Other Reports .............. Recordkeeping ............. 18 18 18 4 1 1 72 18 18 4 4 16 288 72 288 $0 0 0 $0 0 0 Total ...................... ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ 648 ........................ 0 B. Solicitation of Public Comment This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected parties concerning the collection of information described in Section A on the following: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:40 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 253001 (2) The accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms ofinformation technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to these questions. C. Authority Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35. The Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, Seth Appleton, having reviewed and approved this document, is delegating the authority to electronically sign this document to submitter, Nacheshia Foxx, who is the E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM 19NON1

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 224 (Thursday, November 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73732-73743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25476]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-6210-N-02]


Notice of Regulatory Waiver Requests Granted for the Second 
Quarter of Calendar Year 2020

AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 
1989 (the HUD Reform Act) requires HUD to publish quarterly Federal 
Register notices of all regulatory waivers that HUD has approved. Each 
notice covers the quarterly period since the previous Federal Register 
notice. The purpose of this notice is to comply with the requirements 
of the HUD Reform Act. This notice contains a list of regulatory 
waivers granted by HUD during the period beginning on April 1, 2020 and 
ending on June 30, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about this 
notice, contact Aaron Santa Anna, Associate General Counsel for 
Legislation and Regulations, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 10282, Washington, DC 20410-0500, 
telephone 202-708-5300 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with

[[Page 73733]]

hearing- or speech-impairments may access this number through TTY by 
calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
    For information concerning a particular waiver that was granted and 
for which public notice is provided in this document, contact the 
person whose name and address follow the description of the waiver 
granted in the accompanying list of waivers that have been granted in 
the second quarter of calendar year 2020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 106 of the HUD Reform Act added a 
new section 7(q) to the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act 
(42 U.S.C. 3535(q)), which provides that:
    1. Any waiver of a regulation must be in writing and must specify 
the grounds for approving the waiver;
    2. Authority to approve a waiver of a regulation may be delegated 
by the Secretary only to an individual of Assistant Secretary or 
equivalent rank, and the person to whom authority to waive is delegated 
must also have authority to issue the particular regulation to be 
waived;
    3. Not less than quarterly, the Secretary must notify the public of 
all waivers of regulations that HUD has approved, by publishing a 
notice in the Federal Register. These notices (each covering the period 
since the most recent previous notification) shall:
    a. Identify the project, activity, or undertaking involved;
    b. Describe the nature of the provision waived and the designation 
of the provision;
    c. Indicate the name and title of the person who granted the waiver 
request;
    d. Describe briefly the grounds for approval of the request; and
    e. State how additional information about a particular waiver may 
be obtained.
    Section 106 of the HUD Reform Act also contains requirements 
applicable to waivers of HUD handbook provisions that are not relevant 
to the purpose of this notice.
    This notice follows procedures provided in HUD's Statement of 
Policy on Waiver of Regulations and Directives issued on April 22, 1991 
(56 FR 16337). In accordance with those procedures and with the 
requirements of section 106 of the HUD Reform Act, waivers of 
regulations are granted by the Assistant Secretary with jurisdiction 
over the regulations for which a waiver was requested. In those cases 
in which a General Deputy Assistant Secretary granted the waiver, the 
General Deputy Assistant Secretary was serving in the absence of the 
Assistant Secretary in accordance with the office's Order of 
Succession.
    This notice covers waivers of regulations granted by HUD from April 
1, 2020 through June 30, 2020. For ease of reference, the waivers 
granted by HUD are listed by HUD program office (for example, the 
Office of Community Planning and Development, the Office of Fair 
Housing and Equal Opportunity, the Office of Housing, and the Office of 
Public and Indian Housing, etc.). Within each program office grouping, 
the waivers are listed sequentially by the regulatory section of title 
24 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that is being waived. For 
example, a waiver of a provision in 24 CFR part 58 would be listed 
before a waiver of a provision in 24 CFR part 570.
    Where more than one regulatory provision is involved in the grant 
of a particular waiver request, the action is listed under the section 
number of the first regulatory requirement that appears in 24 CFR and 
that is being waived. For example, a waiver of both Sec.  58.73 and 
Sec.  58.74 would appear sequentially in the listing under Sec.  58.73.
    Waiver of regulations that involve the same initial regulatory 
citation are in time sequence beginning with the earliest-dated 
regulatory waiver.
    Should HUD receive additional information about waivers granted 
during the period covered by this report (the second quarter of 
calendar year 2020) before the next report is published (the third 
quarter of calendar year 2020), HUD will include any additional waivers 
granted for the second quarter in the next report.
    Accordingly, information about approved waiver requests pertaining 
to HUD regulations is provided in the Appendix that follows this 
notice.

    The Principal Deputy General Counsel, Michael B. Williams, 
having reviewed and approved this document, is delegating the 
authority to electronically sign this document to submitter, Aaron 
Santa Anna, who is the Federal Register Liaison for HUD, for 
purposes of publication in the Federal Register.

Aaron Santa Anna,
Associate General Counsel for Legislation & Regulations.

Appendix

Listing of Waivers of Regulatory Requirements Granted by Offices of the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development April 1, 2020 Through June 
30, 2020

    Note to Reader: More information about the granting of these 
waivers, including a copy of the waiver request and approval, may be 
obtained by contacting the person whose name is listed as the 
contact person directly after each set of regulatory waivers 
granted.

    The regulatory waivers granted appear in the following order:

I. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Community Planning 
and Development
II. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Government National Mortgage 
Association
III. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Housing

I. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Community Planning and 
Development

    For further information about the following regulatory waivers, 
please see the name of the contact person that immediately follows 
the description of the waiver granted.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 91.105(c)(2) and (k), 24 CFR 
91.115(c)(2) and (i), and, 24 CFR 91.235(e) and 24 CFR 91.401.
    Project/Activity: Citizen participation reasonable notice and 
opportunity to comment.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations set forth citizen 
participation requirements for participating jurisdictions. For 
substantial amendments to the consolidated plan, a participating 
jurisdiction to follow its citizen participation plan, which must 
state how reasonable notice and opportunity for public comment will 
be given.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver permits participating jurisdictions 
amending their consolidated plans as a result of the COVID-19 
pandemic to reduce the comment period to 5 days. Given the 
unprecedented economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, 
participating jurisdictions may need to expeditiously reprogram HOME 
funds to activities that more directly meet their immediate housing 
needs. Requiring these participating jurisdictions to complete the 
required public comment period would cause undue delays in the face 
of urgent and growing need.
    Applicability: The waiver is in effect for any necessary 
substantial amendments to Fiscal Year 2020 and earlier consolidated 
plans or action plans and to any approved Annual Action Plan being 
amended. The waiver is available to all HOME participating 
jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 91.105(c)(2) and (k), 24 CFR 
91.115(c)(2) and (i), and, 24 CFR 91.235(e) and 24 CFR 91.401.
    Project/Activity: Citizen participation reasonable notice and 
opportunity to comment.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations set forth citizen 
participation requirements for participating jurisdictions. For 
substantial amendments to the consolidated plan, a

