THA is located in Wilson County. The county's face mask mandate expired September 30, 2020. However, businesses are encouraged to continue to require coverings for customers and visitors. |
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"The day you complete any project is only the beginning of a lifetime of opportunity to serve your customer." - Glen W. Canter (1948)
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! REMINDER !
MH Transportation Law Changes
Effective October 1, 2020
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Modification to holiday restriction of home transports .
This statutory change will open up four (4) shipping weekends for the industry, where movement is currently restricted: Martin Luther King Day (Jan); President’s Day (Feb); Columbus Day (Oct); Veterans Day (Nov).
Transportable Width Modification
Allowance of a trip permit to grant movements of 18’ wide homes, in and through Tennessee.
As a note, in 2019 the MH transportable height restriction was changed from 15' 6", to 16'.
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These various statutory changes and allowances will allow the industry to continue growing and exploring more home designs, to meet future market demands of our customers. |
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The Tennessee Pledge - Business Guidelines for COVID Updated October 1, 2020 |
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The Tennessee Pledge guidelines for COVID-19 were developed by Tennessee Economic Recovery Group for all businesses, organizations, and certain activities in Tennessee. While the initial goal of the Tennessee Pledge was to help businesses safely reopen after closures due to COVID-19, the revised Tennessee Pledge updates and simplifies guidelines to support sustaining healthy communities and open businesses.
These safeguarding protocols are based on the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Tennessee Department of Health, with input from private sector working groups. These guidelines do not replace or supersede any applicable state, federal or other statutory or regulatory requirements or standards. These guidelines are subject to change.
The revised Tennessee Pledge document is divided into two parts: (1) General Guidelines for all organizations and (2) additional Industry Guidelines for certain sectors.
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Treasury Department Issues Ransomware Advisories to Increase Awareness and Thwart Attacks |
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The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a pair of advisories yesterday, to assist U.S. individuals and businesses in efforts to combat ransomware scams and attacks, which continue to increase in size and scope. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) advisory, entitled Advisory on Ransomware and the Use of the Financial System to Facilitate Ransom Payments, provides information on the role of financial intermediaries in payments, ransomware trends and typologies, and related financial red flags. It also provides information on effectively reporting and sharing information related to ransomware attacks. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) advisory, entitled Advisory on Potential Sanctions Risks for Facilitating Ransomware Payments, highlights the sanctions risks associated with facilitating ransomware payments on behalf of victims targeted by malicious cyber-enabled activities.
Read the news release here.
Read the FinCEN advisory here.
Read the OFAC advisory here.
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COVID-19 Relief Package
As policymakers continued to discuss the next coronavirus relief package, the Problem Solvers Caucus, a 50-member (25 Republicans/25 Democrats) bipartisan Caucus, led by Co-Chairs Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Tom Reed (R-NY), unveiled its “March To Common Ground” framework to help break the gridlock. The package addresses key areas including unemployment insurance, direct stimulus, worker and liability protection, small business and non-profit support, and housing, among other issues. The moderate Democrat Blue Dog coalition has endorsed the proposal and called on Congressional leadership to restart negotiations on a COVID-19 relief package.
Latest Update:
The Congressional stalemate about what to include in the next COVID-19 relief package continues. House Democrats have announced a plan to move forward with a new package that is expected to cost nearly $2.4 trillion, a number that is roughly $1 trillion smaller than the House-passed HEROES Act and roughly $1 trillion larger than what the Administration has previously signaled it would accept. Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin have agreed to resume negotiations, though these conversations have not yet begun as text of the new package has not yet been released. The House could vote on the legislation as early as next week. The package is expected to include enhanced unemployment benefits, another round of direct economic assistance payments, aid for airlines, and another round of funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) continues to advocate for the package to include funding for a dedicated and targeted rental assistance program.
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FHFA Director Testifies at Congressional Hearing
FHFA Director Dr. Mark Calabria testified before the House Financial Services Committee during a virtual hearing titled “Prioritizing Fannie’s and Freddie’s Capital over America’s Homeowners and Renters? A Review of the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) submitted comments to FHFA and participated in the agency’s affordable housing Listening Session about the need to increase access to credit for manufactured housing and ensure the Enterprises’ statutory Duty to Serve manufactured housing is maintained. During the hearing, several Committee members expressed concerns about the proposed risk-based capital rule and also urged Director Calabria to withdraw FHFA’s proposed adverse market refinance fee and for FHFA to provide assistance to the rental market which is struggling.
