February 2022

Compliance News

The Annual Owner’s Certification must be submitted to AHFA’s compliance department by close of business March 1, 2022.


AHFA began on-site file and unit inspections again in January. AHFA will ask questions via email before each on-site inspection to ensure resident, management and AHFA personnel safety during the on-site visit. To assist AHFA’s compliance department with this process, please respond to all AHFA auditor requests for information as soon as possible.


If you have any questions about this information, email MFCompliance@ahfa.com.

Submitting Input on AHFA Multifamily Program Plans

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A post by Mark Shelburne with Novogradac addressed the topic of Providing Effective QAP Input. With Mark’s permission, we expanded on his message with a focus on Public Participation in AHFA Multifamily Programs.


If you have ideas, questions, or concerns about affordable housing which can be affected by a change in the draft Plans, please take steps to contact us. It is not necessary to wait for the release of a draft Plan. AHFA welcomes feedback from interested parties to make Plan improvements. 


Be specific

General or vague requests rarely have impact. Clearly convey what you want to happen. Be very specific and provide examples. What are the circumstances related to your situation? Are there outside factors impacting the situation? What solution/change do you propose? Are there additional materials/programs/funding available relative to this proposal? 


Initiate conversation

The AHFA Multifamily team is available to discuss ideas and suggestions any time prior to the release and final approval of the draft Plans. If you have ideas, questions, or concerns about affordable housing which can be affected by change(s) in the draft Plans, it is not necessary to wait for their release. You may comment beforehand, especially when seeking major departures from established practices. Emails are the preferred initial contact and phone calls may then be scheduled with various AHFA team members any time prior to the release of the draft Plans. There is a chance your idea(s) may be incorporated into a draft Plan. 


Keep in mind that while unofficial comments and input are accepted outside Public Comment periods, you should also be prepared to follow up with an official comment during a Public Comment period when asked.  


Make official Public Comments

The traditional official Public Comment period for draft Plans is 30 days, however, in certain circumstances (disasters, economic distress, etc.) the Public Comment period may be significantly less. It is prudent that you are signed-up to receive AHFA Multifamily Notices which are the official publication of AHFA Multifamily Program information and contain critical information regarding Plan releases, Public Comment periods, and materials. Many Multifamily Notices are time sensitive (especially regarding Public Comment periods) and require immediate action. 


Please put measures in place to ensure that the appropriate individual(s) in your organization are receiving the information contained in AHFA Multifamily Notices. When draft Plans are released, take the time to thoroughly read them, prepare your comments, and submit via the instructions provided. AHFA receives hundreds of comments on the various Plans. All comments are reviewed, researched, and discussed before decisions regarding the final Plans are made. Submitting your comments early allows AHFA staff more time to work with your comment material.


Be realistic, fair and professional

Recognize the limitations of the agency and the programs. Tell it straight, including any aspect that isn’t helpful to your case. Consider how this change will impact other geographic areas or populations within the state. Have you sought further insight or input from other stakeholders/groups/organizations/institutions? Does the gain resulting from your idea(s) come at a loss to another region or population or will the state as a whole benefit? 


In the context of producing and preserving the maximum number of units of decent, safe, and affordable housing with the available funds, provide compelling evidence of the benefits of your idea(s) and be mindful of the consequences for other stakeholders.


Be Patient

Plans are powerful tools that require time to change. Don’t be discouraged or think you’ve wasted your time if your comment isn’t reflected in the Final Plans. The idea may be ahead of its time and need longer to evolve. It may be such a major change that additional time and input is needed to incorporate it into the Plans.  

Alabama Housing Finance Authority | www.AHFA.com
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