[[Page 73734]]

participating jurisdiction to follow its citizen participation plan, 
which must state how reasonable notice and opportunity for public 
comment will be given.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver permits participating jurisdictions 
amending their consolidated plans as a result of the COVID-19 
pandemic to reduce the comment period to 5 days. Given the 
unprecedented economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, 
requiring t participating jurisdictions to complete the required 
public comment period would cause undue delays in commencing tenant-
based rental assistance programs to address an urgent and growing 
need.
    Applicability: The waiver applies to any approved Annual Action 
Plan being amended to reprogram funds to TBRA to address housing 
needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The waiver is available to 
all HOME participating jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulations: 24 CFR 91.220, 24 CFR 91.320.
    Project/Activity: Housing and homeless needs assessment, housing 
market analysis, and strategic plan in Consolidated Plan, and action 
plans to the extent they are limited to a specific program year.
    Nature of Requirement: 42 U.S.C. 12705(a)(2) requires that 
grantees submit and provide updates to a comprehensive housing 
affordability strategy, which contains a housing and homeless needs 
assessment, housing market analysis, and strategic plan, in order to 
receive CDBG funds. 24 CFR 91.220 for entitlement communities and 24 
CFR 91.320 for states require that grantees incorporate the 
statutory comprehensive housing affordability strategy requirements 
in their annual action plans.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 9, 2020.
    Reason Waived: To expedite grantees' use of CDBG-CV funds, HUD 
is waiving the requirements at 42 U.S.C. 12705(a)(2) to the extent 
it requires updates to the housing and homeless needs assessment, 
housing market analysis, and strategic plan, and 24 CFR 91.220 and 
91.320 to the extent the action plan is limited to a specific 
program year to permit grantees to prepare substantial amendments to 
their most recent annual action plan, including their 2019 annual 
action plan.
    Applicability: The statutory comprehensive housing affordability 
strategy requirements are waived to allow grantees to prepare 
substantial amendments to their most recent annual action plan. In 
their amended annual action plans, grantees must identify the 
proposed use of all funds and how the funds will be used to prevent, 
prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
    Contact: James H[ouml]emann, Office of Block Grant Assistance, 
Entitlement Communities Division, Office of Community Planning and 
Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street SW, Room 7282, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 
402-5716.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 91.520(a).
    Project/Activity: The Consolidated Annual Performance and 
Evaluation Report (performance report) submission to HUD within 90 
days after the close of a jurisdiction's program year.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 91.520(a) 
requires each grantee to submit a performance report to HUD within 
90 days after the close of the grantee's program year.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: May 7, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Under the authority at 24 CFR 91.600, HUD is 
authorized to waive this requirement when a determination of good 
cause is made and supported by documentation. Given the outbreak of 
the coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 and the extenuating 
circumstances placed on state and local governments, and citizens, 
HUD has determined that there is good cause for waiving this 
provision. The extenuating circumstances and administrative strain 
supporting this waiver are well documented in the broad public news 
coverage related to the outbreak.
    Applicability: For program year 2019 CAPERs, the requirement 
that grantees submit a performance report within 90 days after the 
close of a jurisdiction's program year is waived, subject to the 
condition that within 180 days after the close of a jurisdiction's 
program year the jurisdiction shall submit its performance report.
    Contact: James H[ouml]emann, Office of Block Grant Assistance, 
Entitlement Communities Division, Office of Community Planning and 
Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street SW, Room 7282, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 
402-5716.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.203(a)(1) and (2), and 24 CFR 
92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: Source documentation for HOME income 
determinations.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require initial income 
determinations for HOME beneficiaries by examining source 
documentation covering the most recent two months.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver permits the participating jurisdiction 
to use self-certification of income in lieu of source documentation 
to determine eligibility for HOME assistance of persons requiring 
emergency assistance related to COVID-19. Many families affected by 
actions taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as business 
closures resulting in loss of employment or lay-offs, will not have 
documentation that accurately reflects current income and will not 
be able to qualify for HOME assistance if the requirement remains 
effective.
    Applicability: This waiver is applicable to initial income 
determinations for individuals and families that have lost 
employment or income either permanently or temporarily due to the 
COVID-19 pandemic and who are applying for admission to a HOME 
rental unit or a HOME tenant-based rental assistance program. This 
waiver also applies to homeless individuals and families who are 
applying for admission to a HOME rental unit or a HOME tenant-based 
rental assistance program. If a PJ chooses to use this waiver 
availability, the PJ must ensure that self-certified income takes 
into consideration all income, including any unemployment and 
emergency benefits the applicant will receive. However, for purposes 
of an applicant's self-certification, emergency tax relief (commonly 
referred to as stimulus payments) is not to be included as an 
emergency benefit. Also, the PJ must arrange to conduct on-site rent 
and income reviews within 90 days after the waiver period. The PJ 
must include tenant income certifications in each project file. This 
requirement is waived through December 31, 2020, for rental 
assistance provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The waiver 
is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.203(a)(2) and 24 CFR 92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: Source documentation for HOME income 
determinations.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require the participating 
jurisdiction to determine a tenant-based rental assistance tenant's 
income by examining at least two months of source documentation 
evidencing income and projecting anticipated income forward for the 
next 12 months.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver permits the participating jurisdiction 
to use self-certification of income in lieu of source documentation 
to determine eligibility for HOME assistance of persons requiring 
emergency rental assistance related to COVID-19. Given the rapid and 
unanticipated economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, 
source documentation from the past two months may not reflect the 
current financial circumstances of many households. Requiring 
participating jurisdictions to use source documentation would be 
administratively burdensome, may not reflect current or anticipated 
income, and may result in individuals and families being incorrectly 
disqualified from receiving TBRA.
    Applicability: This waiver is applicable to tenant-based rental 
assistance provided to individuals and families experiencing 
financial hardship. The PJ must ensure that

[[Page 73735]]

the tenant's self-certification indicates how the tenant's financial 
situation has changed (i.e., job loss or reduced wages), and include 
all income, including any unemployment or emergency benefits 
received by the tenant as a result of the pandemic. However, for the 
purposes of a tenant's self-certification, emergency tax relief 
(commonly referred to as stimulus payments) is not to be included as 
an emergency benefit. The PJ must include tenant income 
certifications in each project file. This requirement is waived 
through December 31, 2020, for rental assistance provided in 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The waiver is available to all 
HOME participating jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.205(e)(2) and 24 CFR 92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: Four-year project completion deadline.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that projects 
assisted with HOME funds be completed within four years of the date 
that HOME funds were committed.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: This waiver is necessary to provide additional 
time to permit completion of HOME-assisted projects that may be 
delayed as a result of the impact of COVID-19 on project timelines.
    Applicability: The waiver applies to projects for which the 
four-year project completion deadline will occur on or after April 
10, 2020. The completion deadlines for covered projects are extended 
to December 31, 2020. The waiver is available to all HOME 
participating jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.209(a) and (h) and 24 CFR 
92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: Eligible tenant-based rental assistance costs 
and maximum TBRA subsidy.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations state that eligible TBRA 
costs include rental assistance and security deposit payments made 
to income-eligible households. Participating jurisdictions can also 
use HOME funds to provide utility deposit assistance if such 
assistance is provided in conjunction with TBRA or a security 
deposit payment. The maximum amount of monthly assistance may not 
exceed the difference between the participating jurisdiction's rent 
standard and 30 percent of the tenant's monthly adjusted income.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver allows participating jurisdictions to 
provide up to 100 percent subsidy for rent, security deposit 
payments, and utility bills paid by tenants affected by a reduction 
or loss of income from the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic 
has caused widespread loss or reduction of income, significantly 
affecting the financial stability of households, including existing 
TBRA families, and rendering many unable to pay rent and/or 
utilities. As individuals experience financial hardship, the amount 
of assistance required to ensure they remain housed will often 
exceed the participating jurisdiction's payment standard. 
Individuals may be unable to pay the participating jurisdiction's 
minimum required tenant contribution toward rent.
    Applicability: This waiver is applicable to TBRA provided to 
individuals or families experiencing financial hardship, including 
existing TBRA families. PJs using this waiver authority must execute 
a rental assistance contract with the owner or tenant for a term 
mutually agreed upon by all parties, but not to exceed the December 
31, 2020, waiver period. The PJ may make utility payments directly 
to the tenant or utility company based on utility bills submitted 
for the assisted unit, either by mail or electronically. The waiver 
applies through December 31, 2020. The waiver is available to all 
HOME participating jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.209(e) and 24 CFR 92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: Term of rental assistance contract.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations state requirements for 
the term of rental assistance contracts, including that the term 
must begin on the first day of the term of the lease.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver eliminates the requirement that the 
rental assistance contract begin on the first day of the term of the 
lease. This waiver is necessary to enable participating 
jurisdictions to assist tenants that are currently housed, including 
existing TBRA households, but have experienced sudden financial 
hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because affected 
households already have an executed lease, it is impossible for the 
TBRA contract to begin on the first day of the term of the lease.
    Applicability: This requirement is waived through December 31, 
2020, for TBRA provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 
PJ's requirement to execute a rental assistance contract with the 
owner or tenant is not waived. PJs using this waiver authority must 
execute a rental assistance contract with the owner or tenant for a 
term mutually agreed upon by all parties, but not to exceed the 
December 31, 2020, waiver period. The waiver is available to all 
HOME participating jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.209(f) and 24 CFR 92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: HOME TBRA rent reasonableness.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that a 
participating jurisdiction must disapprove a lease if the rent is 
not reasonable, based on an assessment of rents charged for 
comparable unassisted rental units.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver will permit participating 
jurisdictions to provide immediate rental assistance without 
requiring an assessment of rents charged for comparable unassisted 
rental units. Given the unprecedented need for rental assistance for 
individuals facing financial hardship during the pandemic, requiring 
participating jurisdictions to conduct a rent comparison prior to 
providing rental assistance presents an undue administrative burden.
    Applicability: The waiver is applicable to TBRA provided to 
individuals and tenant households experiencing financial hardship 
because of a reduction or loss of income. The requirement is waived 
through December 31, 2020. The waiver is available to all 
participating jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.209(g) and 24 CFR 92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: HOME TBRA tenant protections--lease.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that each HOME-
assisted tenant have a lease that complies with the tenant 
protection requirements of 24 CFR 92.253(a) and (b).
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver will permit participating 
jurisdictions to assist individuals currently housed but facing 
financial hardship, where an executed lease is already in place. 
During the COVID-19 pandemic, participating jurisdictions may assist 
individuals that are already in rental units but are unable to pay 
rent and/or utilities due to job loss or reduced wages. These 
individuals already have an executed lease that may include one or 
more of the prohibited lease terms included in 24 CFR 92.253(b). 
Requiring participating jurisdictions to immediately execute or 
amend leases creates an undue