Latest Update:
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, alongside Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, testified before the House Financial Services Committee, about their respective agencies’ responses to the coronavirus pandemic. During the hearing, Secretary Mnuchin expressed the need for another targeted coronavirus relief package. In advance of the hearing, MHI briefed our Congressional champions on the Committee about the need for rental assistance including questions about the Paycheck Protection Program and the Main Street Lending Program. Additionally, MHI, along with its coalition of national housing associations, sent a letter, along with copies of its Politico ads, strongly arguing that an eviction moratorium without targeted rental assistance will hurt American renters and housing providers.
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Senate Budget Committee Examines Housing Assistance Programs
The Senate Budget Committee held a roundtable to examine federal housing assistance programs with the goal of understanding how housing assistance is delivered and how Congress can improve it. In advance of this hearing, the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), along with its coalition of national housing associations, sent a letter, along with copies of its Politico ads, strongly arguing that an eviction moratorium without targeted rental assistance will hurt American renters and housing providers. During the hearing, several Committee members voiced support for the coalition’s concerns.
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HUD Releases Final Rule on Disparate Impact Standard Implementation
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued its final rule on the implementation of the Fair Housing Act’s (FHA) Disparate Impact Standard, which will go into effect October 26, 2020. The final rule remains largely unchanged from its original publication last year and conforms HUD’s 2013 disparate impact rule with the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project, which recognized disparate impact analysis to demonstrate discrimination claims under the FHA but added key limitations to ensure the burden of proof in disparate impact cases is with the plaintiffs.
When HUD introduced its disparate impact proposal in October last year, MHI, along with several state associations, expressed concerns it could negatively impact the ability to make legal challenges against localities that have adopted policies or implemented practices that exclude manufactured housing. Our letter urged that HUD ensure more restrictive requirements for bringing a disparate impact claim do not impede the ability to challenge ordinances that zone out manufactured housing. MHI’s letter cited examples from Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin, where cities and counties have used zoning and land use planning to restrict the placement of manufactured homes.
Calling on HUD to help alleviate state and local impediments that discriminate against manufactured housing is one of MHI’s top regulatory priorities. We will continue to work with the Administration and Congress to address zoning and land use rules that restrict the use of manufactured housing.
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FHFA Seeks Input on Proposed Modifications, Additions to the GSEs’ Duty to Serve Plans
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced it is seeking public comments on proposed modifications to the GSEs (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) Duty to Serve (DTS) 2020 Plan objectives, as well as input on 2021 activities and objectives proposed by the GSEs to be added as a one-year extension to their 2018-2020 Plans. FHFA also announced that on October 16, 2020, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT, it will hold a Virtual Listening Session dedicated to manufactured housing to hear public comments about the proposed changes. MHI has registered to speak and is preparing comments and remarks to ensure the FHFA and the GSEs remain committed to the ongoing development of a strong secondary market for manufactured home loans.
During a meeting this with FHFA Director Mark Calabria, MHI strongly encouraged the Director to ensure that Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s statutory Duty to Serve manufactured housing is maintained and that the GSEs are held accountable to the expectations laid out in their Duty to Serve Plans.
Further, MHI recently submitted comments on FHFA’s proposed risk-based capital requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. As American families and businesses continue to recover from the COVID-19 health emergency, MHI’s letter emphasized the increased importance of access to financing for manufactured housing through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. As part of this process, MHI also participated in a recent FHFA Listening Session where the Association stressed the importance of maintaining access to credit as the economy recovers and that maintaining accountability for the GSE’s statutory Duty to Serve (DTS) manufactured housing is crucial.
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FHFA Links:
Register for FHFA’s DTS Virtual Listening Session
Request for Input: Proposed 2020 Plan Modifications and 2021 Plan Extensions
Fannie Mae’s Proposed 2020 Modifications and Justifications
Fannie Mae’s Extended 2018-2020 Plan with Proposed 2021 Additions
Freddie Mac’s Proposed 2020 Modifications and Justifications
Freddie Mac’s Extended 2018-2020 Plan with Proposed 2021 Additions
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Letters have already been prepared! Just enter your name, address, etc in the form provided at each link below, and press submit! |
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--FIRST ASK -- Stabilize The Lumber Supply
To date, more than 1,000 emails have been sent to Congress.
