[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 105 (Thursday, June 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29792-29802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11616]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-6210-N-04]


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

AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Section 106 of 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 section 106 of the HUD Reform Act. This 
notice contains a list of regulatory waivers granted by HUD during the 
period beginning on October 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 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 Seventh Street SW, Room 10276, Washington, DC 20410-
0500, telephone 202-708-3055 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons 
with 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 fourth 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 
October 1, 2020 through December 31, 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.
    Additionally, this notice includes waivers made pursuant to the 
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), not 
previously published in the Federal Register. These waivers are listed 
separately from other individual waivers within each program office 
grouping, as CARES Act waivers broadly covered all affected parties 
rather than individual, case-by-case situations. The lists include 
additional Memoranda and Notices issued regarding broad CARES Act 
waivers provided by HUD since the enactment of the Act on March 27, 
2020. In addition, the lists provide a short, two- or three-line 
description of each memo or notice, identifying the specific CARES Act 
authority and purpose of the waivers addressed therein.
    Should HUD receive additional information about waivers granted 
during the period covered by this report (the fourth quarter of 
calendar year 2020) before the next report is published (the first 
quarter of calendar year 2021), HUD will include any additional waivers 
granted for the fourth quarter in the next report.
    Accordingly, information about approved waiver requests pertaining 
to HUD regulations is provided in the Appendix that follows this 
notice.

Damon Y. Smith,
Principal Deputy General Counsel.

Appendix

Listing of Waivers of Regulatory Requirements Granted by Offices of the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development October 1, 2020 Through 
December 31, 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.

[[Page 29793]]

    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 Office of Housing.
    III. Regulatory waivers granted by the Office of Public and 
Indian 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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 92.203(a)(1) and (2), 24 CFR 
92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: Source documentation for HOME Investment 
Partnerships Program (HOME) income determinations.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require initial income 
determinations for HOME beneficiaries and annual income 
determination for a TBRA tenant by examining source documentation 
covering the most recent two months.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver permits participating jurisdictions, 
upon notifying the Department, to accept self-certification of 
income in lieu of source documentation to determine the eligibility 
for HOME assistance of persons where source documentation does not 
accurately reflect current income and/or when social distancing 
measures make submission of source documentation unduly difficult. 
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 may not be able to qualify for HOME assistance if 
the requirement remains effective. Additionally, the waiver is 
necessary to help participating jurisdictions comply with national, 
state, or local health authorities' recommendations on social 
distancing to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
    Applicability: The waiver applies to individuals and families 
who are applying for admission to a HOME rental unit or a HOME 
tenant-based rental assistance program, and individuals and families 
that are existing tenants of HOME rental projects or current 
recipients of tenant-based rental assistance, who would be placed at 
risk or experience hardship by submission of source documentation, 
as determined by the participating jurisdiction, in consideration of 
national, state or local health authorities' COVID-19 guidelines. A 
participating jurisdiction that chooses to use this waiver must 
ensure that the income self-certification takes into consideration 
all income, including any unemployment and emergency benefits that 
the Department determines to be income under 24 CFR 5.609(c)(9). The 
participating jurisdiction must conduct rent and income reviews in 
accordance with 24 CFR 92.203(a)(1) and (2) within 120 days after 
the end of the extended waiver period. The participating 
jurisdiction must include tenant income self-certifications in each 
project file.
    The waiver is effective from December 4, 2020, through September 
30, 2021. 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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 92.203(a)(2) and 24 CFR 92.64(a) 
(Insular Areas).
    Project/Activity: Income determinations for HOME Tenant-Based 
Rental Assistance (TBRA).
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require the participating 
jurisdiction to determine a TBRA tenant's annual income by examining 
at least 2 months of source documentation evidencing income and 
projecting anticipated income forward for the next 12 months. This 
waiver permits participating jurisdictions to follow the regulations 
at 24 CFR 92.203(a)(1)(ii) in lieu of requiring a review of source 
documentation. The HOME regulations at 24 CFR 92.203(a)(1)(ii) allow 
the participating jurisdiction to obtain a written statement of the 
amount of the family's anticipated annual income and household size, 
along with a certification that the information is complete and 
accurate.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Given the 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 determine an individual's 
annual income using source documentation would be administratively 
burdensome, may not reflect current or anticipated income, and may 
result in individuals or families being incorrectly disqualified 
from receiving TBRA. In addition, social distancing measures may 
make submission of source documentation unduly difficult.
    Applicability: This waiver is applicable to TBRA provided to 
individuals or families experiencing financial hardship. This 
requirement is waived through September 30, 2021, for tenant-based 
rental assistance provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 
participating jurisdiction must ensure that the tenant's self-
certification indicates how the tenant's financial situation has 
changed, (i.e., job loss or reduced wages), and includes all income, 
including any unemployment and emergency benefits that the 
Department determines to be income under 24 CFR 5.609(c)(9).
    If the household will continue to receive TBRA beyond the waiver 
period, the participating jurisdiction must determine the 
household's income eligibility in accordance with 24 CFR 
92.203(a)(2) prior to executing a new TBRA contract. The 
participating jurisdiction must include tenant income certifications 
in each project file. This waiver is effective from the date of this 
memorandum and remains in effect through the end of the waiver 
period.
    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.
    <bullet> 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. If the project is not complete, in 
accordance with the definition of ``project completion'' at 24 CFR 
92.2, by the deadline, the project is involuntarily terminated in 
HUD's Integrated Data Information System (IDIS), and the 
participating jurisdiction must repay all funds invested in the 
project. The regulations permit a participating jurisdiction to 
request an extension of the deadline for up to one-year. 24 CFR 
92.64(a) applies these requirements to Insular Areas.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 2020.
    Reason Waived: This waiver is necessary to provide additional 
time to permit completion of HOME-assisted projects that may be 
delayed due the effect of COVID-19 on project timelines.
    Applicability: This waiver applies to projects with 4-year 
project completion deadlines that occurred or will occur on after 
April 10, 2020, including projects with deadlines that were extended 
for one-year pursuant to an approved request under 24 CFR 
92.205(e)(2) if such extension was in effect on or after April 10, 
2020. The completion deadlines for covered projects are extended to 
September 30, 2021. 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.
    <bullet> 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 amount of monthly utility costs included in 
TBRA is limited by the utility allowance established by the 
participating jurisdiction for its TBRA program. The maximum amount 
of monthly assistance may not exceed the difference