[[Page 73736]]

administrative burden and may disqualify some in-place tenants from 
receiving TBRA.
    Applicability: The requirement that a tenant assisted by TBRA 
have a lease that complies with the requirements of 24 CFR 92.253(a) 
and (b) is waived through December 31, 2020, for rental assistance 
provided to tenants already housed who have an executed lease. PJs 
using this waiver authority are required to execute a rental 
assistance contract with the tenant for a term mutually agreed upon 
by all parties, but not to exceed the waiver period ending on 
December 31, 2020. PJs must still comply with all VAWA requirements 
contained in 24 CFR 92.359 by including, at a minimum, a lease 
addendum that addresses all VAWA requirements. The waiver is 
available to all HOME participating jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.209(i) and 24 CFR 92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: HOME TBRA housing quality standards.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that all housing 
occupied by households receiving HOME TBRA must meet the housing 
quality standards (HQS) at 24 CFR 982.401. The participating 
jurisdiction is required to inspect the unit for compliance prior to 
occupancy and annually thereafter.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: This waiver will permit the participating 
jurisdiction to rapidly house or assist individuals affected by the 
COVID-19 pandemic without requiring an initial HQS inspection. The 
COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented need for rental 
assistance for tenant households facing financial hardship. 
Participating jurisdictions must act quickly to address these needs 
and requiring HQS inspections of all units where HOME TBRA 
assistance is provided would create an administrative burden and 
reduce participating jurisdictions' ability to respond timely to the 
housing needs created by the pandemic.
    Applicability: The requirement is waived through December 31, 
2020, for rental assistance provided in response to the COVID-19 
pandemic. The waiver is available to all HOME participating 
jurisdictions. The lead-safe housing requirements of 24 CFR part 35, 
subpart M, made applicable to units leased by recipients of HOME 
TBRA by the HOME regulation at 24 CFR 92.355, cannot be waived. 
Consequently, units built before 1978 must undergo visual evaluation 
and paint repair in accordance with 24 CFR part 35, subpart M.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.210(a) and (b) and 24 CFR 
92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: Use of HOME funds for operating reserves for 
troubled HOME projects.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations establish provisions to 
permit HOME rental projects that are not financially viable (i.e., 
projects for which operating costs significantly exceed operating 
revenue) to be preserved through the use of HOME funds to 
recapitalize project reserves. The regulations also require HUD to 
review market needs, available resources, and the likelihood of 
long-term viability of the project before approving this use of HOME 
funds. In addition, a written memorandum of agreement between HUD 
and the participating jurisdiction is a precondition of this funding 
and the regulation places certain limitations on the amount of 
funding.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Participating jurisdictions will not be required 
to obtain HUD approval or execute a memorandum of agreement with HUD 
before providing this assistance. The waiver is necessary to enable 
participating jurisdictions to take rapid action to preserve the 
financial viability of HOME-assisted affordable rental projects 
currently under a HOME period of affordability. Because existing 
tenants in HOME units may be unable to meet their rent obligations 
due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, HOME rental 
projects may experience operating deficits due to the sudden 
decrease in rental revenue.
    Applicability: The waiver applies to HOME-assisted rental 
projects currently within the period of affordability established in 
the HOME written agreement. PJs will not be required to obtain HUD 
approval or execute a memorandum of agreement with HUD before 
providing this assistance. PJs may only exercise this waiver 
authority when the project owner agrees to forego: (1) Any 
distributions of residual receipts resulting from the project 
throughout the waiver period and for a period of 6 months 
thereafter; (2) any right under the existing lease agreement or 
State or local law to pursue legal action against tenants of HOME-
assisted units for non-payment of rent and the collection of any 
fees associated with late payments without prior approval of the PJ; 
and (3) any adverse credit reporting against tenants of HOME-
assisted units for nonpayment of rent or fees without prior approval 
of the PJ.
    The PJ may provide additional HOME funds to recapitalize 
operating deficit reserves for HOME-assisted rental projects if the 
PJ determines that the project is experiencing operating deficits 
related to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 
waiver period. The PJ may only provide this assistance to projects 
experiencing operating deficits that will not be covered by 
insurance or other sources (e.g., other private, local, state, or 
federal funds).
    The maximum amount of HOME assistance that may be provided is 
equal to the total of the project's operating expenses, previously 
scheduled payments to a replacement reserve, and actual debt service 
(excluding debt service of loans in forbearance) multiplied by the 
proportionate share of HOME-assisted units to the total number of 
units in the project for the period beginning on April 1, 2020 and 
ending on December 31, 2020. Project operating expenses may be 
demonstrated by one of the following:
     The Owner's most recent year to date financials for the 
project;
     Certified project-level accounting records covering the 
most recent 3 months; and
     Copies of project-level bank statements covering the 
most recent 3 months.
    Project operating expenses may also be adjusted due to COVID-19-
related expenditures and foregone expenses due to social distancing 
measures and other COVID-19-related impacts. An owner may 
demonstrate these expenses with recent receipts, copies of work 
orders, revised budgets that have been certified by the project 
owner as true, accurate representations of current expenditures.
    In order to take advantage of this waiver, PJs must amend the 
HOME written agreement with the project owner to include the amount 
of HOME funds that will be provided to an operating reserve (i.e., 
the proportion of total costs attributable to HOME units as 
described in the paragraph above), the costs eligible to be paid 
with HOME funds in the operating reserve (i.e., operating expenses, 
scheduled payments to a replacement reserve, and qualifying debt 
service), and the documentation the PJ is required to maintain to 
demonstrate the allowable amounts and eligibility of costs paid with 
the HOME funds in the operating reserve.
    The written agreement must specify that the owner must forego: 
(1) Any distributions of residual receipts during the period this 
waiver is in effect and for a period of 6 months thereafter; (2) any 
right under the existing lease agreement or State or local law to 
pursue legal action against tenants of HOME-assisted units for non-
payment of rent and the collection of any fees associated with late 
payments without prior approval of the PJ; and (3) any adverse 
credit reporting against tenants of HOME-assisted units for 
nonpayment of rent or fees without prior approval of the PJ.
    Within six months following the waiver period, the PJ must 
review the project's records of actual revenue and operating 
expenses, total amount of HOME funds expended from the operating 
reserve, and the eligibility of expenses by examining invoices and 
receipts. The written agreement must require the project owner to 
repay any expenditures for costs determined to be ineligible and any 
balance of HOME funds remaining in the reserve after December 31, 
2020. Any HOME funds repaid to the PJ must be deposited in the local 
HOME account and reported as program income in IDIS. The waiver is 
effective through December 31, 2020.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development,

