On April 10, HUD’s CPD Office issued a memo — Availability of Waivers and Suspensions of the HOME Program Requirements in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic — providing guidance for the HOME program during the pandemic. Section 1 addresses PJs located in areas covered by a Presidentially-declared major disaster under the Stafford Act and Section 2 describes regulatory waivers available HOME PJs available to all not just those in a Presidentially-declared major disaster area.
PJs intending to implement the waivers must send electronic written notice to the CPD Division in its local HUD Field Office first and must identify which of the suspensions/waivers it plans to implement.
Provisions from Section 1 include, but are not limited to, a 10% Administrative and Planning Cap suspension allowing PJs to expend up to 25% of its FY 2019 and 2020 allocations & program income received to be used to pay the increased costs in administering HOME-related activities to address COVID-19 and CHDO set-aside requirement suspension to allow PJs to use funds to assist households affected by the pandemic.
And in Section 2, the majority of provisions addressed income determinations and include a waiver that is in effect until December 31, 2020 allowing the use of self-certifications in lieu of source documents, clarifying the stimulus payments and unemployment benefits under the CARES Act are excluded as income, and delay of onsite rent and income reviews which must be completed within 90 days after the waiver period ends.
CLICK HERE
to read the full memo