October 20, 2020
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.
Messages from THA
"The day you complete any project is only the beginning of a lifetime of opportunity to serve your customer." - Glen W. Canter (1948)
!!! Educational Deadlines !!!
Retailer/Installer Licensing
If you need an initial licensing educational class to pursue a new license or a certification, or if you need to complete your continuing education for 2020 renewals, online modules/videos are still available. However, please take note of the following yearend deadlines:

  • THA will cease to process online 2020 class registrations on 11/25/2020.

  • Initial Licensing: You must successfully complete your curriculum and have an exam date scheduled for completion, prior to 12/11/2020. (The Tennessee State exam given by a contracted 3rd party testing company, will not schedule testing appointments after 12/11/2020.)

  • Continuing Education: You must successfully complete your curriculum by 12/11/2020.

  • The State of Tennessee, Commerce & Insurance, will accept license applications or renewal packages through 12/18/2020. The last two weeks of December are set aside for processing, recording and reporting.



THESE DEADLINES ARE FIRM!
  • No educational registrations will be processed after November 25th.
  • THA 2020 course curriculum and testing links will be removed by the end of the business day on December 11th.
  • All testing with the 3rd party must be completed by December 11th.
  • The regulatory department must receive your initial license or renewal package by December 18th.


2021 educational schedules are not yet available, and the State of Tennessee will determine the delivery method of these classes (i.e. either in-person reduced class sizes, or online delivery of education).

(See class links for registration and processing, further below under the RESOURCES SECTION.)

Multi-Family Economic and Market Commentary
September 2020 Report
[Manufactured Housing Communities Remain Steady]
National Flood Insurance Program Preserved by Last-Minute Extension

An extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was included in the stop-gap funding bill signed by the president. The NFIP is now extended through September 31, 2021.

While this extension does not fully reauthorize the program, it allows FEMA to continue originating new policies and renewing existing ones.

The NFIP was established in response to a lack of private flood insurance, since many insurance companies view flooding events as an uninsurable risk. The federal program is managed by FEMA and has three components: (1) to provide flood insurance, (2) to improve floodplain management and (3) to develop maps of flood hazard zones. According to estimates by the National Association of REALTORS®, about 40,000 home sales would be lost every month that national flood insurance is not available.
FinCEN Issues Advisory on Unemployment Insurance Fraud During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an advisory to alert financial institutions to unemployment insurance (UI) fraud observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It contains descriptions of COVID-19 related UI fraud, associated financial red flag indicators, and information on reporting suspicious activity.
 
Read the advisory here.
FinCEN Selects Felicia Swindells to Lead the Bureau's Policy Division

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced Felicia Swindells will serve as Associate Director of the bureau's Policy Division. She will oversee the development and administration of policy and regulatory programs implementing the Bank Secrecy Act, a critical part of the nation's comprehensive legal architecture in the fight against money laundering and its related crimes, including the financing of terrorism.

Read the news release here.
FinCEN Issues Supplemental Advisory on Identifying and Reporting Human Trafficking and Related Activity

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an advisory to help financial institutions identify and report human trafficking. It is imperative that financial institutions enable their detection and reporting of suspicious transactions by becoming aware of the current methodologies that traffickers and facilitators use. It is also critical that customer-facing staff are aware of behavioral indicators that may indicate human trafficking, as the only outside contact for victims of human trafficking may occur when visiting financial institutions. The advisory supplements FinCEN's 2014 Guidance on Recognizing Activity that May be Associated with Human Smuggling and Human Trafficking -- Financial Red Flags.

Read today's advisory here.
DOE Issues a Comment Extension Notice Pertaining to Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Commercial Water Heaters; Notice of Final Interpretive Rule

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice extending the public comment period for submitting comments and data on the notice of supplemental proposed interpretive rulemaking (NOPIR) that published on September 24, 2020. In response to a petition for rulemaking submitted on October 18, 2018 (Gas Industry Petition), DOE published that petition in the Federal Register on November 1, 2018, for public review and input, and DOE subsequently published a proposed interpretive rule in the Federal Register on July 11, 2019. After carefully considering the public comments on its proposed interpretive rule, DOE tentatively determined to consider a more involved class structure which turns on maintenance of compatibility with existing venting categories, and published a NOPIR on September 24, 2020. On September 25, 2020, and October 6, 2020, DOE received comments requesting extension of the comment period on the NOPIR. On September 29, 2020, DOE received a comment from the submitters of the Gas Industry Petition requesting prompt action on their petition.

  • DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this NOPIR until November 9, 2020.



