Congress Removes H.R. 3507 From Consideration
Thanks to the outreach of NCDA members, Congress removed H.R. 3507 – Yes in My Back Yard Act – from consideration of a vote this week. The measure was bundled together with several other bills and would have been voted on Wednesday evening, and approved, under a process called suspension of the rules that allows bills to move quickly in the House.
The measure adds burdensome reporting requirements to the Consolidated Plan; requiring CDBG grantees to report on twenty-two land use policies including how they plan to implement these land use policies if they’re not already in place. The measure is an exercise in futility as CDBG grantees have no control over local land use policies.
While the title of the bill is appealing, it is also misleading as the measure focuses primarily on trying to expand high density single family and multifamily housing construction with little consideration for affordable housing.
NCDA will alert you if the bill sponsors try to bring the measure up for a vote again before this Congress ends.
Practitioner Perspective on Community Development Block Grants Past and Future
NCDA, Grow America, and the Council of State Community Development Agencies co-authored an article for a special issue of Cityscape, a HUD research publication, which looks back on 50 years of the CDBG program. In outlining a future vision for the program, the organizations recommend increased program funding and statutory changes that allow for the funds to be used for new construction of housing and an increase in the public services cap, more flexibilities for state administration, and more resources for capacity building and training.
Appropriations Update
Congress returned to DC this week after a week-long Thanksgiving recess period to wrap-up the final session of the 118th Congress. The federal government is currently operating under a continuing resolution (CR) passed in September that provides funding through December 20. Congress needs to pass all 12 spending bills that fund HUD and other federal departments by December 20 or pass another CR to avoid a government shutdown. All signs point to passage of another CR rather than agreement on final numbers for the FY25 spending measures. The new CR will extend government funding into February or March. The CR will be attached to the disaster relief package that Congress is working on finalizing.
The Biden Administration sent a $100 million disaster aid package to Congress last month to aid recovery efforts in communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton as well as fires in Maui and tornados in Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Iowa. The request includes $12 billion for CDBG-DR to fund housing and other long-term rebuilding efforts. The measure would also replenish key disaster aid programs such as the SBA’s disaster loan program and FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund and provide funding to the Department of Transportation to rebuild roads and bridges across 40 states and Territories. Congress is working to finalize a bipartisan disaster relief bill before December 20.
Final House Race Called; Republicans Hold Slim Majority in the House
Democrat Adam Gray won California’s 13th Congressional District seat this week unseating Republican John Duarte in the final House seat to be decided this year. With a slim margin of control over the House, 220-215, House Speaker Mike Johnson may once again have to work with Democrats to move legislation in the upcoming Congress. Small majorities plagued House Republicans in the current Congress allowing a small group of conservative House members to block legislation.
Trump Nominates Top Leadership for HUD and OMB
Scott Turner Nominated for HUD Secretary Role
President-elect Trump announced his intention to nominate Scott Turner to serve as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Turner served in the first Trump Administration as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council which oversaw the development of the Opportunity Zones which directs private investment into designated distressed areas. He currently serves as chair of the Center for Education Opportunity at the America First Policy Institute.
The HUD Secretary nomination requires confirmation by the Senate. The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, which has oversight of HUD, is expected to schedule a confirmation hearing once the new 119th Congress has convened.
Russell Voight Nominated for OMB Director
While HUD leadership will weigh in on future HUD budget requests, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) decides department funding. President-elect Trump has recommended Russell Voight to serve again as Director of OMB. OMB is tasked with development of the President’s annual budget request to Congress and review and oversight of federal regulations. Voight co-authored the Project 2025 recommendations which endorses federal funding cuts. In his role as OMB Director in Trump’s first term, Voight eliminated funding for CDBG, HOME, and the Housing Trust Fund in each of the President’s four budget requests to Congress.
New Energy Standards Take Effect for HOME and Housing Trust Fund
New minimum energy efficiency standards went into effect on November 28, 2024, for new construction of single family and multifamily housing units funded through the HOME program and Housing Trust Fund. The standards apply to new construction projects ONLY with commitments after November 28, 2024. CDBG is excluded from the standards.
