2025 UPCOMING CAUCUS MEETING INFORMATION
- Wednesday, February 5 ~ Fahe Office, 319 Oak St., Berea – 10am-3pm ET
- Wednesday, June 18
- Wednesday, November 5
- (past Caucus information found at the bottom of the page)
Tues. Feb. 4th – Have a Heart for Housing Breakfast at the Capitol
From Andrew: Adrienne (HHCK) has diligently reserved this time for our “Have a Heart for Housing” breakfast on Tuesday, February 4, 8:30-10:45 am. This is a great opportunity to get face time with members of the Legislature, as well as to network with fellow housing advocates and members of the media. It’s also an important time to show off our strength in numbers.
If attending, please consider scheduling meetings with your local legislators for that morning, or at least personally inviting them to attend the breakfast.
February 4th happens to be the first day that the legislature reconvenes after a three-week recess, so it’s a good idea to reach out and set up your meetings ASAP as it likely will be a busy day at the Capitol.
As always, I’m happy to provide assistance in identifying and reaching out to legislators, planning your talking points, etc. abates@fahe.org
From your Fahe Advocacy Team:
The election is over and the landscape for the next administration is slowly coming into focus. As of the 14th, the AP called that Republicans have retained their narrow majority in the House of Representatives, resulting in a unified government. This means new faces in both elected and appointed positions and new policy and funding priorities.
Over the next 3 months as appointments are made, legislation is introduced, and the budget process begins, we’ll be reaching out to help you navigate these shifts. You can expect:
- Support in crafting messaging that speaks to these new audiences.
- Information on which programs may be poised for cuts or increases – and how you can influence these decisions.
- Opportunities to meet with the new staff in the Administration and Congress.
To be well-positioned to have these important conversations at the Federal, State and Local levels, it’s important to have good relationships with these folks. Remember one of Advocacy’s golden rules: Don’t let your first contact with an elected office be when you’re facing a problem or asking for something.
To help streamline this effort, each Caucus has sent letters of congratulations on your behalf to all of the Federal and State election winners in our footprint. In addition, Jim has sent letters of congratulations from the entire network to all the Federal representatives in our footprint. We are on track to send WELL over 100 letters! Which is fantastic!
But, we know that local decisions are where the rubber meets the road. So we have a small request:
To help ensure we engage at the local level too (where your relationships are VITAL) we’ve drafted a basic letter of congratulations that you can modify for local leaders (new or returning!).
KY Local Election Congrats Template
You can use the template as formatted, make modifications (remove logos etc.), or copy and paste to your own letterhead. What matters is that you take a few minutes to personalize and send a note (email or snail mail!) to your local leaders. And, if possible, please tell your Fahe Advocacy Staff Member who you’ve reached out to! You can just shoot us a list, or cc us on emails. Whatever is easiest.
If you’re not sure where to find good addresses (email or snail) for local winners, please let us know.
And, if you’re feeling ambitious and you’d like to send something to your State and Federal Representatives, we can provide you with that template as well as the best addresses for those candidates/incumbents. Just reach out to your state point of contact, or Kylie Milliken (kmilliken@fahe.org).
As always, we’re here to talk if you have questions or concerns. Otherwise, we look forward to hearing who you’re connecting with and supporting you in this transition over the months to come.
FHLB-Cincinnati News
2025 Carol M. Peterson Updates – Opening Monday, February 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. EST
- Closes on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. EST;
- Increase allowed administrative fee from 10 percent to 15 percent;
- Expand eligible repairs to include any work items that may impact/impair the overall habitability of the home;
- Allow eligible two-family dwellings participation for repairs made to the building exterior and/or owner-occupied unit;
- $1,000,000 maximum subsidy per member; and $750,000 maximum subsidy per project (member/sponsor pairing);
The proposed changes help align CMPHF program requirements with other FHLB Cincinnati programs to create consistency and ensure that program funds continue to support our sponsors and members in their efforts to meet the housing needs of senior and/or special needs households throughout our district. Updated documents, forms and webinars for the 2025 CMPHF program will be available on the FHLB Cincinnati website at www.fhlbcin.com by December 20, 2024. Please contact the Housing and Community Investment Department at 888-345-2246 with any questions.
Disaster Reconstruction Funds Update – View our current list of disaster declarations by county to see if your area is eligible. Eligibility rules for those applying for DRP funds include:
Allowable expenses include construction, acquisition, or repair of a primary residence, which must be a single-family detached home or manufactured home permanently attached to a fixed foundation and taxed as real property where the applicant is the owner of record. FHLB funds cannot be used for expenses covered by insurance or state or federal emergency management agencies.
