The HOME program does not allow the PHA utility allowance to be used when determining gross rent. When the household also resides a housing choice voucher (HVC) tenant, the owner must use an OHFA approved UA for HOME and the PHA utility allowance for LIHTC. This means gross rent for a HCV unit that is also a LIHTC unit layered with HOME funds established after August 23, 2013, needs to be calculated two different ways. For LIHTC rent compliance, owners will use the PHA UA, tenant paid rent, and any non-optional charges to determine the gross rent. For the HOME program, owners will use the OHFA approved UA, tenant paid rent AND the Housing Choice Voucher Assistance Amount to determine Gross Rent. Owners must be in compliance with both programs max rent if they decide to make a HCV tenant a HOME unit. Please see our updated policy for examples on how to calculate rent and how to reflect these changes in your tenant files. This policy update is effective November 1, 2021. 

HUD published a new memorandum on September 27, 2021 that was effective as of September 30, 2021. This publication is an update to the memorandum, Revision, Extension and Update of April 2020 Memorandum Availability of Waivers and Suspensions of the HOME Program Requirements in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic, issued on December 4, 2020. The new memorandum further revises or extends certain statutory suspensions to enable HOME Participating Jurisdictions (PJs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to help prevent spread of the virus. The main compliance matter mentioned in this memo was extending the end date of the waiver period to December 31, 2021 for on-site inspections of HOME-assisted rental housing. This waiver was also amended to extend the period to perform delayed onsite inspections after the waiver period ended from 120 days to 180 days. Click here to read the entire CPD Memo. OHFA resumed physical inspections in August 2021 and plans to continue HOME audits.

This is a reminder that, on a monthly basis, all tenant events are required to be updated in DevCo. Please update all of your tenant events in DevCo no later than the 10th of each month for the previous month. You are also required to update all tenant events when you are notified of an OHFA audit.

This free, four-hour webinar focuses on OHFA's requirements for the multifamily programs it manages and will provide attendees with knowledge of OHFA specific forms, policies and much more. Industry partners fulfill the biannual QAP training requirement by attending this session and receive 4 hours of CEUs for the SCHM and HCCP. This training session will be held from 12:30-4:30pm. Register for the Oct 19th session below.