[[Page 73737]]

Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) Utility Allowance 
Requirements.
    Project/Activity: San Luis Obispo County, California, requested 
a waiver of 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) to allow use of the utility 
allowance established by local public housing agency (PHA) for a 
HOME-assisted project--Iron Works Apartments.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) 
requires participating jurisdictions to establish maximum monthly 
allowances for utilities and services (excluding telephone) and 
update the allowances annually. However, participating jurisdictions 
are not permitted to use the utility allowance established by the 
local public housing authority for HOME-assisted rental projects for 
which HOME funds were committed on or after August 23, 2013.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 8, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The HOME requirements for establishing a utility 
allowances conflict with Project Based Voucher program requirements. 
It is not possible to use two different utility allowances to set 
the rent for a single unit and it is administratively burdensome to 
require a project owner establish and implement different utility 
allowances for HOME-assisted units and non-HOME assisted units in a 
project.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) Utility Allowance 
Requirements.
    Project/Activity: Los Angeles County, California, requested a 
waiver of 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) to allow use of the utility allowance 
established by local public housing agency (PHA) for two HOME-
assisted projects--Francisquito Senior Apartments and Athens Vistas 
Senior Apartments.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) 
requires participating jurisdictions to establish maximum monthly 
allowances for utilities and services (excluding telephone) and 
update the allowances annually. However, participating jurisdictions 
are not permitted to use the utility allowance established by the 
local public housing authority for HOME-assisted rental projects for 
which HOME funds were committed on or after August 23, 2013.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: May 11, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The HOME requirements for establishing a utility 
allowances conflict with Project Based Voucher program requirements. 
It is not possible to use two different utility allowances to set 
the rent for a single unit and it is administratively burdensome to 
require a project owner establish and implement different utility 
allowances for HOME-assisted units and non-HOME assisted units in a 
project.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) Utility Allowance 
Requirements.
    Project/Activity: The city of Santa Cruz, California, requested 
a waiver of 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) to allow use of the utility 
allowance established by local public housing agency (PHA) for a 
HOME-assisted project--Water Street Apartments.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) 
requires participating jurisdictions to establish maximum monthly 
allowances for utilities and services (excluding telephone) and 
update the allowances annually. However, participating jurisdictions 
are not permitted to use the utility allowance established by the 
local public housing authority for HOME-assisted rental projects for 
which HOME funds were committed on or after August 23, 2013.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: May 11, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The HOME requirements for establishing a utility 
allowances conflict with Project Based Voucher program requirements. 
It is not possible to use two different utility allowances to set 
the rent for a single unit and it is administratively burdensome to 
require a project owner establish and implement different utility 
allowances for HOME-assisted units and non-HOME assisted units in a 
project.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) Utility Allowance 
Requirements.
    Project/Activity: Ventura County, California, requested a waiver 
of 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) to allow use of the utility allowance 
established by local public housing agency (PHA) for a HOME-assisted 
project--Willett Ranch Apartments.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) 
requires participating jurisdictions to establish maximum monthly 
allowances for utilities and services (excluding telephone) and 
update the allowances annually. However, participating jurisdictions 
are not permitted to use the utility allowance established by the 
local public housing authority for HOME-assisted rental projects for 
which HOME funds were committed on or after August 23, 2013.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: May 11, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The HOME requirements for establishing a utility 
allowances conflict with Project Based Voucher program requirements. 
It is not possible to use two different utility allowances to set 
the rent for a single unit and it is administratively burdensome to 
require a project owner establish and implement different utility 
allowances for HOME-assisted units and non-HOME assisted units in a 
project.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) Utility Allowance 
Requirements.
    Project/Activity: Sonoma County, California, requested a waiver 
of 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) to allow use of the utility allowance 
established by local public housing agency (PHA) for a HOME-assisted 
project--Altamira Family Apartments.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) 
requires participating jurisdictions to establish maximum monthly 
allowances for utilities and services (excluding telephone) and 
update the allowances annually. However, participating jurisdictions 
are not permitted to use the utility allowance established by the 
local public housing authority for HOME-assisted rental projects for 
which HOME funds were committed on or after August 23, 2013.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: June 3, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The HOME requirements for establishing a utility 
allowances conflict with Project Based Voucher program requirements. 
It is not possible to use two different utility allowances to set 
the rent for a single unit and it is administratively burdensome to 
require a project owner establish and implement different utility 
allowances for HOME-assisted units and non-HOME assisted units in a 
project.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.254(a)(3) and 24 CFR 92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: Nine-month deadline for sale of HOME-assisted 
homebuyer units
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that a homebuyer 
housing unit developed with HOME funds have a ratified contract for 
sale to an eligible homebuyer within nine months of the date of 
completion of construction or rehabilitation.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Many participating jurisdictions will not be able 
to meet this deadline due to the effect the COVID-19 pandemic will 
have on the ability of eligible households to qualify for mortgages 
as a result of income losses or the inability to schedule 
inspections, title searches, or closings during periods of business 
closures.

[[Page 73738]]

The waiver is necessary to prevent the loss of homeownership 
opportunities for HOME-eligible families and temporarily suspend the 
required corrective action of repayment of HOME funds or conversion 
of the homebuyer units to rental housing.
    Applicability: The waiver applies to projects for which the 
nine-month homebuyer sale deadline occurs on or after the date of 
this memorandum and extends the deadline for those projects to 
December 31, 2020. This waiver does not apply to the remaining 
requirements of the regulation, including that a homebuyer must 
receive housing counseling, and that a PJ must determine eligibility 
of a family by including the income of all persons living in the 
housing. The waiver is available to all HOME participating 
jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.504(d)(1)(ii) and 24 CFR 
92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: On-site inspections of HOME-assisted rental 
housing.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that during the 
period of affordability participating jurisdictions perform on-site 
inspections of HOME-assisted rental housing at least once every 
three years to determine compliance with the property standards and 
to verify the information submitted by the owners in accordance with 
the income and rent requirements.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Waiving the requirement to perform ongoing on-
site inspections will help protect participating jurisdiction staff 
and limit the spread of COVID-19. To protect participating 
jurisdiction staff and reduce the spread of COVID-19, this waiver 
extends the timeframe for participating jurisdictions to perform on-
going periodic inspections and on-site reviews to determine a HOME 
rental project's compliance with property standards and rent and 
income requirements.
    Applicability: The waiver is applicable to ongoing periodic 
inspections and does not waive the requirement to perform initial 
inspections of rental properties upon completion of construction or 
rehabilitation. The waiver is also applicable to on-site reviews to 
determine a HOME rental project's compliance with rent and income 
requirements if the project owner is unable to make documentation 
available electronically. The waiver is in effect through December 
31, 2020. The waiver is available to all HOME participating 
jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.504(d)(1)(iii); 24 CFR 92.209(i) 
and 24 CFR 92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: Annual inspection of units occupied by 
recipients of HOME tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA).
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require participating 
jurisdictions to annually inspect each unit occupied by a recipient 
of HOME TBRA.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Waiving the requirement that these annual 
inspections be performed according to schedule will protect the 
health of both inspectors and TBRA tenants by observing physical 
distancing recommendations to limit the spread of COVID-19.
    Applicability: The waiver is applicable to annual housing 
quality standards inspections required to occur from April 10, 2020, 
through December 31, 2020. PJs shall make reasonable efforts to 
address any tenant reported health and safety issues during the 
waiver period. The waiver is available to all HOME participating 
jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.551(b)(1) and 24 CFR 92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: Timeframe for a HOME participating 
jurisdiction's response to findings of noncompliance.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require that if HUD 
determines that a participating jurisdiction has not met a provision 
of the HOME regulations, the participating jurisdiction must be 
notified and given an opportunity to respond within a time period 
prescribed by HUD, not to exceed 30 days.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver is necessary to permit HUD to provide 
participating jurisdictions with an extended period to respond to 
findings of noncompliance in recognition of the unanticipated 
circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Requiring 
participating jurisdictions to respond to all findings of 
noncompliance within 30 days may interfere with a participating 
jurisdiction's ability to address the unprecedented housing needs 
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Applicability: The waiver applies to all findings of HOME 
regulatory noncompliance issued from April 10, 2020, through 
December 31, 2020. In the notice of findings, HUD will specify a 
time period for the participating jurisdiction's response. HUD may 
also extend time periods imposed before April 10, 2020. The waiver 
is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.

II. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Government National 
Mortgage Association

    For further information about the following regulatory waivers, 
please see the name of the contact person that immediately follows 
the description of the waiver granted.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 320.15(a). Project/Activity: 
Regulatory Waiver of Issuer Default Status in Connection with The 
Pass-Through Assistance Program Related To The COVID-19 National 
Emergency.
    Nature of the Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 320.15(a) 
establishes that any failure or inability of the issuer to make 
payments as due, as well as such other events as may be identified 
by the Association and included in the applicable guaranty 
agreement, contractual agreement or MBS Guide, shall constitute a 
default of the issuer.
    Granted By: Seth D. Appleton, Principal Executive Vice 
President, Ginnie Mae.
    Date Granted: April 10, 2020.
    Reason Waived: On March 13, 2020, the President declared a 
National Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first 
time, with the COVID-19 National Emergency, Ginnie Mae is facing a 
situation in which the potential liquidity threat from the emergency 
has virtually no limitations within the universe of approved 
Issuers. Because of statutory changes by Congress, such as CARES 
Act, Public Law 116-136, and policy changes by the insuring and 
guaranteeing agencies made in response to the COVID-19 National 
Emergency, it is conceivable that a broad cross section of non-bank 
Issuers participating in the Ginnie Mae program would seek 
assistance as the result of liquidity concerns and inability to make 
payments as due. Ginnie Mae's program allows for the pass-through 
assistance (PTAP) in limited situations. Given the potential number 
of issuers that may be impacted, Ginnie Mae has determined that this 
situation warrants a regulatory waiver because the potential breadth 
and scale of the impact, and subsequent need for assistance, makes 
it impractical--and unwise--to assume that there would be no 
negative impact on the secondary mortgage market if a large number 
of issuers are declared to be in default because of financial 
challenges caused by statutes and policies related to a 
Presidentially-declared National Emergency. Therefore, modifying the 
definition of default as inapplicable to issuers that request PTAP 
assistance due to COVID-19 National Emergency is reasonable to meet 
Ginnie Mae's statutory mission to provide stability in the secondary 
market for residential mortgages.
    Contact: Rene Mondonado, Director, Monitoring & Asset 
Management, Office of Issuer & Portfolio Management, Government 
National Mortgage Association, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 425 Third St. SW, 4th FL, Washington, DC 20024, 
Telephone (202) 475-7992.

[[Page 73739]]

III. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Housing--Federal 
Housing Administration (FHA)

    For further information about the following regulatory waivers, 
please see the name of the contact person that immediately follows 
the description of the waiver granted.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 5.801 (c)(2).
    Project/Activity: Financial Statement Due Date.
    Nature of Requirement: For specified Multifamily and Residential 
Care Borrowers otherwise required to submit Annual Financial 
Statements on or before June 30, 2020, extend the due date of the 
Borrower Annual Financial Statements to September 30, 2020, and as 
otherwise provided by law.
    Granted By: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: June 25, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Due to COVID-19 National Health Emergency the 
Borrower Annual Financial Statements have been extended by 90-days.
    Contact: Brandt Witte, Program Analyst, Multifamily Asset and 
Counterparty Oversight Division, Office of Housing, Office of Asset 
Management and Portfolio Oversight, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room, telephone (202) 402-2614.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 200.73 (c).
    Project/Activity: Henderson Heights Apartment, Hendersonville, 
North Carolina, Project No. 053-11454.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 200.73 (c) 
requiring that ``not less than five rental dwelling units [of an FHA 
insured multifamily housing project] shall be on one site. The 
Housing Authority has and will continue to manage the project post-
conversion. Henderson Heights consists of 19 residential parcels 
with 164 buildings with a total of 352 units. The cluster of units/
projects were acquired by HHA over a 22-year period. Two satellite 
sites are located north and west of Hendersonville and are not 
located within the city limits. The units were acquired and/or 
developed in seven phases/projects between 1960 and 1982. Out of the 
19 parcels, 4 parcels are non-conforming as they each contain fewer 
than 5 units. The 4 non-conforming parcels contain a total of 12 
units. All the non-conforming parcels are located within the City of 
Hendersonville in close proximity to the larger, conforming parcels. 
Three of the parcels are located on the same street within a block 
of each other.
    Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: May 22, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver will meet HUD's goal of preserving and 
maintaining affordable rental housing for low income families. The 
proposed FHA-insured loan/RAD conversion will preserve and 
rehabilitate necessary affordable housing and will contribute to the 
revitalization of this Hendersonville community.
    Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily 
Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410-
8000, telephone (202) 402-5693.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 200.73 (c).
    Project/Activity: Neighborhood Apartments, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 
Project No. 047-11246.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 200.73 (c) 
requiring that ``not less than five rental dwelling units [of an FHA 
insured multifamily housing project] shall be on one site. All sites 
composing the Neighborhood Apartment project are located in one 
neighborhood outside downtown Kalamazoo. The project constitutes one 
manageable, marketable real estate asset. The project offers 12 one 
bedroom/one bath units and 32 two bedroom/one bath housed within 11 
one-story and two-story buildings. The project consists of three 
one-story buildings and seven two-story buildings located on 8 
separate scattered sites. Two of the parcels are contiguous and 
contain two units each. One parcel contains 4 units. The remaining 5 
parcels all contain 5 or more units.
    Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: June 23, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver will meet HUD's goal of preserving and 
maintaining affordable rental housing for low income families. The 
proposed FHA-insured loan/RAD conversion will preserve and 
rehabilitate necessary affordable housing and will contribute to the 
revitalization of this Kalamazoo community.
    Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily 
Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, 
telephone (202) 402-5693.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 200.73(c).
    Project/Activity: Satchmo Plaza, New Orleans, LA, Project No. 
064-11213.
    Nature of Requirement: The 24 CFR part 200.73 (c) which states 
that a site must contain no less than five rental dwelling units. 
Section 3.1.CC of the 2016 MAP Guide permits a project with two or 
more non-contiguous parcels of land when the parcels comprise one 
marketable, manageable real estate entity. Bedford Lending 
Corporation has applied for mortgage insurance under the Section 
223(f) program to refinance Satchmo Plaza. The proposal is to 
combine two separate, scattered site, Section 8 assisted properties 
known as Satchmo Plaza and Armant Plaza into a single manageable 
property consisting of 46 total units and to be known as Satchmo 
Plaza. The projects are now owned by mortgagors controlled by the 
same non-profit entity. The existing Satchmo Plaza is 7 buildings on 
5 sites totaling 30 units. It is a Section 202 property for the 
elderly. The existing Armant Plaza is 8 buildings on 3 sites with a 
total of 16 units. Armant is assisted with HOME/CDBG funds but is 
not presently age restricted. All of the combined scattered sites (8 
sites, 15 buildings) are located in the same neighborhood near 
downtown New Orleans. Of the 8 sites, 4 have less than five units. 
The mortgage amount is $2,668,000.
    Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: June 24, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver will meet HUD's goal of preserving and 
maintaining affordable rental housing for low income families. The 
proposed FHA-insured loan/RAD conversion will preserve and 
rehabilitate necessary affordable housing and will contribute to the 
revitalization of this New Orleans community.
    Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily 
Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, 
telephone (202) 402-5693.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 200.194(d).
    Project/Activity: FHA Single Family Waiver for Non-Profit Roster 
Recertification.
    Nature of Requirement: Under 24 CFR 200.194 (d), HUD-approved 
nonprofit organizations must reapply for approval before the 
expiration of an existing 2-year authorization term to continue 
participating in FHA programs. Approximately 30 HUD-approved non-
profit organizations that have been impacted by the COVID-19 
pandemic are within 90-120 days of their approval or recertification 
date.
    Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: June 20, 2020.
    Reason Waived: A temporary 120-day extension makes it possible 
for FHA-approved non-profit organizations to operate without 
disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary waiver is 
consistent with the Departments mission to promote and support 
affordable housing objectives and it does not violate any statutory 
requirements.
    Contact: Kevin Stevens, Acting Director, Office of Single Family 
Program Development, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 9266, Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 402-4317.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 203.255(b)(11).
    Project/Activity: COVID-19 Certification and Pre-Endorsement 
Review Requirements for The United States and Its Surrounding 
Territories.
    Nature of Requirement: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development's (HUD) regulation at 24 CFR 203.255(b) addresses the 
documentation that must be submitted to HUD for mortgages originated 
under the Direct Endorsement and Lender Insurance Programs. 
Additionally, subsection 203.255(b)(11) requires a mortgage 
certification on a form prescribed by the Secretary, stating that 
the authorized representative of the mortgagee has reviewed the 
mortgage documents and certifies that the mortgage complies with the 
requirements of paragraph (b) incorporating all certification items 
that apply to the mortgage loan as set forth in the applicable 
handbook (i.e., HUD Handbook 4000.1). The referenced prescribed form 
is Form HUD 92900-A. A mortgagee must certify at the time of 
insurance endorsement the loan is in compliance with all FHA 
origination and underwriting requirements including that the 
borrower's employment status and ability to make mortgage payments 
is accurate.