Eligible households have either been displaced or suffered damage to their primary residence by a federally or state declared disaster occurring within the Fifth District.
Household income must be less than or equal to 100 percent of the applicable Mortgage Revenue Bond income limits. In Hamilton County, Tenn., for a family of one or two persons, the limit is $67,800 and for a family of three or more, the limit is $77,970.
DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DLG) UPDATES
NOFA for Skyview in Perry County – due January 31, 2025
| The Department for Local Government (DLG) has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to select qualified nonprofit housing development partners to develop housing at Skyview, located near the town of Hazard in Perry County. Applications are due by January 31, 2025. Skyview will include up to 96 single-family, one-story homes for homeownership with priority access given to flood survivors. DLG will award Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding for the development of single-family housing units at Skyview to be sold to persons that qualify as low-to-moderate income as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). |
KHC UPDATES
HOME/AHTF Single Family Production Application – Deadline is Friday Jan. 17!
| Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) will release the 2025 application round for HOME and Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) homebuyer and home repair awards Monday, November 18, 2024. The application guidelines, program policies, and required attachments for the 2025 round will be released on the Housing Contract Administration (HCA) Partner Agency Portal no later than 10 a.m. ET Monday, November 18, 2024. The round will feature applications for single-family development and home repair and will close at 11:59 p.m. ET January 17, 2025. Fees must be paid by 5 p.m. ET that day. Previous KHC awardees applying for 2025 funding will need to meet the updated threshold requirements for application submission: HB/HR20 – 100% expended by the January 10, 2025. HB/HR21 – 70% committed and 50% expended by January 10, 2025. HB/HR22 – 50% committed and 30% expended by January 10, 2025. HB/HR23 – One setup submitted to hcadev@kyhousing.org by January 10, 2025. |
KHC PUBLIC HEARINGS ON FEBRUARY 12, 2025:
PHA Annual Plan – 9 a.m. ET February 12, 2025
Attend In-Person: Kentucky Housing Corporation: West Annex, Board Room; 1231 Louisville Rd, Frankfort, KY 40601
Join Zoom Meeting: (Meeting ID: 891 7425 0469 Passcode: 178533)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89174250469?pwd=OIMmtfbgdygiR7gJeMbZQejffEiZs5.1
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,89174250469#,,,,*178533# US
+13017158592,,89174250469#,,,,*178533# US (Washington DC)
PHA 5-Year Plan – 10 a.m. ET February 12, 2025
Attend In-Person: Kentucky Housing Corporation: West Annex, Board Room; 1231 Louisville Rd, Frankfort, KY 40601
Join Zoom Meeting: (Meeting ID: 864 8572 3436 Passcode: 460563)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86485723436?pwd=4QOQnNE5SUTVh7nAcKrTmyVPI39U7P.1
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,86485723436#,,,,*460563# US (New York)
+16469313860,,86485723436#,,,,*460563# US
Rural Housing Trust Fund Application – DEADLINE FEB. 14
| KHC will release the 2025 application round for Rural Housing Trust Fund (RHTF) Home Repair & Reconstruction and Single-Family Development projects December 9, 2024. The application guidelines, program policies, and required attachments will be released on the HCA Partner Agency Portal no later than 10 a.m. ET Monday, December 9, 2024. The RHTF round will close at 11:59 p.m. ET February 14, 2025. The application fee must be paid by 5 p.m. ET that day. Previous KHC awardees applying for 2025 funding will need to meet the threshold requirements for application submission: HB/HR20 – 100% expended by the February 7, 2025. HB/HR21 – 70% committed and 50% expended by February 7, 2025. HB/HR22 – 50% committed and 30% expended by February 7, 2025. HB/HR23/RH23 – One setup submitted to hcadev@kyhousing.org by February 7, 2025. |
| KHC released a revised Weatherization Program Manual along with the following updated forms, which have been posted to the KHC website on the Subgrantee Resource page: Weatherization Client Completion Form WX0 Certification of Zero Income WX14 Contractor Project Agreement WX Rental Agreement |
More Information Regarding the Mandatory Board Trainings
| Housing Contract Administration (HCA) is committed to assisting partner agencies in the successful administration of their grant programs. Part of that commitment involves training. KHC succeeds when our partner agencies succeed, and although it is an agency’s responsibility to train their board, leadership, and staff, KHC will make training resources available to help ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and grants management best practices. Some of these on-demand trainings will be mandatory and others optional. To that extent, below is some additional information regarding the recent and upcoming board trainings offered via HCA’s LearnUpon learning management system (LMS). |
- While KHC strongly encourages all board members and agency leadership to watch the HCA mandatory board trainings, compliance with the board training requirement can be achieved once the President/Board Chair, the Treasurer, and a member of agency leadership (defined by the agency) have completed the trainings.