[[Page 29794]]

between the participating jurisdiction's rent standard and 30 
percent of the tenant's monthly adjusted income. The participating 
jurisdiction must establish a minimum tenant contribution to rent, 
and a rent standard that is based on local market conditions or the 
subsidy standards under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher 
Program. The HOME regulations at 24 CFR 92.64(a) apply these 
requirements to Insular Areas.
    This waiver allows participating jurisdictions to pay the full 
cost of monthly utilities in addition to rental assistance and 
security deposit payments for new and existing TBRA families 
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participating jurisdictions may 
provide up to 100 percent subsidy for rent, security deposit 
payments, and utilities for tenants affected by a reduction or loss 
of income from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, this waiver 
allows participating jurisdictions to pay past-due rent and fees, 
including any late fees, as defined in the tenant's lease. This 
waiver also permits the payment of utility costs, late fees 
associated with overdue utilities, as well as necessary costs to 
restore utility service. All costs must still comply with 2 CFR part 
200, subpart E, including the requirement that HOME assistance not 
be used to pay costs when other sources, including federal, state, 
or local assistance have already been provided to pay the same 
costs. The waiver also eliminates the need for the participating 
jurisdiction to establish utility allowances for different types and 
sizes of units for its TBRA program, which eliminates a significant 
administrative burden.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 2020.
    Reason Waived: 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. Households must 
be able to maintain the basic utilities required to ensure housing 
remains safe and sanitary. Permitting participating jurisdictions to 
use HOME funds to pay for utilities will enable affected households 
to maintain decent, safe, and sanitary housing, which necessarily 
requires electricity, water, and/or gas service during the pandemic.
    As individuals experience financial hardship, the amount of 
assistance required to ensure they remain housed will often exceed 
the participating jurisdiction's payment standard. In addition, 
individuals may be unable to pay the participating jurisdiction's 
minimum required tenant contribution toward rent. Requiring 
participating jurisdictions to establish or revise payment standards 
and the minimum tenant contribution to rent policies in the current 
emergency would be burdensome and delay the provision of TBRA in 
response to the pandemic.
    Applicability: This waiver is applicable to TBRA provided to 
individuals or families experiencing financial hardship, including 
existing TBRA families that have experienced a loss or reduction in 
income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This requirement is waived 
through September 30, 2021, for rental assistance provided in 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participating jurisdictions 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 waiver period ending on September 30, 2021. 
The waiver is available to all HOME participating jurisdictions.
    The participating jurisdiction may pay past-due rent and fees, 
including late fees, in accordance with the tenant's lease and 
federal requirements, due on or after January 27, 2020, the 
effective date of the public health emergency declared by the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services for the COVID-19 pandemic 
until the end of the extended waiver period. Participating 
jurisdictions should establish a timeframe for TBRA assistance 
during the extended waiver period based on the circumstances in 
their jurisdiction. In accordance with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, 
and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, Pub. L. 116-136) moratorium on 
fees, after the effective date of the rental assistance contract, 
the participating jurisdiction may not pay and an owner may not 
charge, any fees associated with nonpayment of rent from March 27, 
2020 until after July 24, 2020. The participating jurisdiction must 
document the amount(s) and payment date(s) of any past-due rent and 
fees in the TBRA tenant file. The file should also include evidence 
that the fees comply with federal requirements, including the CARES 
Act, 2 CFR part 200, subpart E, and tenant's lease. The 
participating jurisdiction may make utility payments, including any 
past-due payments, late fees and utility restoration costs due on or 
after January 27, 2020, directly to the tenant or utility company 
based on utility bills submitted for the assisted unit, either by 
mail or electronically. The participating jurisdiction must document 
the amount(s) and payment date(s) of any utility payments and fees 
in the TBRA tenant file.
    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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 92.209(e) and 24 CFR 92.64(a) 
(Insular Areas).
    Project/Activity: Term of rental assistance contract.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations establish requirements 
for the term of rental assistance contracts, including that the term 
must begin on the first day of the term of the lease. For a rental 
assistance contract between a participating jurisdiction and an 
owner, the term of the contract must terminate upon termination of 
the lease. For a rental assistance contract between a participating 
jurisdiction and a family, the term of the contract is not required 
to terminate upon the termination of the lease, but no payments may 
be made after lease termination until the family executes a new 
lease. The HOME regulations at 24 CFR 92.64(a) apply these 
requirements to Insular Areas.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 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 September 30, 
2021, for tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) provided in response 
to the COVID-19 pandemic. The participating jurisdiction's 
requirement to execute a rental assistance contract with the owner 
or tenant is not waived. Participating jurisdictions 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 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.
    <bullet> 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. The HOME regulations at 24 CFR 
92.64(a) applies this requirement to Insular Areas.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver permits 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 September 30, 2021. Participating jurisdictions using this 
waiver authority must execute a rental assistance contract with the 
owner or tenant. The waiver is available to all participating 
jurisdictions.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development,

[[Page 29795]]

Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2684.
    <bullet> 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). In accordance 
with 24 CFR 92.253(a), there must be a lease between the tenant and 
the owner of rental housing assisted with HOME TBRA. The lease must 
have a term of not less than one year, unless both parties mutually 
agree to a shorter period. The lease cannot contain any of the 
prohibited lease terms defined in 24 CFR 92.253(b). The HOME 
regulations at 24 CFR 92.64(a) apply these requirements to Insular 
Areas.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver permits 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 administrative burden and may disqualify some in-
place tenants from receiving TBRA.
    Applicability: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 
requirement that a tenant assisted by TBRA have a lease that 
complies with the requirements of 24 CFR 92.253(b) is waived through 
September 30, 2021, for rental assistance provided to tenants 
already housed who have an executed lease. The participating 
jurisdictions 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 September 30, 2021. The lease provisions at 24 CFR 
92.253(a) are not waived. A household receiving TBRA must have an 
executed lease with the project owner for a term of not less than 
one year, unless both parties agree to a shorter term. In addition, 
the participating jurisdiction 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.
    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.
    <bullet> 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. The HOME regulations at 24 CFR 
92.64(a) apply these requirements to Insular Areas.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 2020.
    Reason Waived: 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. In addition, requiring initial HQS inspections would 
increase housing inspectors' risk of contracting or spreading the 
COVID-19 virus.
    Applicability: This waiver is applicable to TBRA provided to 
tenant households experiencing financial hardship. This requirement 
is waived through September 30, 2021, for rental assistance provided 
in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Participating jurisdictions using this waiver 
authority must establish procedures to minimize the risk that 
tenants are in housing that does not meet HQS. If TBRA to the 
household will continue beyond September 30, 2021, the participating 
jurisdiction must conduct an HQS Inspection, in accordance with the 
HOME requirements at 24 CFR 92.209(i), prior to executing a new TBRA 
contract.
    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.
    <bullet> 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 the 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. 24 CFR 92.64(a) applies these requirements to Insular 
Areas.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 2020.
    Reason Waived: 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. The waiver is also necessary to enable participating 
jurisdictions to recapitalize operating reserves to account for 
increased operating costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as 
lost revenue due to the closure of amenities and/or more intensive 
cleaning and disinfection of common areas.
    Applicability: The waiver applies to HOME-assisted rental 
projects currently within the period of affordability established in 
the HOME written agreement. Participating jurisdictions will not be 
required to obtain HUD approval or execute a memorandum of agreement 
with HUD before providing this assistance. Participating 
jurisdiction 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 participating jurisdiction; and (3) 
any adverse credit reporting against tenants of HOME-assisted units 
for nonpayment of rent or fees without prior approval of the 
participating jurisdiction. To clarify, per the waiver and 2 CFR 
part 200 requirements, costs paid for by other sources are 
ineligible and cannot be paid for by HOME funds. Private sources 
include rent received from HOME-assisted tenants. To prevent the 
misuse of HOME funds to pay for costs paid with other sources and to 
maintain the eligibility of costs paid for by HOME assistance, the 
owner must reduce the amount of any back rent owed by tenants by the 
amount of HOME operating reserve assistance deposits. The amount 
expended to pay operating reserve assistance must not exceed the 
share of operating costs attributable to the HOME-assisted units. If 
the owner pursues and receives back rent from a HOME-assisted 
tenant, the owner must repay the amount of operating reserve 
assistance equal to the amount of back rent received.
    The participating jurisdiction may provide additional HOME funds 
to recapitalize operating deficit reserves for HOME-assisted rental 
projects if the participating jurisdiction determines that the 
project is experiencing operating deficits related to the economic