[[Page 73740]]

    Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: June 3, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver of the requirement in 24 CFR 
203.255(b)(11) that states the mortgagee must certify, as prescribed 
on the 92900-A, at the time of insurance endorsement that the loan 
is in compliance with all FHA origination and underwriting 
requirements solely to the extent that the borrower's employment 
status and ability to make mortgage payments, will permit the 
mortgagee that grants the borrower an Accommodation as defined at 
4021 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act 
(CARES Act) for forbearance of mortgage payments, after closing of 
the mortgage transaction to be in compliance with all FHA 
origination and underwriting requirements.
    Contact: Kevin Stevens, Acting Director Single Family Program 
Development, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 9266, Washington, DC 20410, 
telephone (202) 402-4317.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 219.220(b).
    Project/Activity: City View Park Walnut I, FHA Project Number 
083-14002; City View Park Chestnut II, FHA Project Number 083-12004; 
and City View Park Acorn III, FHA Project Number 083-12005, 
Louisville, KY. The owner of City View Park I, II, and III seeks 
approval to defer repayment of the Flexible Subsidy Operating 
Assistance Loans on the subject projects.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 219.220(b) 
(1995), which governs the repayment of operating assistance provided 
under the Flexible Subsidy Program for Troubled Properties, states 
``Assistance that has been paid to a project owner under this 
subpart must be repaid at the earlier of the expiration of the term 
of the mortgage, termination of mortgage insurance, prepayment of 
the mortgage, or a sale of the project.''
    Granted by: Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: January 31, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The owner requested and was granted waiver of the 
requirement to repay the Flexible Subsidy Operating Assistance Loans 
in full when they became due. Deferring the loan payments will 
preserve these affordable housing resources for an additional 40 
years through the execution and recordation of a Rental Use 
Agreement.
    Contact: Walter D. Wynn, Director, FAMD, Office of Housing, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 
6164, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-2231.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 242.17(c)(2).
    Project/Activity: Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
    Nature of Requirement: 24 CFR 242.17(c)(2) prohibits FHA from 
extending Commitments for Insurance of Advances for more than 180 
days following the original commitment date.
    Granted By: Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: April 28, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Initial Endorsement of Maimonides Medical 
Center's supplement (Section 241) loan was delayed due to the Covid-
19 pandemic. The waiver allowed the Federal Housing Administration 
to schedule closing of Maimonides Medical Center's supplemental 
(Section 241) construction loan for August 2020.
    Contact: Paul Giaudrone, Underwriting Director, Office of 
Hospital Facilities, Office of Healthcare Programs, Office of 
Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 409 3rd Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20024, telephone (202) 708-0599 Ext. 5684.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 266.200(b)(2).
    Project/Activity: Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) The 
Department requires, in 24 CFR 266.200(b)(2), Substantial 
Rehabilitation, that substantial rehabilitation (S/R) is defined as 
any combination of the following work to an existing facility of a 
project that aggregates to at least 15 percent of the project's 
value after the rehabilitation and that results in material 
improvement of the project's economic life, livability, 
marketability, and profitability. Boston, Massachusetts. There is no 
project number.
    Nature of Requirement: The Waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(b)(2), 
Substantial Rehabilitation. The waiver would permit Mass Housing 
Partnership (MHP) to use the revised definition published in the 
Revised MAP Guide on January 29, 2016, such that S/R is: Any scope 
of work that either (a) exceeds in aggregate cost a sum equal to the 
`base per dwelling unit limit' times the applicable *High Cost 
Factor, or (b) replacement of two or more building systems. 
Replacement is when the cost of replacement work exceeds 50 percent 
of the cost of replacing the entire system.
    *The High Cost Factors for 2019 were published through a Housing 
Notice (HN) on May 20, 2019, and the revised statutory limits were 
recently published in the Federal Register on January 1, 2018. The 
2019 base dwelling unit amount to determine substantial 
rehabilitation for FHA insured loan programs has been increased from 
$15,933 (changed from $6,500 per unit in the 2016 MAP guide) to 
$15,933. This amount will change annually based upon the change in 
the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI), along with the statutory 
limits or other inflation cost index published by HUD.
    The regulatory waiver is subject to the following conditions:
    1. The waiver is limited to forty-eight (48) projects and 
expires on December 31, 2023 for waiver request related to 
regulation 24 CFR 266.200(b)(2) and (c)(2).
    2. MHP must elect to take 50 percent or more of the risk of loss 
on all transactions.
    3. Mortgages made under this waiver may have amortization 
periods of up to 40 years, but with a minimum term of 17 years.
    4. All other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410--Mortgage Provision 
remain applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under 
MHP's Risk Sharing Agreement.
    5. Projects must comply with Davis-Bacon labor standards in 
accordance with 24 CFR 266.225.
    6. MHP must comply with regulations stated in 24 CFR 266.210 for 
insured advances or insurance upon completion transactions.
    7. The loans exceeding $50 million require a separate waiver 
request.
    8. Occupancy is no less than 93 percent for previous 12 months.
    9. No defaults in the last 12 months of the HFA loan to be 
refinanced.
    10. A 20-year affordable housing deed restriction placed on 
title that conforms to the Section 542(c) statutory definition.
    11. A Property Capital Needs Assessment (PCNA) must be performed 
and funds escrowed for all necessary repairs, and reserves funded 
for future capital needs; and
    12. For projects subsidized by Section 8 Housing Assistance 
Payment (HAP) contracts:
    a: Owner agrees to renew HAP contract(s) for 20-year term, 
(subject to appropriations and statutory authorization, etc.), and 
b: In accordance with regulations in 24 CFR 883.306(e), and Housing 
Notice 2012-14--Use of ``New Regulation'' Section 8 Housing 
Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts Residual Receipts of Offset 
Project-Based Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments, if at any time 
MHP determines that a project's excess funds (surplus cash) after 
project operations, reserve requirements and permitted distributions 
are met, MHP must place the excess funds into a separate interest-
bearing account. Upon renewal of a HAP Contract the excess funds can 
be used to reduce future HAP payments or other project operations/
purposes. When the HAP Contract expires, is terminated, or any 
extensions are terminated, any unused funds remaining in the 
Residual Receipt Account at the time of the contract's termination 
must be returned.
    Granted By: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing-
Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: June 30, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The Department is approving your request for 
forty-eight (48) insured under the 542(c) HFA Risk Sharing Program 
expiring on December 31, 2023. The waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(b)(2) 
would permit MHP to use the revised definition published in the 
Revised MAP Guide on January 29, 2016, such that S/R is: Any scope 
of work that either (a) exceeds in aggregate cost a sum equal to the 
`base per dwelling unit limit' times the applicable *High Cost*High 
Cost Factor, or (b) replacement of two or more building systems. 
Replacement is when the cost of replacement work exceeds 50 percent 
of the cost of replacing the entire system.
    Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily 
Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, 
telephone (202) 402-5693.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 266.200(c)(2).
    Project/Activity: The Waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(c)(2), Existing 
Project ``Equity Take-out'', that the refinancing of HFA refinance 
loan is permissible if the preservation is the result, with certain 
conditions: (1) Occupancy at least 93 percent for previous 12 
months; (2) underwrite to the lower of