- Waivers from mandatory board trainings can be requested by submitting a waiver request through the draw management system that describes the date(s) and type(s) of training already provided to agency board members. Please note: HCA may request follow-up information upon submission of the waiver form.
- Agencies experiencing difficulty with board members logging into the LearnUpon LMS may request that the video be sent via the KHC File Share drop box instead. Submit your request through the HCA Partner Agency Portal. If using a shared video, please send a list of board members who watched it to programcompliance@kyhousing.org.
- Agencies may also show training videos to their board members in a group setting, such as a board meeting. If doing so, please send an email listing the training video, the date it was shown, and the attendees to programcompliance@kyhousing.org.
- Agencies needing an extension on completing these trainings may send a request by email to programcompliance@kyhousing.org.
NSPIRE Inspections Set to Begin October 1
Beginning October 1, 2024, the Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) Multifamily Compliance staff and inspection team will begin using a new inspection protocol known as NSPIRE, which is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). All units with Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF), Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), and any other funding source monitored by KHC will receive an NSPIRE inspection. All other inspection protocols will be obsolete. For any questions moving forward, please contact Aaron Watkins, manager of Multifamily Compliance, at awatkins@kyhousing.org or 502-564-7630, ext. 785.
For more information and trainings, click the following links:
HUD NSPIRE Training
KHC NSPIRE YouTube Training
Video recordings and presentations from the 2024 Kentucky Affordable Housing Conference (KAHC24) are now available. Check the #KAHC24 app or Attendee Hub web version to view the videos, handouts, and PowerPoints. For your convenience, we also pulled out a few recordings from the Housing Supply Gap Analysis track that may be of interest to you. Access Videos and Presentations
9/11/24 – UPDATED Findings of Kentucky Housing Supply Gap Analysis
| Phase II Findings of Housing Supply Gap Analysis Show Kentucky Will Need 287,000 More Housing Units by 2029 By 2029, Kentucky will need 287,120 more housing units to serve its projected population needs, according to the Kentucky Housing Supply Gap Analysis Phase II results, announced Tuesday in a webinar by Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) and Bowen National Research (Bowen). Phase II builds upon the current housing supply gap findings released in April 2024. It surveyed the projected housing needs of each Kentucky county through 2029 and also factored in issues that impact housing including commuting, employment and economic development, income, rental supply and the age of homes and buildings, and natural disasters. KHC and Bowen previewed the results in late August at the Kentucky Affordable Housing Conference to nearly 700 housing professionals in Louisville. In 2024, the current gaps are 206,207 overall units: 101,569 rental units 104,638 for-sale homes In 2029, the projected gaps are 287,120 overall units: 139,162 rental units 147,958 for-sale units The factors contributing to housing supply shortages over the next five years include renters who need more space (household growth) and those who cannot afford their homes (severely cost burdened), both of which can help shape affordable housing construction and decision-making in the next few years. Learn more at https://www.kyhousing.org/Data-Library/Housing-Gap-Analysis/Pages/default.aspx |
| The 2024 legislative session has finally ended. Be sure to visit the HHCK bill tracker to see how all the bills we were watching did at the conclusion of the 2024 session. As you know, we spent time advocating for and against several key bills this session. Now that the dust has settled and vetoes were written and subsequently overridden, we can share how everything finally shook out. First we’ll say one more time: THANK YOU for your help in working to make sure our neighbors needs are heard and prioritized. Thank you for sending emails, making phone calls and sharing information with neighbors. Here’s our final #KYGA24 update: |
OLDER ITEMS/FOR REFERENCE
| HOME/AHTF/RHTF Single Family Production Radon Policy Implementation Webinar Now Available on LMS KHC’s Single-Family Development Radon Policy webinar recorded May 13, 2024, is now available on the Learning Management System (LMS). This session dives into the new radon requirements and equips developers with tools to ensure compliance across all homebuyer activities. The policy is effective for HOME, Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), and Rural Housing Trust Fund (RHTF) homebuyer units. First time LMS users: please visit this link to register for access to the webinar. If you have already been enrolled in the KHC LearnUpon LMS system through our Kentucky Homeless Management Information System (KYHMIS) or KY Balance of State Continuum of Care (BoS CoC) side, please follow these steps: Login with existing credentials: Log in to the Single-Family side using the same credentials you have for the other LMS program. Use home portal credentials: If you have registered on a different LMS portal with Kentucky Housing, such as KYHMIS or the KY Balance of State COC, consider it your home portal. Use the same email address and password to register. If you registered on both, the one you registered with first is your “Home” site. After logging in, please email jshelton@kyhousing.org for access to the Single-Family Production courses. |