[[Page 29796]]

effects of the COVID-19 pandemic during the waiver period. The 
participating jurisdiction 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 to September 30, 2021.
    Project operating expenses may be demonstrated by one of the 
following: Owner's most recent year-to-date financials for the 
project; Certified project-level accounting records covering the 
most recent 3 months; or 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, 
participating jurisdictions 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 participating jurisdiction 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 participating jurisdiction; and (3) any adverse 
credit reporting against tenants of HOME-assisted units for 
nonpayment of rent or fees without prior approval of the 
participating jurisdiction. Within 6 months following the waiver 
period, the participating jurisdiction 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 (which includes costs paid for 
by other sources) and any balance of HOME funds remaining in the 
reserve after the extended waiver period. Any HOME funds repaid to 
the participating jurisdiction must be deposited in the local HOME 
account and reported as program income in IDIS. The waiver is 
effective through September 30, 2021.
    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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(h) and 24 CFR 92.64(a) 
(Insular Areas).
    Project/Activity: Source documentation for income re-
examinations.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require re-examination of 
income of each tenant using source documentation in accordance with 
Sec.  92.203(a)(1)(i) in every sixth year of the affordability 
period where an owner of a multifamily project with an affordability 
period of 10 years of more re-examine tenant's annual income through 
a statement and certification in accordance with Sec.  
92.203(a)(1)(ii). 24 CFR 92.64(a) applies these requirements to 
Insular Areas.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 2020.
    Reason Waived: This waiver permits the use of self-certification 
of income, as provided at Sec.  92.203(a)(1)(ii), in lieu of source 
documentation to re-examine the income of tenants residing in a HOME 
multifamily project with a period of affordability of 10 years or 
more, if the reexamination of tenant income required in every sixth 
year of the project's period of affordability occurs on or before 
September 30, 2021.
    This waiver is necessary because source documentation may not 
accurately reflect the current income of existing tenants and/or 
social distancing measures may make submission of source 
documentation unduly difficult. 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 in 
effect. Additionally, the waiver is necessary to help participating 
jurisdictions comply with national, state, or local health 
authorities' recommendations on social distancing to reduce the risk 
of spreading COVID-19.
    Applicability: This waiver applies to an owner of a HOME 
multifamily rental project with a period of affordability of 10 
years or more to use self-certification of income if a reexamination 
of tenant income required in every sixth year of the project's 
period of affordability occurs on or before September 30, 2021. This 
is to accommodate a tenant with source documentation that does not 
accurately reflect current income and/or where individuals and 
families would be placed at risk or experience hardship by 
submission of source documentation to the owner, as determined by 
the participating jurisdiction, in consideration of national, state 
or local health authorities' COVID-19 guidelines. 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.
    <bullet> 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. If there is no 
ratified sales contract with an eligible homebuyer within 9 months 
of completion of construction or rehabilitation, the housing must be 
rented to an eligible tenant in accordance with Sec.  92.252. 24 CFR 
92.64(a) applies these requirements to Insular Areas.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 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. 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 
September 30, 2021. The waiver is available to all HOME 
participating jurisdictions. This waiver does not apply to the 
remaining requirements of the regulation, including that a homebuyer 
must receive housing counseling, and that a participating 
jurisdiction must determine eligibility of a family by including the 
income of all persons living in the housing.
    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.
    <bullet> 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

[[Page 29797]]

