Pilot to Benefit Developers, Owners, Tenants and Local Communities working to create and preserve affordable housing
9:30 A.M.
Monday, February 27, 2012
MADISON, Wis. — On Monday, February 27, 2012, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Midwest Regional Administrator, Antonio Riley, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director, Stan Gruszynski, will join Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) Executive Director, Wyman Winston, to announce the launch of a new pilot program that will reduce regulatory burdens on affordable housing developers and owners. The program will also help state and federal agencies improve services to low-income families who rent their homes.
In response to the White House’s Domestic Policy Council request for improved coordination of federal rental policy; HUD, USDA Rural Development, and WHEDA have worked together since April to align the often burdensome program requirements of different affordable rental housing government programs. Almost all federal housing programs have statutory requirements requiring the administering agencies to confirm that, at the time of making a grant or subsidized loan, the total amount of subsidy being provided by public sources does not exceed eligible costs. When developers of affordable housing are awarded multiple sources of public funding, they become subject to multiple Subsidy Layering Reviews (SLRs). The new initiative will increase communication between agencies, provide a “one-stop-shop” for development applicants, implement timelines to ensure expediency of reviews and simplify the application process, which will benefit owners, developers, tenants and local communities working to create and preserve affordable housing.
Monday’s signing will be the second pilot program launched in Wisconsin to reduce regulatory burdens and pave the way for developers and owners to focus on delivering more housing and resources to those in need. On November 7, 2011, HUD, USDA Rural Development and WHEDA signed an agreement to reduce duplicate physical inspections of local subsidized affordable housing.
WHO: Antonio R. Riley, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Midwest Regional Administrator
Stan Gruszynski, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director
Wyman Winston, WI Housing and Economic Development Authority Executive Director
WHAT: Press conference to sign Memorandum of Understanding to launch a new SLR pilot program in Wisconsin that will reduce regulatory burdens on affordable housing developers and owners, as well as help state and federal agencies improve services to low-income families.
WHEN: 9:30 a.m.
Monday, February 27, 2012
WHERE: WHEDA Office Building, First Floor Conference Room
201 West Washington Avenue Madison, WI 53703
CONTACT: Members of the media interested in covering this event should contact Kelly Edwards, USDA (715-340-1264); Laura J. Feldman, HUD (312- 913-8332)/ laura.j.feldman@hud.gov; or Brenda Marquardt, WHEDA (608-266-8655).