| HUD/KHC Policy Mandates Radon Consideration |
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| The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced its policy for addressing radon in the Environmental Review process with CPD Notice-23-103. Under this new policy, radon gas must be considered in the contamination and toxic substances analysis required under HUD’s contamination regulations at 24 CFR Part 50.3(i) and 58.5(i). The policy serves as an initial step toward advancing radon awareness and mitigation of the hazard in HUD-assisted housing. Effective April 11, 2024, Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) has adopted strategies to assist grantees with the necessary consideration of radon. Not all projects are subject to radon compliance, such as those HUD declares as exempt from Environmental Review per 24 CFR 58.34(a) and those categorically excluded not subject to the federal laws and authorities per 24 CFR 58.35(b). To ensure that all KHC-funded single family new construction units are radon mitigation ready, KHC’s Design and Construction Review division has updated their Minimum Design Standards to incorporate a radon reduction venting system for all units. It also provides guidance regarding the radon testing standards for multi-family buildings. It should be noted that addressing radon is considered a mitigating factor for the purposes of the environmental review process and should be considered as part of the project planning process as it will have impacts on both project budgets and timeframes. You can find KHC’s Radon Policy effective April 11, 2024 here. Please email Jen Oberlin with any questions. |
| We are thrilled to introduce our latest training, the “Single-Family Development Partner Training,” on Kentucky Housing Corporation’s (KHC) new Learning Management System (LMS). This training provides a deep dive into single-family housing production. Explore setup and closeout procedures for HOME and AHTF home buyer activities, learn the advantages of being a CHDO, and see best practices for home repair setup and closeouts. For first-time users, register directly for the Single-Family LMS using this link. If you’ve already been a part of our KHC LearnUpon LMS system through the Kentucky Homeless Management Information System (KYHMIS) or KY Balance of State Continuum of Care (BoS CoC), transitioning to the Single-Family side is a breeze. Login with Existing Credentials: Use your LearnUpon credentials to access the Single-Family side. Consider your initial registration on KYHMIS or KY BoS CoC as your home portal. Use the same email address and password to register for the Single-Family LMS. If you’ve registered on both, your “Home” site is the one you registered with first. Forgot Your Password: You must go to your original “Home” portal to reset your password. For KYHMIS: Reset Password For KY BoS CoC: Reset Password Portal Switcher for Seamless Navigation: Moving forward, it will not matter which link you use for log-in. Both portals will be displayed. Look for your profile icon (circle with your initials) on the top right of the screen. To the left of that icon is the portal switcher (triangle with a circle on the end of the points). Click it to effortlessly switch between KYHMIS, KY BoS CoC, and Single-Family LMS. Please direct any questions to Jessica Shelton at jshelton@kyhousing.org. |
| Change in AHTF Home Repair Program Photo Link Please use this link for all Home Repair Program initial photo submissions. Submit HR Initial Photos |
2/6/23 – USDA 3-D Print Building Presentation Materials
From Rachel Chambers: Thank you to our partners who joined us to hear from Professor Eric Wooldridge and his colleagues regarding their research around 3-D printing. I am sharing the slides from the presentation and other materials for your perusal. Unfortunately, we did not get a Teams recording that we could share of this presentation. However, I will drop his contact information in this email for any follow-up: Eric Wooldridge, PE, RA, MSE, Professor, Somerset Community College ~ Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence: Office Phone: 606-451-6878; email: eric.wooldridge@kctcs.edu ; website: www.somerset.kctcs.edu/3dprinting
FROM PREVIOUS CAUCUS MEETINGS:
- Thur., Nov. 7, 2024 Caucus Packet
- Tues., June 4, 2024 – CAUCUS PACKET
- Tues., Feb. 13, 2024 – Caucus Packet
- November 2, 2023– Packet
- June 6, 2023 – Packet
- February 15, 2023 Caucus Packet