compliance with the property standards and to verify the information 
submitted by the owners in accordance with the income and rent 
requirements. 24 CFR 92.64(a) applies these requirements to Insular 
Areas.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 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. Within 120 days of the end of this waiver period, 
participating jurisdictions must physically inspect units that would 
have been subject to on-going inspections during the waiver period. 
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 September 30, 2021. 
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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 92.504(d)(1)(iii); 24 CFR 92.209(i) 
and 24 CFR 92.64(a).
    Project/Activity: Housing Quality Standards--Initial and annual 
inspection of units occupied by recipients of HOME tenant-based 
rental assistance (TBRA).
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations require participating 
jurisdictions to initially inspect each unit to be occupied by a 
recipient of HOME TBRA and annually re-inspect each unit occupied by 
a recipient of HOME TBRA. 24 CFR 92.64(a) applies these requirements 
to Insular Areas.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Waiving the requirement that HQS inspections be 
performed before a HOME TBRA recipient leases and occupies a rental 
unit and annually re-inspect 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 initial and annual 
housing quality standards inspections required to occur from April 
10, 2020, through September 30, 2021. The waiver is available to all 
HOME participating jurisdictions.
    Participating jurisdictions using this waiver authority for 
families assisted under TBRA are not required to inspect for 
compliance with HQS in accordance with 24 CFR 982.401. Participating 
jurisdiction shall make reasonable efforts to address any tenant-
reported health and safety issues during the waiver period. At the 
conclusion of the extended waiver period, all housing occupied by 
households receiving HOME TBRA must meet the housing quality 
standards (HQS) at 24 CFR 982.401. However, this waiver does not 
apply to the requirements at 24 CFR 35.1215. Consequently, units 
built before 1978 must undergo visual evaluation and paint repair in 
accordance with 24 CFR part 35, subpart M. Participating 
jurisdictions using this waiver authority must establish procedures 
to minimize the risk that tenants are in housing that does not meet 
HQS.
    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.
    <bullet> 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: Provisions require participating 
jurisdictions to annually inspect each unit occupied by a recipient 
of HOME TBRA.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 2020.
    Reason Waived: Waiving the requirement that annual HQS 
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 HQS 
inspections required to occur from April 10, 2020 through September 
30, 2021. Participating jurisdictions using this waiver authority 
are not required to inspect for compliance with HQS in accordance 
with 24 CFR 982.401. Participating jurisdictions shall make 
reasonable efforts to address any tenant reported health and safety 
issues during the waiver period. All housing that will continue to 
be occupied by HOME TBRA households after the end of the extended 
waiver period, must be inspected for compliance with HQS prior to 
executing a new TBRA contract.
    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.
    <bullet> 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. 24 CFR 92.64(a) applies 
this requirement to Insular Areas.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 4, 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 
September 30, 2021. 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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) Utility Allowance 
Requirements.
    Project/Activity: The County of Santa Clara, the City of 
Mountain View, and the County of San Luis Obispo, California, 
requested a waiver of 24 CFR 92.252(d)(1) to allow use of the 
utility allowance established by a local public housing agency (PHA) 
for three HOME-assisted projects: Orchard Ranch Apartments in Santa 
Clara County, Shorebreeze II Family Apartments in Mountain View, and 
Courtyard at the Meadows in San Luis Obispo County.
    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, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: November 17, 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.

[[Page 29798]]

    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street SW, Room 7160, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 
402-4606.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 578.3, definition of permanent 
housing, 24 CFR 578.51(1)(1).
    Project/Activity: The one-year lease requirement is waived for 
leases executed between the date of this memorandum and March 31, 
2021, so long as the initial term of all leases is at least one 
month.
    Nature of Requirement: Program participants residing in PSH must 
be the tenant on a lease for a term of at least one year that is 
renewable and terminable for cause.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 29, 2020.
    Reason Waived: HUD originally waived this requirement for 6-
months on March 31, 2020 and again until December 31, 2020 on 
September 30, 2020 to help recipients more quickly identify 
permanent housing for individuals and families experiencing 
homelessness, which is helpful in preventing the spread of COVID-19. 
Extending this waiver is necessary because recipients continue to 
need to help program participants identify housing quickly to help 
prevent the spread of COVID-19.
    Contact: Norm Suchar, Director, Office of Special Needs 
Assistance Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7262, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-4300.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 578.33(c).
    Project/Activity: The requirement that the renewal grant amount 
be based on the budget line items in the final year of the grant 
being renewed is further waived for all projects that amend their 
grant agreement between January 1, 2021 and March 31, 2021 to move 
funds between budget line items in a project in response to the 
COVID-19 pandemic. Recipients may then apply in the next FY CoC 
Program funding cycle based on the budget line items in the grants 
before they were amended.
    Nature of Requirement: 24 CFR 578.33(c) requires that budget 
line item amounts a recipient is awarded for renewal in the CoC 
Program Competition will be based on the amounts in the final year 
of the prior funding period of the project.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 29, 2020.
    Reason Waived: HUD originally waived this requirement for grant 
agreement amendments signed between March 31, 2020 and October 1, 
2020 to allow recipients to move funds between budget line items in 
a project in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and still apply for 
renewal in the next FY CoC Program funding cycle based on the budget 
line items in the grants before they were amended. HUD again waived 
this requirement for all grant agreements signed from October 1, 
2020 until December 31, 2020. Recipients continue to report needing 
to shift budget line items to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic 
(e.g., providing different supportive service necessitated by the 
pandemic or serving fewer people because the layout of the housing 
does not meet local social distancing recommendations) without 
changing the original design of the project when it is not operating 
in a public health crisis and can resume normal operations.
    Contact: Norm Suchar, Director, Office of Special Needs 
Assistance Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7262, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-4300.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 578.37(a)(l)(ii)(F).
    Project/Activity: The requirement in 24 CFR 578.37(a)(1)(ii)(F) 
that projects require program participants to meet with case 
managers not less than once per month is waived for all permanent 
housing-rapid re-housing projects until March 31, 2021.
    Nature of Requirement: Recipients must require program 
participants of permanent housing-rapid re-housing projects to meet 
with a case manager at least monthly.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 29, 2020.
    Reason Waived: HUD originally waived this requirement for 2-
months on March 31, 2020. On May 22, 2020 HUD again waived this 
requirement for an additional 3 months and on September 30, 2020 HUD 
once again waived this requirement until December 31, 2020. 
Recipients are continuing to report limited staff capacity as staff 
members are home for a variety of reasons related to COVID-19 (e.g., 
quarantining, children home from school, working elsewhere in the 
community to manage the COVID-19 response). In addition, not all 
program participants have capacity to meet via phone or internet. 
Waiving the monthly case management requirement as specified below 
will allow recipients to provide case management on an as needed 
basis and reduce the possible spread and harm of COVID-19.
    Contact: Norm Suchar, Director, Office of Special Needs 
Assistance Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7262, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-4300.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 578.49(b)(2).
    Project/Activity: The Fair Market Rent (FMR) restriction 
continues to be waived for any lease executed by a recipient or 
subrecipient to provide transitional or permanent supportive housing 
until March 31, 2021. The affected recipient or subrecipient must 
still ensure that rent paid for individual units that are leased 
with leasing dollars meet the rent reasonableness standard in 24 CFR 
578.49(b)(2).
    Nature of Requirement: Rent payments for individual units with 
leasing dollars may not exceed (FMR).
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 29, 2020.
    Reason Waived: HUD originally waived this requirement for 6-
months on March 31, 2020. On September 30, 2020 HUD again waived 
this requirement until December 31, 2020. Extending this waiver of 
the limit on using grant leasing funds to pay above FMR for 
individual units, but not greater than reasonable rent, will assist 
recipients in locating additional units to house individuals and 
families experiencing homelessness and reduce the spread and harm of 
COVID-19.
    Contact: Norm Suchar, Director, Office of Special Needs 
Assistance Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7262, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-4300.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 578.75(b)(1).
    Project/Activity: The waiver of the requirement in 24 CFR 
578.75(b)(1) that the recipient or subrecipient physically inspect 
each unit to assure that the unit meets Housing Quality Standards 
(HQS) before providing assistance on behalf of a program participant 
is in effect until March 31, 2021 for recipients and subrecipients 
that are able to obtain certification from the owner that they have 
no reasonable basis to have knowledge that life-threatening 
conditions exist in the unit or units in question; and the recipient 
or subrecipient has written policies to physically inspect the unit 
within 3 months after the health officials determine special 
measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are no longer necessary.
    Nature of Requirement: 24 CFR 278.75(b)(1) requires that 
recipients or subrecipients physically inspect each unit to assure 
that it meets HQS before any assistance will be provided for that 
unit on behalf of a program participant.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 29, 2020.
    Reason Waived: On March 31, 2020, HUD waived the physical 
inspection requirement at 24 CFR 578.75(b)(l) for 6-months so long 
as recipients or subrecipients were able to visually inspect the 
unit using technology to ensure the unit met HQS before any 
assistance was provided and recipients or subrecipients had written 
policies in place to physically reinspect the unit within 3 months 
after the health officials determined special measures to prevent 
the spread of COVID-19 are no longer necessary. However, this 
standard still relies on program participants or landlords having 
the technology to carry out this virtual inspection. Waiving the 
initial inspection requirement at 24 CFR 578.75(b)(l) as further 
specified below will allow recipients to move people from the 
streets and shelters into housing more quickly, which enables social 
distancing, and helps prevent the spread of COVID-19.
    Contact: Norm Suchar, Director, Office of Special Needs 
Assistance Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7262, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-4300.