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What We Are Asking?
Ask Congress to contact President Trump to urge domestic lumber producers to ramp up production.
Justification.
Since mid-April, framing lumber prices have soared roughly 80 percent, while the price of oriented strand board is up well over 100 percent from a year ago.
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A combination of factors has led to increased volatility lumber prices, including lumber mills operating at a diminished capacity, if at all, in the Spring. Housing demand has remained steady across the country and there was also an unexpected surge in demand from do-it-yourselfers (DIY) and big box retailers during the pandemic. With the economy already facing unprecedented challenges in the wake of COVID-19, predictable pricing for materials will be crucial to supporting the needs of homebuyers. |
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--SECOND ASK -- Pass Targeted Rental Assistance Funding
So far, more than 800 communications have been sent to Congress.
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What We Are Asking?
Ask Congress to provide rental assistance funding to stabilize the rental housing sector.
Justification.
The halt on evictions imposed by the CDC without funding for rental assistance puts the stability of the rental housing sector in danger.
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Congress’ next COVID-19 relief package must include funding for rental assistance to keep residents who have a COVID-related hardship in their homes, and to support housing providers who are already stretched thin providing necessary assistance and services for residents.
Without funding, the very people the halt on evictions aims to help will be harmed by making it impossible for housing providers to meet their financial obligations and continue to provide shelter to their residents.
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The TN State of Emergency, related to the ongoing pandemic currently extends to October 31, 2020. |
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Tennessee Governor Lee
Statewide Press Conference
Stay tuned to your local stations for weekly scheduled dates and times.
Online live and prerecorded viewing may be accessed HERE.
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Governor Lee signed Executive Order 63, which removes remaining restrictions on businesses in 89 of Tennessee's 95 counties (the 6 excluded counties are not governed by the state's health department). The Order provides a framework for safely resuming visitations in long-term care facilities, allows senior centers to reopen with restrictions, and allows the continuation of take-out alcohol sales to encourage delivery and take-out orders, amongst various other provisions. A full summary of the Executive Order can be found in the press release issued by the Office of the Governor, here.
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The Governor indicated that he plans for Tennessee to remain under a State of Emergency as long as the Federal State of Emergency remains active.
- In conjunction with the Department of Health Commissioner, Lisa Piercey, Governor Lee announced that Tennessee will receive over 2 million Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 rapid tests, by the end of the year, from the federal government. The state expects to receive their first shipment of 133,000 tests next week, with weekly shipments continuing through the remainder of the year.
- Additionally, Commissioner Piercey indicated that schools and long-term care facilities will receive priority for the BinaxNOW rapid tests.
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The Governor announced changes to the Tennessee Pledge, (updated October 1st).
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TN Surveillance Data - COVID-19 |
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The TN COVID-19 Public Information # is 877/857-2945 or 833/556-2476.
Open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday.
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The THA 2020 Political Action Committee (PAC) Campaign is in full swing!
We have received $24,147 towards our $35,000 Goal. 68.9%!
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The THA-PAC is accepting contributions!
Thank you for your consideration!
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Tennessee accepts corporate, personal and LLC contributions. Your contribution is critical! |
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- As the campaign season for November elections is in full swing here in Tennessee, your political contribution of funds is critical to our industry's state success.
- Access to our legislative members is key, as was just proven by THAs successful passing of much needed changes to our transportation law.
- Please support the THA-PAC, to allow THA's continuance of educating key lawmakers on the importance of our industry, while also providing general counsel in ways of promoting manufactured homes as a viable option for addressing the affordable housing crisis.
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MANUFACTURED HOUSING INSTITUTE (MHI) |
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Dr. Lesli Gooch
Chief Executive Officer, MHI
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Mark Bowersox
President, MHI
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MHI Joins Coalition Urging FTC, AG to Investigate Fraudulent and Deceptive Practices
MHI has joined a coalition of national trade associations urging Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joseph Simmons and Attorney General William Barr to take action against deceptive businesses which are selling falsified or stolen association mailing lists, and event attendee and/or exhibitor lists. These practices have serious financial and reputational implications for associations who utilize events and conferences to educate people on the latest industry news and trends.