[[Page 73741]]

Section 8 or market rents; (3) no equity take-outs: Risk sharing 
loan cannot exceed sum of existing indebtedness, cost of repairs, 
and transaction costs; (4) no defaults in the last 12 months of HFA 
loans. This waiver's Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) in 
Boston, Massachusetts, no project name, or number listed.
    Nature of Requirement: The Waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(c)(2), 
Existing Projects ``Equity Take-outs''. The waiver of 24 CFR 
266.200(c)(2) would permit equity take-outs for any existing 
property, including both MHP-financed developments and those outside 
of MHP's portfolio, to be refinanced by MHP, where MHP and HUD split 
the risk of loss 50/50.
    In order to mitigate risk to FHA, ensure affordability of 
projects, loans to be refinanced cannot have been in default in the 
12 months prior to the date of application for refinancing, the 
owner must agree to renew the HAP contract for a 20-year term, if 
applicable, existing and post-refinance HAP residual receipts must 
be set aside to be used to reduce future HAP payments, the property 
must be maintained as affordable housing for a period of at least 20 
year, regardless of whether the loan is prepaid, and a capital needs 
assessment must be performed and funds escrowed for all necessary 
repairs and replacement reserves funded for future capital repairs.
    Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: June 30. 2020.
    Reason Waived: The approval of MHP's underwriting guidelines as 
indicted in Appendix B--Multifamily Loan Underwriting Standards and 
Reference Manual revised on November 2018. MHP will meet massive 
affordable housing needs in post MHP requests a waiver of two 
existing risk sharing requirements to meet agency's massive 
affordable housing needs in a post 1\4\1\4\B environment. The 
Department is approving your request forty-eight (48) insured under 
the 542(c) HFA Risk Sharing Program expiring on December 31, 2023.
    Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily 
Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, 
telephone (202) 402-5693.

     Regulation: 24CFR 266.200(d).
    Project/Activity: The waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(d), for projects 
receiving Section 8 rental subsidies or other rental subsidies. For 
refinancing of Section 202 projects, and for Public Housing 
Authority (PHA) projects converting to Section 8 through the Rental 
Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Initiative, Boston, Massachusetts. No 
project number or name listed.
    Nature of Requirement: The waiver of 24 CFR 266.200(d), for 
projects receiving Section 8 rental subsidies or other rental 
subsidies. The Department would permit Massachusetts Housing 
Partnership (MHP) to underwrite Section 202 projects and PHA 
projects converting to Section 8 through RAD using the current or 
to-be-adjusted project-based Section 8 rents, even though they 
exceed the market rates, consistent with HUD Housing Notice 04-21. 
``Amendments to Notice 02-16: Underwriting Guidelines for 
Refinancing of Section 202, and Section 202/8 Direct Loan 
Repayments'', which grants authority only to those lenders 
refinancing with mortgage programs under the National Housing Act.
    Granted By: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: June 30, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver would allow Supportive Housing program 
projects of MHP's assuming at least 50 percent of the risk of loss 
on mortgages insured under Section 542(c) would be subject to the 
same underwriting standard as other Section 202 projects in that the 
loans may be underwritten to contract rents. This waiver better 
aligns requirements between HUD programs, thereby streamlining and 
facilitating program administration by HFAs. Waiver will create and 
preserve affordable housing in the State of Massachusetts. The 
waiver is limited to forty-eight (48) projects and expires on 
December 31, 2023.
    Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily 
Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, 
telephone (202) 402-5693.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 266.410(e).
    Project/Activity: District of Columbia Housing Agency (DCHFA), 
Washington, DC, no project name or number listed.
    Nature of Requirement: The 24 CFR 266.410(e), which requires 
mortgages insured under the 542(c) Housing Finance Agency Risk 
Sharing Program to be fully amortized over the term of the mortgage. 
The waiver would permit DCHFA to use balloon loans that would have a 
minimum term of 17 years and a maximum amortization period of 40 
years for the projects identified in the ``Multifamily Pipeline 
Projects''.
    Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing-
Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: June 22, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver was granted to allow DCHFA's clients 
additional financing options to their customers and to align DCHFA 
business practices with industry standards, thus furthering the 
creation of a preservation of affordable housing throughout 
Washington, DC. The regulatory waiver is subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. This waiver is limited to the projects listed in DCHFA's 
``Multifamily Pipeline Projects'' and expires on December 31, 2022.
    2. DCHFA must elect to take 50 percent or more of the risk of 
loss on all transactions.
    3. Mortgages made under this waiver may have amortization 
periods of up to 40 years, but with a minimum term of 17 years.
    4. All other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410--Mortgage Provision 
remain applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under 
DCHFA's Risk Sharing Agreement.
    5. In accordance with 24 CFR 266.200(d), the mortgage may not 
exceed an amount supportable by the lower of the Section 8 or 
comparable unassisted rents.
    6. Projects must comply with Davis-Bacon labor standards in 
accordance with 24 CFR 266.225.
    7. DCHFA must comply with regulations stated in 24 CFR 266.210 
for insured advances or insurance upon completion transactions.
    8. A 20-year affordable housing deed restriction placed on title 
that conforms to the Section 542(c) statutory definition.
    9. Occupancy is no less than 93 percent for previous 12 months.
    10. No defaults in the last 12 months of the HFA loan to be 
refinanced.
    11. A Property Capital Needs Assessment (PCNA) must be performed 
and funds escrowed for all necessary repairs, and reserves funded 
for future capital needs; and
    12. For projects subsidized by Section 8 Housing Assistance 
Payment (HAP) contracts:
    i. a: Owner agrees to renew HAP contract(s) for 20-year term, 
(subject to appropriations and statutory authorization, etc.), and 
b: In accordance with regulations in 24 CFR 883.306(e), and Housing 
Notice 2012-14--Use of ``New Regulation'' Section 8 Housing 
Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts Residual Receipts of Offset 
Project-Based Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments, if at any time 
DCHFA determines that a project's excess funds (surplus cash) after 
project operations, reserve requirements and permitted distributions 
are met, DCHFA must place the excess funds into a separate interest-
bearing account. Upon renewal of a HAP Contract the excess funds can 
be used to reduce future HAP payments or other project operations/
purposes. When the HAP Contract expires, is terminated, or any 
extensions are terminated, any unused funds remaining in the 
Residual Receipt Account at the time of the contract's termination 
must be returned.
    Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily 
Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, 
telephone (202) 402-5693.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 266.410(e).
    Project/Activity: California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) no 
project name or number.
    Nature of Requirement: The 24 CFR 266.410(e), which requires 
mortgages insured under the 542(c) Housing Finance Agency Risk 
Sharing Program to be fully amortized over the term of the mortgage. 
The waiver would permit CalHFA to use balloon loans that would have 
a minimum term of 17 years and a maximum amortization period of 40 
years for the projects identified in the ``Multifamily Pipeline 
Projects''. CalHFA had previously been granted a waiver of 24 CFR 
266.410(e) on May 25, 2018 which expired on December 31, 2019. This 
was the second waiver granted to CalHFA related to 24 CFR 
266.410(e). The first waiver was approved on July 1, 2014 with an 
expiration date of June 30, 2016. Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting, 
Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: June 8, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver was granted to allow CalHFA's clients 
additional financing