[[Page 29799]]

    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 578.75(c) and 24 CFR 
982.401(d)(2)(ii) as required by 24 CFR 578.75(b)
    Project/Activity: The requirement that each unit assisted with 
CoC Program funds or YHDP funds have at least one bedroom or living/
sleeping room for each two persons is waived for recipients 
providing Permanent Housing-Rapid Rehousing assistance for leases 
and occupancy agreements executed by recipients and subrecipients 
between the date of this memorandum and March 31, 2021 and extending 
only until the later of (1) the end of the initial term of the lease 
or occupancy agreement; or (2) March 31, 2021. Recipients are still 
required to follow State and local occupancy laws.
    Nature of Requirement: 24 CFR 578.75(c), suitable dwelling size, 
and 24 CFR 982.401(d)(2)(ii) as required by 24 CFR 578.75(b), 
Housing Quality Standards, requires units funded with CoC Program 
funds to have at least one bedroom or living/sleeping room for each 
two persons.
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 29, 2020.
    Reason Waived: On September 30, 2020, HUD waived the 
requirements at 24 CFR 982.401(d)(2)(ii) and 24 CFR 578.75(c) to 
allow households experiencing homelessness to obtain permanent 
housing that is affordable and that they assess is adequate. 
Recipients continue to report that households experiencing 
homelessness remain unable to afford the limited supply of 
affordable housing in many jurisdictions across the country and this 
has been made even more challenging due to the economic impact of 
COVID-19. HUD is waiving the requirements at 24 CFR 
982.401(d)(2)(ii) and 24 CFR 578.75(c) as further specified below to 
reduce the spread of COVID-19 by allowing households to move into 
housing instead of staying in congregate shelter. Consistent with 
the Executive Order on Fighting the Spread of COVID-19 by Providing 
Assistance to Renters and Homeowners, grantees should balance use of 
this waiver with the recommendations of public health officials to 
limit community spread and reduce risks to high-risk populations. 
For example, a large unit with rooms than can be partitioned for 
privacy and distancing, or the waiver can be applied for units that 
will house only one family household.
    Contact: Norm Suchar, Director, Office of Special Needs 
Assistance Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7262, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-4300.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 578.103(a)(7)(iv).
    Project/Activity: The waiver of the requirement at 24 CFR 
578.103(a)(7)(iv) that the recipient or subrecipient may only rely 
on program participant self-certification of income if the other 
permitted types of documentation are unobtainable when conducting 
the initial or subsequent rent or occupancy charge calculations is 
in effect until March 31, 2021. During this time, 24 CFR 
578.103(a)(7)(iv) is waived to the extent necessary to allow 
recipients or subrecipients to document annual income with the 
written certification by the program participant of the amount of 
income that the program participant is reasonably expected to 
receive over the 3-month period following the evaluation, even if 
source documents and third-party verification, are obtainable.
    Nature of Requirement: 24 CFR 578.103(a)(7) requires the 
recipient or subrecipient to keep records of the program 
participant's income and the back-up documentation they relied on to 
determine income. The regulation establishes an order of preference 
for the type of documentation that recipients can rely upon. Only if 
source documents and third-party verification are unobtainable is a 
written certification from the program participant acceptable 
documentation of income. HUD is waiving ``To the extent that source 
documents and third-party verification are unobtainable'' in 
578.103(a)(7)(iv).
    Granted By: John Gibbs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: December 29, 2020.
    Reason Waived: On September 30, 2020, HUD waived the requirement 
to attempt to document that third-party verification of income was 
unobtainable in order for recipients and subrecipients to a program 
participant's own self-certification of income until December 31, 
2020 because that documentation may be difficult to obtain as a 
result of COVID-19 pandemic and housing program participants quickly 
was important to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It continues to be 
important to move people into their own housing quickly to enable 
social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19; therefore, 
waiving the requirement that source documents and third-party 
documentation be unobtainable in order for recipients or 
subrecipients to rely on a program participant's own certification 
of their income.
    Contact: Norm Suchar, Director, Office of Special Needs 
Assistance Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, 
Room 7262, Washington, DC 20410, telephone number (202) 708-4300.