The letter discusses how these deceptive practices undermine the essential trust between organizations and the members they serve. “Through trademark infringement, false association advertising and unfair competition, they market unofficial and often fake membership and attendee lists. These actions alarm association members, attendees and exhibitors who think their information is being used contrary to official statements from associations and show organizers. It also invariably disappoints prospective purchasers who think they are buying legitimate lists. Millions of dollars are exchanged for this false information that reflects badly on the trade organizers. The damage to brand reputations is impossible to measure, but real. It is crippling many industries from a better exchange of information that would lead to faster economic growth.”
MHI will continue to work with the coalition, urging a federal investigation into the unauthorized use of association trademarks, infringement and illegitimate vendors attempting to sell fake lists and other services.
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CDC Eviction Moratorium – Potential Legal Actions
MHI continues working with the national coalition of housing providers about whether legal action can successfully stop the CDC’s eviction moratorium. None of the lawsuits filed to date have been successful with many being dismissed. At this point, lawsuits have been delayed as groups seek plaintiffs that can show the kinds of damage that would be required to be successful in court. The coalition continues to monitor these developments and focus on administrative and legislative actions that could offer relief to landlords impacted by the CDC order.
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MHI Continues to Advocate for PPP Loan Forgiveness
MHI, along with a coalition of national business associations, again called on Congress to support legislation that would forgive certain loans funded by the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). S. 4117, The Paycheck Protection Program Small Business Forgiveness Act, sponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer, Bob Menendez, Thom Tillis and Kyrsten Sinema and its companion bill H.R. 7777, sponsored by Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Fred Upton, would forgive all PPP loans of less than $150,000 upon the borrower’s completion of a simple, one-page forgiveness document. PPP loans of $150,000 and under account for 86 percent of total PPP recipients, but less than 27 percent of PPP loan dollars. MHI and the coalition continue to argue that expediting the loan forgiveness process for many of these hard-hit businesses will save more than $7 billion dollars and hours of paperwork. Given the ongoing challenges facing small businesses, the coalition is urging Congress to pass the legislation without delay.
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Continuing Resolution to Extend NFIP Introduced in House
A continuing resolution that would extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through September 30, 2021 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier today.
Together with a coalition of national trade associations with interests ranging from real estate and construction to insurance and banking, MHI urged Congress last week to take immediate action to avoid any lapse in the NFIP, which is set to expire September 30, 2020. If the NFIP’s authorization does lapse, FEMA would still have authority to ensure the payment of valid insurance claims; however, the agency would stop originating new policies or renewing existing ones, which would affect millions of properties across the nation. Because of MHI and its coalition partners’ ongoing efforts, the NFIP has been successfully reauthorized numerous times since the end of the 2017 fiscal year. Read more.
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Upcoming MHI Webinar - Save The Date
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November 19, 2020
MHI Advocacy Webinar
Sponsored by: Sun Communities and Hometown America Corporation
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2020 Webinar Series: Embracing Change |
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Upcoming Free Webinar
Chris Nicely - Next Step
Thursday, October 8, 2020, 2 PM ET
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- Thursday, November 5, 2020, 2 PM ET - Growing Your Business - Boom! The Next 10 Years - Ken Corbin
- Thursday, November 19, 2020, 2 PM ET - The State of Emotional Assistance Alligators and Other Changes to Assistance Animal Rules - Matt Paletz
- Thursday, December 3, 2020, 2 PM ET - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
- Thursday, December 17, 2020, 2 PM ET - Development - Lenny Kopowski
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Free Webinars
Powered/Sponsored by: ManufacturedHomes.com
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For more information, contact Show Coordinator Dennis J. Hill at (770) 587-3350. |
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MISSISSIPPI HOME SHOW
NEW LOCATION & DATES ANNOUNCED!
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Save the Date: March 15 - 18, 2021
IP Casino and Hotel, Biloxi, MS
HOSTED BY THE SOUTH CENTRAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INSTITUTE
Come Experience the Mississippi Gulf Coast!
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The THA Annual Member's Meeting & 65th Anniversary Celebration has been postponed until June 27 - 29, 2021. |
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Initial Licensing/Certification Retailer/Installer Education
available online for Tennessee!
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Initial Licensing/Certification |
05 Hour Continuing Education |
Several current license holders and certified employees have not completed their annual required education for license renewal. Many have expiration dates which are rapidly approaching. Ensure you keep your working credentials in order! Business is brisk right now, and we can't afford to lose anyone from the work list, when class can be completed at anytime, on any day!! |
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MAKE AN EMERGENCY PLAN! ALWAYS BE PREPARED! |
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