HUD Delays the HOME Final Rule
HUD announced today that the effective date of the HOME Final Rule will be postponed to April 20, 2025. This delay is due to a regulatory freeze imposed by the Trump Administration on all new regulations that have not yet gone into effect.
The HOME Final Rule was published in the Federal Register on January 6, 2025, and was due to go into effect this week. The postponement will give HUD time to review the regulation for “any questions of fact, law, and policy” that the rule may raise, as directed by the memorandum issued by the Administration.
Trump Administration Rescinds Memo Freezing Federal Funds
On January 29, 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded a memo freezing spending on federal loans and grants two days after it was released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on January 27. The memo, which would have halted funding for most of the federal government, including HUD programs, caused widespread panic and legal challenges.
On January 28, 2025, a federal judge in Washington, DC issued a temporary pause on implementation of the memo in response to a lawsuit filed by several nonprofit organizations. A federal judge in Rhode Island issued a ruling on January 31, 2025, in response to a lawsuit filed by twenty-three states that fully blocks implementation of the memo.
Senate Banking Committee Advances Nomination of Turner for HUD Secretary
The Senate Banking Committee voted 13-11, along party lines, to advance the nomination of Scott Turner as the Secretary of HUD. Turner’s nomination will now require a confirmation vote in the full Senate.
During his confirmation hearing, Turner told the committee that “HUD is failing at its most basic mission,” pointing to the rise in homelessness and housing costs. Senator Tim Scott, Chair of the Senate Banking Committee, said Turner “is the solution we have been looking for to usher in the golden era of homeownership.” Turner has said that he supports working within the President’s budget and reviewing HUD programs for efficiency and effectiveness.
Turner served as the Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in the first Trump administration.
Municipal Bond Resources
The Public Finance Network, of which NCDA is a member, recently released two resources to describe municipal bonds and their importance to state and local governments and communities.
Understanding Finance Options Used for Public Infrastructure is a primer on bonds and offers fundamental information on tax-exempt bonds and other financing mechanisms used by state and local governments to fund public infrastructure projects such as affordable housing, parks, wastewater facilities, roads, bridges, schools, and many other project types. Protecting Bonds to Build Infrastructure and Create Jobs provides a budgetary analysis on the critical role tax-exempt municipal bonds play in funding public sector infrastructure projects.
Upcoming NCDA Training
CDBG Basics Online
February 18 – March 13
Tuesdays/Thursdays
2:00-4:30 pm ET
https://ncdaonline.regfox.com/
This training will feature expanded coverage of the fundamentals of the CDBG program.
Subrecipient Management Basics Online
March 18-April 10
Tuesdays/Thursdays
2:00-4:30 pm ET
https://ncdaonline.regfox.com/
This course follows the CDBG subrecipient management process linearly, starting with establishing priorities in the Consolidated Plan and concluding with HUD’s role in monitoring the grantee’s relationship with subrecipients.
NCDA Leadership Institute: Communication for Community Development Professionals Online
March 24-April 18
Wednesdays – 1:30-3:30 pm ET
https://ncdaonline.regfox.com/
This interactive communications training is for new and experienced grantee supervisors and managers in the community development field.
IDIS Basics Online
April 29-May 22
Tuesdays/Thursdays
2:00-4:30 pm ET
https://ncdaonline.regfox.com/
This course provides a detailed overview of IDIS for CDBG and HOME grantees.
HOME Advanced + Underwriting – In Person, Raleigh, NC
May 14-16
In person
https://ncdaonline.regfox.com/
This course provides a more detailed look at actual HOME-funded projects, grant agreements, initial and ongoing compliance, and the use of innovative partnerships to address housing needs with HOME funds.
Please contact Heather Johnson, NCDA Training Manager, at hjohnson@ncdaonline.org with any questions concerning NCDA training.