II. 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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 200.73(c).
    Project/Activity: New Hope Properties, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, 
Project No. 083-35769.
    Nature of Requirement: 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''. 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. AGM Financial Services, Inc. applied for mortgage 
insurance under the Section 221(d)(4) substantial rehabilitation 
program. The proposed insured loan is estimated at $26,000,000. The 
project will also be financed with $20,760,447 of equity from the 
sale of 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), a $2,700,000 loan 
from the Kentucky Housing Trust Fund, and a $500,000 Affordable 
Housing Program loan. The Hendersonville Housing Authority (HHA) 
plans to convert their public housing inventory to project-based 
Section 8 rental housing through the Rental Assistance Demonstration 
(RAD) program. New Hope Properties consists of 454 affordable 
housing units in nine (9) developments with the nine referenced 
developments being located on more than 24 parcels of land.
    Granted By: Dana T. Wade, Assistant Secretary for Housing--
Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: November 25, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver will meet HUD's goal of preserving and 
maintaining affordable rental housing for low-income families. The 
project is a low risk to the Department due to its continuing 
availability of project Section 8 rental housing through the Rental 
Assistance Demonstration Program (RAD) assistance for most units.
    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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 200.73(c).
    Project/Activity: Friends/VVA Apartments, Columbus, Ohio, 
Project No. 043-11259.
    Nature of Requirement: 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.'' 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. Orix Real Estate Capital, LLC (OREC) applied for 
mortgage insurance under the Section 223(f) program for Friends/VVA 
Apartments. Friends/VVA is a 16-unit complex owned by the nonprofit 
developer Columbus Housing Partnership, Inc. and is in Columbus, 
Ohio. It is comprised of two sites.
    Granted By: Dana T. Wade, Assistant Secretary for Housing--
Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: October 28, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver will meet HUD's goal of preserving and 
maintaining affordable rental housing for low-income families. 
Eligible tenants are very low-income elderly or disabled. The 
project is a low risk to the Department due to its continuing 
availability of project Section 8 rental housing assistance for all 
units.
    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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 203.602.
    Project/Activity: Delinquency Notices to Mortgagors.
    Nature of Requirement: This is a temporary waiver of the 
requirements in 24 CFR 203.602 for borrowers provided a COVID-19

[[Page 29800]]

Forbearance. This temporarily waives the requirement that a 
mortgagee shall give notice to any mortgagor in default no later 
than the end of the second month of any delinquency in payments 
under the mortgage during the period of the COVID-19 Forbearance.
    Granted By: Dana T. Wade, Assistant Secretary for Housing--
Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: December 21, 2020.
    Reason Waived: This waiver has been issued to address potential 
confusion and uncertainty surrounding mortgage servicing policy 
changes enacted due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 
pandemic.
    Applicability: This waiver is applicable to mortgages where the 
Borrower is on an FHA COVID-19 Forbearance.
    Contact: Elissa Saunders, Acting Director, Office of Single 
Family Asset Management, Office of Housing, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW, Room 9172, Washington, 
DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-2378.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 206.55(d)(1).
    Project/Activity: The requirement that an Eligible Non-Borrowing 
Spouse for a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) must, within 90 
days from the death of the last surviving borrower, establish legal 
ownership or other ongoing legal right to remain for life in the 
property securing the HECM.
    Nature of Requirement: This is a partial waiver of the 
requirement in 24 CFR 206.55(d)(1) that an Eligible Non-Borrowing 
Spouse must, within 90 days from the death of the last surviving 
borrower, establish legal ownership or other ongoing legal right to 
remain for life in the property securing the HECM.
    Granted By: Dana T. Wade, Assistant Secretary for Housing--
Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: October 1, 2020.
    Reason Waived: This partial waiver has been issued due to public 
health concerns around the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 
(COVID-19), the declaration of a National Emergency and the 
resulting closures of courthouses and government offices necessary 
to meet the requirement of 24 CFR 206.55(d)(1).
    Applicability: The partial waiver does not apply to any 
provisions of 24 CFR 206.55 other than 24 CFR 206.55(d)(1). The 
partial waiver is limited to a 12-month period from the date of 
issuance.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 219.220(b).
    Project/Activity: Superbia Retirement Village, FHA Project 
Number 117-SH006T, Oklahoma City, OK. The Foundation for Senior 
Citizens, Incorporated (Owner) seeks approval to defer repayment of 
the Flexible Subsidy Operating Assistance Loan on the subject 
project.
    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 Projects, 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: Dana T. Wade, Assistant Secretary for Housing--
Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: November 19, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The owner requested and was granted waiver of the 
requirement to repay the Flexible Subsidy Operating Assistance Loan 
in full when it became due. Deferring the loan payment will preserve 
the affordable housing resource for an additional 35 years through 
the execution and recordation of a Rental Use Agreement.
    Contact: Crystal Martinez, Senior Account Executive, Office of 
Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street SW, Room 6174, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-
3718.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 266.410(e).
    Project/Activity: Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery 
County (HOC) 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 HOC 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: Dana T. Wade, Assistant Secretary for Housing--
Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: November 19, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver was granted to allow Housing 
Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County's (HOC) clients 
additional financing options to their customers and to align HOC 
business practices with industry standards, thus furthering the 
creation of a preservation of affordable housing throughout 
Maryland.
    The regulatory waiver is subject to the following conditions:
    1. The waiver is limited to ten (10) transactions and expires on 
December 31, 2025.
    2. Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County 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 
Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County'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. Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County must 
comply with regulations stated in 24 CFR 266.210 for insured 
advances or insurance upon completion transactions.
    8. The loans exceeding $50 million require a separate waiver 
request.
    9. Occupancy is no less than 93 percent for previous 12 months 
of the HFA loan to be refinanced.
    10. No defaults in the last 12 months of the HFA loan to be 
refinanced.
    11. A 20-year affordable housing deed restriction placed on 
title that conforms to the Section 542(c) statutory definition.
    12. A Property Capital Needs Assessment (PCNA) must be 
performed, and funds escrowed for all necessary repairs, and 
reserves funded for future capital needs; and
    13. 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 
Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County determines 
that a project's excess funds (surplus cash) after project 
operations, reserve requirements and permitted distributions are 
met, Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County 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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 266.410(e).
    Project/Activity: Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) 
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 IHDA 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: Dana T. Wade, Assistant Secretary for Housing--
Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: October 21, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The waiver was granted to allow Illinois Housing 
Development Authority's (IHDA) clients additional financing options 
to their customers and to align IHDA business practices with 
industry standards, thus furthering the creation of a preservation 
of affordable housing throughout Illinois.
    The regulatory waiver is subject to the following conditions:
    1. The waiver is limited to thirty (30) transactions and expires 
on October 31, 2025.
    2. Illinois Housing Development Authority 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.