The TN State of Emergency, related to the ongoing pandemic currently extends to October 31, 2020.
Tennessee Governor Lee
Statewide Press Conference

Recorded viewing may be accessed HERE.
During Governor Lee's press conference on Tuesday (10/20/00), surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the following updates were provided:

  • A new ad campaign was announced, entitled “Choices”, to promote responsible decision-making by Tennesseans as the state continues to fight the spread of COVID-19. The ad will air across the state on broadcast, cable, and digital media. The PSA launches in tandem with the new COVID-19 website (linked below), and provides Tennesseans with improved tools to make informed decisions for their health.
  • Pop up testing sites will also be making a resurgence in Tennessee to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
  • Last Friday, Tennessee submitted a draft Vaccine Distribution Plan, to the CDC. A distribution plan outlines what a state will do, once a vaccine is released for COVID.

The TN Department of Health and Tennessee's Unified Command Group announced the launch of a new website for statewide COVID-19 data.
Given the disruption this pandemic and extended time away from the classroom has had on students, Governor Lee will work with the General Assembly to bring forward a solution which alleviates burdens associated with educator evaluations and school accountability metrics.

Accountability remains incredibly important for the education of students, and Tennessee will keep this year’s assessments in place, to ensure an accurate picture of where students are and what supports are needed to regain learning loss and get them back on the path to success.
Early voting is in process now! Go Vote!
The early voting period runs from Wednesday, October 14, 2020 to Thursday, October 29, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.
Election Day is November 3, 2020
There is an APP for everything! Download Tennessee's voting information application. Search polling locations, candidate lists, elected officials, voter information, the Election Commission, districts, election results, etc.!

The data accessed through this application is provided by local county election commissions.

The THA 2020
Political Action Committee (PAC) Campaign NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT


We have received $24,147 towards our $35,000 Goal. 68.9%!
The THA-PAC is accepting contributions!

Thank you for your consideration!
Tennessee accepts corporate, personal and LLC contributions. Your contribution is critical! 
  
  • 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 (effective October 1st).

  • 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.
MANUFACTURED HOUSING INSTITUTE (MHI)
Dr. Lesli Gooch
Chief Executive Officer, MHI
Mark Bowersox
President, MHI
MHI In Action
MHI FIGHTING FOR COMMUNITIES DURING CDC'S EVICTION MORATORIUM

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order temporarily halting residential evictions for failure to pay rent until December 31, 2020. MHI and its coalition of national housing trade associations are continuing to fight for federal funding to help the nation’s housing providers with the financial impacts of COVID-19 and the federal eviction moratorium. Through media ads, letters and calls with Congressional leadership, the White House, and HUD, MHI and its partners are strongly arguing that targeted funding for landlords is needed to accompany the CDC’s eviction moratorium. Below is a short recap of some of these recent actions.
MHI has created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document about the CDC’s order to halt evictions. MHI’s FAQ document is specifically tailored to manufactured home community operations. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), CDC and other federal agencies have also released a joint list of FAQs on the Order, along with resources for both homeowners and renters.  
Congressional Letter to President Trump - CDC Consequences

At MHI’s recommendation, the Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee’s Housing Subcommittee, Rep. Steve Stivers (OH-15), is spearheading a letter to President Trump about the financial consequences the CDC eviction moratorium is having on housing providers. Specifically, the letter requests that President Trump reprogram unused funding from the CARES Act to support housing providers who are dealing with the financial consequences of the CDC’s halt on evictions. The letter also urges the President to direct the Small Business Administration to expand eligibility requirements for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to housing providers, including manufactured housing community owners and operators. Representative Stivers is asking his fellow Republican colleagues on the House Financial Services Committee to join him in sending the letter. To date, Representatives Riggleman (VA-5), Taylor (TX-3), Kustoff (TN-8), Lucas (OK-3), Gooden (TX-5), Rose (TN-6), and Timmons (SC-4) have signed the letter. A big thank you to those state associations who have members on the Committee and who are assisting MHI in securing signatures for the letter.
See Action Alert Further Below - Add your voice!
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House Financial Services Committee Members Tell HUD to Prioritize Manufactured Housing

Representatives Cindy Axne (D-IA) and Bill Foster (D-IL) spearheaded a letter from Democratic members of the House Financial Services Committee to HUD Secretary Carson calling on the Department to elevate the Office of Manufactured Housing Programs (OMHP) and streamline the process for updating the HUD Code so that manufactured housing can continue to address the nation’s critical need for quality, affordable housing. Ensuring that HUD’s manufactured housing regulations continue to support innovative housing solutions is one of MHI’s top priorities and this action represents another important step toward a better regulatory environment for the industry.

Joining Representatives Axne and Foster in sending the letter to HUD were the following Representatives that serve on the House Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over HUD: Lynch (MA-8), Gonzalez (TX-15), Scott (GA-13), Heck (WA-10), McAdams (UT-4), Tlaib (MI-13), Sherman (CA-30), Lawson (FL-5), Adams (NC- 12) and Gottheimer (NJ-5). Click here to read the letter.

The letter calls on HUD to elevate the Office of Manufactured Housing Programs and streamline the process for HUD Code updates. In addition to calling for updates to the HUD Code to be prioritized separately from other administrative matters overseen by HUD and prioritized separately from unrelated policy matters, the letter urges Secretary Carson to not only finalize the proposed updates to the HUD Code released earlier this year, but to also quickly move forward with finalizing the subsequent sets of updates that are still pending HUD action. Members specifically request that Secretary Carson respond with a letter describing HUD’s efforts to address these issues, including timelines for expected actions.