[[Page 73742]]

options to their customers and to align CalHFA business practices 
with industry standards. This waiver is effective through December 
31, 2022. The regulatory waiver is subject to the following 
conditions: This waiver expires on December 31, 2022. All other 
requirements of 24 CFR 266.410--Mortgage Provision remain 
applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under 
CalHFA's Risk Sharing Agreement.
    The regulatory waiver is subject to the following conditions:
    1. This waiver is limited to the projects listed in CalHFA's 
``Multifamily Pipeline Projects'' and expires on December 31, 2022.
    2. CalHFA must elect to take 50 percent or more of the risk of 
loss on all transactions.
    3. Mortgages made under this waiver may have amortization 
periods of up to 40 years, but with a minimum term of 17 years.
    4. All other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410--Mortgage Provision 
remain applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under 
CalHFA's Risk Sharing Agreement.
    5. In accordance with 24 CFR 266.200(d), the mortgage may not 
exceed an amount supportable by the lower of the Section 8 or 
comparable unassisted rents.
    6. Projects must comply with Davis-Bacon labor standards in 
accordance with 24 CFR 266.225.
    7. CalHFA must comply with regulations stated in 24 CFR 266.210 
for insured advances or insurance upon completion transactions.
    8. A 20-year affordable housing deed restriction placed on title 
that conforms to the Section 542(c) statutory definition.
    9. Occupancy is no less than 93 percent for previous 12 months.
    10. No defaults in the last 12 months of the HFA loan to be 
refinanced.
    11. A Property Capital Needs Assessment (PCNA) must be performed 
and funds escrowed for all necessary repairs, and reserves funded 
for future capital needs; and
    12. For projects subsidized by Section 8 Housing Assistance 
Payment (HAP) contracts:
    i. a: Owner agrees to renew HAP contract(s) for 20-year term, 
(subject to appropriations and statutory authorization, etc.), and 
b: In accordance with regulations in 24 CFR 883.306(e), and Housing 
Notice 2012-14--Use of ``New Regulation'' Section 8 Housing 
Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts Residual Receipts of Offset 
Project-Based Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments, if at any time 
CalHFA determines that a project's excess funds (surplus cash) after 
project operations, reserve requirements and permitted distributions 
are met, CalHFA must place the excess funds into a separate 
interest-bearing account. Upon renewal of a HAP Contract the excess 
funds can be used to reduce future HAP payments or other project 
operations/purposes. When the HAP Contract expires, is terminated, 
or any extensions are terminated, any unused funds remaining in the 
Residual Receipt Account at the time of the contract's termination 
must be returned.
    Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily 
Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, 
telephone (202) 402-5693.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 266.410(e).
    Project/Activity: Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), no 
project name or number listed.
    Nature of Requirement: The 24 CFR 266.410(e), which requires 
mortgages insured under the 542(c) Housing Finance Agency Risk 
Sharing Program to be fully amortized over the term of the mortgage. 
The waiver would permit MHP to use balloon loans that would have a 
minimum term of 17 years and a maximum amortization period of 40 
years for the projects identified in the ``Multifamily Pipeline 
Projects''. MHP had previously been granted a waiver of 24 CFR 
266.410(e) on May 25, 2018 which expired on December 31, 2019. This 
was the second waiver granted to MHP related to 24 CFR 266.410(e). 
The first waiver was approved on July 1, 2014 with an expiration 
date of June 30, 2016. Granted by: Len Wolfson, Acting, Assistant 
Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: June 30, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver was granted to allow MHP 's clients 
additional financing options to their customers and to align MHP 
business practices with industry standards. This waiver is effective 
through December 31, 2023. The regulatory waiver is subject to the 
following conditions: This waiver expires on December 31, 2023. All 
other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410--Mortgage Provision remain 
applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under MHP's 
Risk Sharing Agreement.
    The regulatory waiver is subject to the following conditions:
    1. This waiver is limited to the projects listed in MHP's 
``Multifamily Pipeline Projects'' and expires on December 31, 2023.
    2. MHP must elect to take 50 percent or more of the risk of loss 
on all transactions.
    3. Mortgages made under this waiver may have amortization 
periods of up to 40 years, but with a minimum term of 17 years.
    4. All other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410--Mortgage Provision 
remain applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under 
MHP's Risk Sharing Agreement.
    5. In accordance with 24 CFR 266.200(d), the mortgage may not 
exceed an amount supportable by the lower of the Section 8 or 
comparable unassisted rents.
    6. Projects must comply with Davis-Bacon labor standards in 
accordance with 24 CFR 266.225.
    7. MHP must comply with regulations stated in 24 CFR 266.210 for 
insured advances or insurance upon completion transactions.
    8. A 20-year affordable housing deed restriction placed on title 
that conforms to the Section 542(c) statutory definition.
    9. Occupancy is no less than 93 percent for previous 12 months.
    10. No defaults in the last 12 months of the HFA loan to be 
refinanced.
    11. A Property Capital Needs Assessment (PCNA) must be performed 
and funds escrowed for all necessary repairs, and reserves funded 
for future capital needs; and
    12. For projects subsidized by Section 8 Housing Assistance 
Payment (HAP) contracts:
    ii. a: Owner agrees to renew HAP contract(s) for 20-year term, 
(subject to appropriations and statutory authorization, etc.), and 
b: In accordance with regulations in 24 CFR 883.306(e), and Housing 
Notice 2012-14--Use of ``New Regulation'' Section 8 Housing 
Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts Residual Receipts of Offset 
Project-Based Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments, if at any time 
MHP determines that a project's excess funds (surplus cash) after 
project operations, reserve requirements and permitted distributions 
are met, MHP must place the excess funds into a separate interest-
bearing account. Upon renewal of a HAP Contract the excess funds can 
be used to reduce future HAP payments or other project operations/
purposes. When the HAP Contract expires, is terminated, or any 
extensions are terminated, any unused funds remaining in the 
Residual Receipt Account at the time of the contract's termination 
must be returned.
    Contact: Patricia M. Burke, Director, Office of Multifamily 
Production, HTD, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 6132, Washington, DC 20410, 
telephone (202) 402-5693.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 3282.14(b).
    Project/Activity: Manufactured housing regulatory oversight.
    Nature of Requirement: This regulation requires manufacturers of 
manufactured homes to submit a request for Alternative Construction 
consideration.
    Granted By: Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: April 16, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Supply chain disruption of conforming windows was 
impacted due to COVID-19 pandemic. The waiver allows HUD to allow 
any manufacturer to use an Alternative Construction letter without 
having supplied a request in advance.
    Contact: Jason McJury, Deputy Administrator, Office of 
Manufactured Housing Programs, Office of Housing, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 9170, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-2480.

     Regulation: 24 CFR 3286.211(a).
    Project/Activity: Manufactured Housing Regulatory Oversight.
    Nature of Requirement: This regulation requires each 
installation license issued or renewed by HUD to expire 3 years 
after the date of its issuance or renewal.
    Granted By: Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary for 
Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: May 29, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Due to impacts from COVID-19 manufactured home 
installers have been unable to complete continuing education 
requirements and needed extensions to avoid lapses in licensing that 
would negatively impact housing installations across the country.
    Contact: Angelo Wallace, Civil Engineer, Office of Manufactured 
Housing Programs,

[[Page 73743]]

Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street SW, Room 9170, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 
402-3848.

[FR Doc. 2020-25476 Filed 11-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P

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