[[Page 29801]]

    4. All other requirements of 24 CFR 266.410--Mortgage Provision 
remain applicable. The waiver is applicable only to loans made under 
Illinois Housing Development Authority'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. Illinois Housing Development Authority must comply with 
regulations stated in 24 CFR 266.210 for insured advances or 
insurance upon completion transactions.
    8. The loans exceeding $50 million require a separate waiver 
request.
    9. Occupancy is no less than 93 percent for previous 12 months 
of the HFA loan to be refinanced.
    10. No defaults in the last 12 months of the HA loan to be 
refinanced.
    11. A 20-year affordable housing deed restriction placed on 
title that conforms to the Section 542(c) statutory definition.
    12. A Property Capital Needs Assessment (PCNA) must be 
performed, and funds escrowed for all necessary repairs, and 
reserves funded for future capital needs; and
    13. For projects subsidized by Section 8 Housing Assistance 
Payment (HAP) contracts:
    1. 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 
Illinois Housing Development Authority determines that a project's 
excess funds (surplus cash) after project operations, reserve 
requirements and permitted distributions are met, Illinois Housing 
Development Authority 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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 3282.14(b).
    Project/Activity: Manufactured Housing Production, Nationwide.
    Nature of Requirement: The Office of Manufactured Housing 
Programs (OMHP) received several individual requests through the 
Alternative Construction (AC) process outlined in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 24 CFR 3282.14. This regulation 
requires each manufacturer to submit a request for Alternative 
Construction consideration. Rather, OMHP provided an Alternative 
Construction approval that may be used by any manufacturer 
experiencing supply chain issues for 25 ampere circuit breakers with 
code compliant water heater appliances.
    Granted By: Dana T. Wade, Assistant Secretary for Housing--
Federal Housing.
    Date Granted: December 18, 2020.
    Reason Waived: In order to resolve this matter for the whole 
industry in an expedient manner while protecting the health and 
safety of consumers and maintaining durability of the homes, a 
regulatory waiver of 24 CFR 3282.14(b), Request for Alternative 
Construction, provides resolution for all affected manufacturers. 
This temporary regulatory waiver of 24 CFR 3282.14(b) allows OMHP to 
issue the industry-wide AC Letter that allows 25 ampere circuit 
breakers with code compliant water heater appliances to be used for 
the construction of HUD Code-compliant manufactured homes through 
June 30, 2021.
    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.

III. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Public and Indian 
Housing

    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.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 982.517; 24 CFR 983.301(f)(2)(ii).
    Project/Activity: Housing Authority of the City of San 
Buenaventura (HACSB) requested a project-specific utility allowance 
for a Project Based Voucher (PBV) project.
    Nature of Requirement: For the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) 
program, 24 CFR 982.517 requires that a PHA maintain a utility 
allowance schedule for all tenant-paid utilities, and the utility 
allowance schedule must be determine based on the typical cost of 
utilities and services paid by energy-conserving households that 
occupy units of similar size and type in the same locality. For the 
PBV program, 24 CFR 983.301(f)(2)(ii) requires that PHAs may not 
establish or apply different utility allowance amounts for the PBV 
program, and that the same PHA utility allowance schedule applies to 
both the tenant-based and PBV programs.
    Granted By: R. Hunter Kurtz, Assistant Secretary for Public and 
Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: November 18, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The PHA requested a waiver to establish a site-
specific utility allowance for a PBV project and provided 
justification for the request. The PHA submitted an analysis of 
utility rates for the community and consumption data of project 
residents. Due to the energy efficient upgrades at the project, the 
community consumption estimates are significantly higher than the 
consumption expected at the site. The PHA demonstrated good cause 
that the utility allowance provided under the HCV program would 
discourage conservation and ultimately lead to inefficient use of 
HAP funds at the PBV project. Thus, pursuant to the waiver authority 
provided at 24 CFR 5.110, HUD determined that there was good cause 
to waive 24 CFR 983.301(f)(2)(ii) and 24 CFR 982.5 17.
    Contact: Danielle Bastarache, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, Office of Public and 
Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street SW, Room 4204, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 
402-5264.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 983.3.
    Project/Activity: The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is 
undertaking a large-scale preservation of 1,718 units across sixteen 
(16) project sites in Manhattan, commonly known as the Permanent 
Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) Manhattan Bundle (the 
``Redevelopment''). For the purposes of determining the number of 
Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contracts required to be used for 
the Redevelopment, NYCHA requested the use of an alternative 
definition of ``project'' in order to be operationally efficient, 
reduce administrative burden, and overcome potential confusion for 
property management.
    Nature of Requirement: ``Project'' is defined in PBV regulations 
at 24 CFR 983.3 as a single building, multiple contiguous buildings, 
or multiple buildings on contiguous parcels of land. Contiguous in 
the definition of project includes ``adjacent to,'' and touching 
along a boundary or a point. PHAs may define a PBV project in their 
administrative plan within the bounds of the regulatory definition.
    Granted By: R. Hunter Kurtz, Assistant Secretary, Public and 
Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: November 23, 2020.
    Reason Waived: NYCHA proposed an alternative definition of 
``project'' that would group any buildings within a radius of 
approximately eight blocks for the purpose of placing them under 
individual HAP Contracts. Due to the nature of NYCHA's public 
housing developments, which often include multiple buildings over 
several blocks, the subject regulations would require NYCHA to enter 
into multiple HAP Contracts for each public housing project and/or 
building undergoing conversion. For the Redevelopment, without the 
regulatory waiver, NYCHA would be required to execute 25 HAP 
Contracts (RAD and non-RAD PBV combined), despite several of the 
buildings being closely clustered and currently administered as a 
single project under the public housing program. Through the waiver, 
NYCHA would reduce the number of overall HAP contracts for the 
Redevelopment from twenty-five to thirteen RAD and non-RAD PBV HAP 
Contracts. In addition, due to the magnitude of the NYCHA Section 8 
program, the proposed grouping would save an estimated 11,000 hours 
of staff time and cost during construction, 540 hours on monthly 
administration, and 720 hours on additional annual administration. 
Therefore, HUD determined good cause to waive 24 CFR 983.3 so that 
NYCHA may use the proposed definition of project for the PACT 
Manhattan Bundle that includes the 16 sites and 1,718 units 
identified in the waiver request.
    Contact: Danielle Bastarache, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office 
of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, Office of Public and Indian 
Housing, Room 4204, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street SW, Room 4204, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 
402-5264.