MHI has waged an aggressive, multi-year campaign with Congress and the Administration to improve HUD’s internal processes to ensure the HUD Code is updated regularly. This letter from Democratic members of the House Financial Services Committee is another example of MHI’s ongoing successful advocacy efforts. Recently, Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee sent a letter to Secretary Carson urging the Department to update FHA’s Title I and II financing programs for manufactured housing – another top priority for MHI. Through calls, letters, meetings, and questions at hearings, MHI is working with both Republican and Democratic Members of Congress to ensure HUD addresses these pressing issues.
MHI Advocates for a Strong Secondary Market for Manufactured Housing

In remarks before the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the GSEs) on Friday, MHI CEO Lesli Gooch emphasized the critical importance of access to secondary markets for manufactured home loans through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, under their statutory Duty to Serve manufactured housing. While acknowledging the progress that the GSEs have made on increasing volume of land-home loans and creating new financing options for the industry’s new CrossMod™ homes, MHI called for progress in the development of a secondary market for chattel lending. MHI also discussed the GSEs’ financing for land-lease communities and the GSEs’ receipt of Duty to Serve Credit for those communities with certain pad lease protections. Last week’s Listening Session, hosted by FHFA, sought public comments about the progress Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are making with their Duty to Serve Plans for manufactured housing.

MHI’s participation in this listening session and MHI’s expected submission of formal written comments this week follow a recent MHI meeting with FHFA Director Mark Calabria on the subject. MHI also recently participated in a Listening Session and submitted comments about FHFA’s proposed risk-based capital requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, emphasizing the importance of secondary market support for manufactured housing lending and ensuring the GSEs continue to fulfill their Duty to Serve obligations.

Click here to read MHI’s statement at last week’s Listening Session. 
MHI Joins Coalition Urging Congress to Protect
Housing Affordability in Energy Codes

MHI, along with a broad sector of the residential and commercial construction and real estate industry, including builders, contractors, lenders, borrowers, owners, operators, utilities and product manufacturers, sent a letter to Congress urging support of Senator John Cornyn’s (R-TX) amendment titled “Protect Affordable Housing for Low Income Americans” to S. 2657, the American Energy Innovation Act. Click here to view the letter.

This amendment would counter a provision in the comprehensive Senate energy package that would set burdensome energy code provisions and expand the federal government’s authority in the code development process. Sen. Cornyn’s amendment prevents the Department of Energy (DOE) from setting aggressive and costly energy code targets by making the DOE factor in housing costs that could increase the price of homeownership for working- and middle-class Americans.

While MHI supports the development and implementation of reasonable, practical, and cost-effective building codes and standards, we have long advocated that energy efficiency regulations should not pose excessive compliance and cost burdens on manufactured housing that outweigh benefits to consumers. This letter is an extension of MHI’s advocacy on behalf of the industry to ensure the process by which Congress or the DOE sets rules for energy standards for manufactured homes carefully considers the cost impacts changes will have on consumers.
!! ACTION ALERTS CONTINUE !!
Tell Congress to...
Act on Two Major Policies that Impact Manufactured Housing
Letters have already been prepared! Just enter your name, address, etc in the form provided at each link below, and press submit!
--FIRST ASK -- Pass Targeted Rental Assistance Funding

So far, more than 800 communications have been sent to Congress.
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.
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. 
--SECOND ASK -- Stabilize The Lumber Supply

To date, more than 1,000 emails have been sent to Congress.
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.
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.

Upcoming MHI Webinar - Save The Date
November 19, 2020

MHI Advocacy Webinar


Sponsored by: Sun Communities and Hometown America Corporation
Free Webinars
Powered/Sponsored by: ManufacturedHomes.com
2020 Webinar Series: Embracing Change
Upcoming Free Webinar
Building Out Your Sales Funnel for
2021 and Beyond (Scott Stroud)
Thursday, October 22, 2020, 2 PM ET
SAVE THE DATE
  • 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
January 20 - 22, 2021
For more information, contact Show Coordinator Dennis J. Hill at (770) 587-3350.
MISSISSIPPI HOME SHOW
NEW LOCATION & DATES ANNOUNCED!
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!
The THA Annual Member's Meeting & 65th Anniversary Celebration has been postponed until June 27 - 29, 2021.
Initial Licensing/Certification Retailer/Installer Education
available online for Tennessee!

THA provides the educational access required to apply for or renew a license.
THA DOES NOT process, grant, revoke or suspend licenses. That process resides within the Department of Commerce & Insurance, State Fire Marshal's Office, the Manufactured Housing Division.
Initial Licensing/Certification
05 Hour Continuing Education
MAKE AN EMERGENCY PLAN! ALWAYS BE PREPARED!