The new standards fulfill a statutory requirement under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 that requires HUD and USDA to adopt the most recent energy efficiency standards for new construction that are supported by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) , American National Standards Institute (ANSI), American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).
Webinar: Connecting with your Congressional Members in 2025
2025 will usher in a new Administration and new Congress, many of whom have never heard of the CDBG and HOME programs. Congressional support is needed to protect program funding in the year ahead. NCDA will host a webinar for members on January 8, 2:30-3:45 EST, which will provide information for meeting with and educating your Congressional members about program impact and funding needs.
Join us at the 2025 NCDA Legislative, Policy, and Professional Development Conference; General Registration Ends – December 6
The 56th NCDA Legislative, Policy, and Professional Development Conference will be held in Washington, DC February 4-7. Free pre-conference training on IDIS, CDBG, HOME, and the Consolidated Plan will be offered on February 4.
The conference offers community development and housing professionals a platform to hear directly from federal agency representatives, meet with Congressional offices, and network with peers. Sessions cover HUD CPD program areas, legislative and regulatory updates, and best practices to program administration challenges. The updated draft agenda is available here.
The conference will be held at the Hilton Wharf, located at 480 L’Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC. The hotel rate is $249 plus tax. The hotel booking link is available to you once you complete the conference registration. General registration ends today, December 6. Registration rates will increase after this date.
Please contact Vicki Watson at vwatson@ncdaonline.org if you would like to participate in a session as a speaker or moderator.
NCDA Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award Application – Deadline Extended to December 13
We invite you to apply for the 2025 Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award. NCDA established the award in 1987 to recognize exemplary uses of CDBG program funds in low-income communities. The award has expanded to also recognize exemplary uses of HOME program funds.
The award is named in honor of Audrey Nelson, the first Deputy Secretary of NCDA. Audrey grew up in an inner-city Chicago neighborhood which became a target area for the Model Cities Program, the precursor to the CDBG program. Her intense commitment to her neighborhood, her local program efforts, and her drive to serve low-income people was cut short by cancer at the age of twenty-nine.
We are proud to continue these awards to honor Audrey’s legacy and to honor others, like Audrey, who exemplify outstanding achievement in service to low-income persons and neighborhoods through exemplary CDBG and HOME funded projects.
The application deadline has been extended to December 13. Please contact Vicki Watson, vwatson@ncdaonline.org
Start Planning Now for National Community Development Week, April 21-25, 2025
Start planning your activities for National Community Development Week now. National Community Development Week is intentionally held during the Congressional appropriations process so that the significance of the CDBG and HOME programs can be imparted to Congressional members through local activities conducted by you and your program partners at the grassroots level. FY26 will be another difficult budget year and Congress will have to make tough decisions regarding program funding so plan to participate in National Community Development Week to amplify the grassroots support for CDBG and HOME. NCDA has created a Tool Kit that provides you with National Community Development Week activity ideas and information.
NCDA Courses
HOME Basic Course
January 7 – January 30, 2025
Tuesday and Thursday
2:00-4:30 pm EST
$375/NCDA members
Click here to register!
This course will provide a basic, but comprehensive overview of the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program. The course will include information on program fundamentals, eligible and prohibited activities, eligible costs, CHDOs, match requirements, project requirements, program administration, and other program information. This course is a must for new HOME administrators and for administrators who need a refresh of the program!
Leadership Skills for Community Development Professionals
February 3-4, 2025
Hilton Wharf Hotel
Washington, DC
$500/NCDA members
Click here to register!
This course focuses on building leadership skills. Develop strategies to foster a positive and supportive work environment. Develop skills in providing constructive feedback and recognition to employees. Discover techniques to foster team resilience and creativity. Identify opportunities to develop a pipeline for leadership development and succession planning. Course content is designed with specific examples directly applicable to managing CDBG and HOME programs.