[[Page 29802]]

    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 983.51(b)(1).
    Project/Activity: Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG), a 
partner voucher agency, requested a waiver to award PBVs to a Public 
Housing project that repositioned through a Section 22 Streamlined 
Voluntary Conversion (SVC) action approved by HUD on June 24, 2020.
    Nature of Requirement: 24 CFR 983.51(b)(1) requires a Public 
Housing Agency (PHA) to award Project-Based Vouchers (PBVs) via a 
competitive selection.
    Granted By: R. Hunter Kurtz, Assistant Secretary, Public and 
Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: November 18, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The Mount Pleasant Housing Authority (MPHA) is 
the Public Housing-only agency that received the SVC approval for 
the 145 units, which comprise MPHA's entire Public Housing 
portfolio. Under the SVC approval, MPHA is required to ensure that 
the 145 units at the property are developed and operated as 
affordable housing for low-income families with incomes at or below 
80 percent of area median income for not less than 30 years. To 
accomplish this, MPHA proposed to place the property under a PBV 
Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract. However, since ATCOG 
does not have an ownership interest in the project, the Housing 
Opportunity Through Modernization Act requirements for non-
competitive selection, as detailed in PIH 2017-21, Attachment L, are 
not met. ATCOG serves nine northeast Texas counties and one 
southwest Arkansas county, covering over 6,400 square miles. Based 
on this, ATCOG expected that there is a strong likelihood that the 
PBVs could be awarded to a project other than MPHA's converted 
project. Thus, HUD determined good cause to waive 24 CFR 
983.51(b)(1) so that ATCOG may select MPHA's Section 22 SVC-approved 
project for an award of PBVs without following a competitive 
process.
    Contact: Danielle Bastarache, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, Office of Public and 
Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street SW, Room 4204, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 
402-5264.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 983.152(c).
    Project/Activity: Massachusetts Department of Housing and 
Community Development (MDHCD) requested to allow environmental 
remediation activities required by the Massachusetts Department of 
Environmental Protection (MDEP) commence at a project prior to an 
Agreement to Enter into a Housing Assistance Payment (AHAP) 
contract.
    Nature of Requirement: 24 CFR 983.152(c) requires that a public 
housing agency (PHA) may not enter into an AHAP contract if 
construction or rehabilitation has commenced after proposal 
submission.
    Granted By: R. Hunter Kurtz, Assistant Secretary, Public and 
Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: November 18, 2020.
    Reason Waived: The Haywood Homes project consists of 
construction of 55 new housing units for Section 18 disposition. As 
part of the disposition review process and planning activities for 
the project, Newton Housing Authority (NHA) discovered that the 
property contains a concentration of mercury that exceeds the 
reporting threshold under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan and the 
project was subject to required reporting and remediation. The scope 
of the environmental remediation and related work is specified in an 
engineering report dated May 20, 2020. NHA has been unable to enter 
into an AHAP with the project owner because various key proposed 
financing awards and commitments are still ongoing for the subsidy 
layering review (SLR). Project-based voucher (PBV) program 
regulations require the completion of an SLR prior to AHAP execution 
(24 CFR 983.55(b)). Therefore, HUD determined good cause to waive 24 
CFR 983.152(c) so that the work identified in the May 20, 2020 
engineering report may be performed, prior to entering into an AHAP 
for the Haywood Homes project.
    Contact: Danielle Bastarache, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, Office of Public and 
Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street SW, Room 4204, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 
402-5264.
    <bullet> Regulation: 24 CFR 983.152(c).
    Project/Activity: Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority 
requested to allow their development partners to commence certain 
remediation activities prior to an Agreement to Enter into a Housing 
Assistance Payment (AHAP) contract.
    Nature of Requirement: 24 CFR 983.152(c) requires that a public 
housing agency (PHA) may not enter into an AHAP contract if 
construction or rehabilitation has commenced after proposal 
submission.
    Granted By: R. Hunter Kurtz, Assistant Secretary, Public and 
Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: November 9, 2020.
    Reason Waived: On January 9, 2020, the CMHA's Board of 
Commissioners authorized the award of 60 PBVs for the redevelopment 
of a project, known as the Blanket Mills project. On March 29, 2020, 
a severe storm partially collapsed an adjoining building that now 
needs to be demolished (Piano building), and according to an 
engineering report dated April 2, 2020, the main building (Blanket 
Mills building) needs to be preserved/restored and made weather 
tight until anticipated restoration work can begin. CMHA has been 
unable to enter into an AHAP with the project owner because various 
key proposed financing awards and commitments are still ongoing for 
the subsidy layering review (SLR). Project-based voucher (PBV) 
program regulations require the completion of an SLR prior to AHAP 
execution (24 CFR 983.55(b)). Therefore, HUD determined good cause 
to waive 24 CFR 983.152(c) so that the work identified in the April 
2, 2020 engineering report may be performed, prior to CMHA entering 
into an AHAP for the rehabilitation of the Blanket Mills main 
building.
    Contact: Danielle Bastarache, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, Office of Public and 
Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street SW, Room 4204, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-
5264.

HUD's Summary of CARES Act Notices Providing Waivers: 10/1/20 to 12/31/
20

    Authority: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act 
(CARES Act) and regulatory waiver authority is also provided by 24 
CFR 5.110 and 91.600.
    CARES Act Waiver: PIH Notice 2020-13, HCV-4; 24 CFR 982.305(c).
    Description: The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority 
(SNRHA) requested a waiver for five cases in which the HAP Contract 
was executed more than 120 days after the lease start date (the 
regulatory requirement is 60 days and the alternative requirement in 
the CARES Act Waiver Notice is 120 days). The delay was due to 
staffing issues and unforeseen circumstances related to COVID-19.
    Authority: 24 CFR 982.305(c)(4) states that any Housing 
Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract executed more than 60 days after 
the lease term begins will be void and the public housing agency 
(PHA) may not pay any HAP to the owner. PIH Notice 2020-13: COVID-19 
Statutory and Regulatory Waivers and Alternative Requirements for 
the Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Indian Housing Block 
Grant and Indian Community Development Block Grant programs, 
Suspension of Public Housing Assessment System and Section Eight 
Management Assessment Program, Revision 1, provided an alternative 
requirement for 24 CFR 982.305(c), provides an alternative 
requirement that HAP Contracts must be executed within 120 days, 
instead of 60 days, to provide additional time due to the impact of 
the coronavirus on PHA operations.
    Granted By: R. Hunter Kurtz, Assistant Secretary, Public and 
Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: November 18, 2020.
    Purpose/Reason Waived: SNRHA requested a waiver for five cases 
in which the HAP Contract was executed more than 120 days after the 
lease start date due to staffing issues and unforeseen circumstances 
related to COVID-19. In the waiver request, SNRHA provided specific 
details regarding the circumstances of the delay in executing the 
HAP Contract for each case. SNRHA also provided details regarding 
their operations during COVID-19, stating that the agency is 
operating at a 68 percent staffing rate and 15 employees were absent 
due to COVID-19 exposure or diagnosis. The information SNRHA 
submitted to the Department provided justification for the request. 
HUD determined that there was good cause to waive 24 CFR 
982.305(c)(4) for the five cases listed in the PHA's waiver request 
based on the specific data provided on the agency's staffing 
challenges related to COVID-19. This waiver applied only to the five 
cases listed in the request and did not extend to future cases.
    Contact: Danielle Bastarache, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office 
of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, Room 4204, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development.

[FR Doc. 2021-11616 Filed 6-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P