Legislative Updates

AHMA-PSW’s Affordable Housing News 1/24/19

January 24, 2019

Shut down info: Our Residents have a lot of questions and are feeling very insecure during the shutdown. Here is some research on other programs utilized by our Residents and wanted to pass on that info:

AZ will be issuing SNAP (Food Stamp) benefits for February on January 17-20 depending on last name of the Head of Household. NV will be issuing February benefits beginning January 20. I was unable to locate info on CA as this program is administered by each county. These are the regular benefits for February, and no further benefits will be issued in February according to a press release by AZ DES. It is unclear whether or not March benefits will be issued if the shutdown continues.
The information that I have found indicates that TANF benefits should not be interrupted.
The Social Security Administration has announced that because they operate from funding that is outside the appropriations process that there will be no interruption to Social Security, SSI or MediCare benefits, and all offices will remain open.
The Veteran’s Administration has announced that because they operate from funding that is outside the appropriations process that there will be no interruption to VA Disability benefits and services and that VA Service Centers and Medical Facilities will remain open.
HUD info:
- Project based HAPs are being paid, there should be no break since these are contracts which predate the shutdown. For those properties that were in renewal or obtaining a new contract HUD will approve releases from Residual Receipts and Reserve for Replacement. These requests should go to the regional office, as the satellite offices are not staffed at this time. If there is insufficient money in R for R to meet project needs, there is a seldom used mechanism to receive an advance which is outlined in HUD Handbook 4370.1 Section 2-21(F)(3)(b).
- Housing Choice Vouchers (Tenant based and PHA Project based): HUD has sufficient funding for February HAP to be paid. If the shutdown continues, March HAPs are not funded, although many agencies are looking to borrow money from alternative funding sources.

A bill has been introduced in the AZ Legislature to remedy the issue of Judges determining acceptance of a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), an acceptance of partial payment which negates the ability to evict. HB 2358 clarifies that acceptance of payments from government agencies and non profits are not to be considered partial payments. We will provide updates on this as they occur.