NorthEast Region Stories | Housing Affairs Letter

HUD Digs In At Westchester County

HUD is using the 1863 False Claims Act, the Fair Housing Act’s declaration of affirmatively furthering fair housing (AFFH), and what the department declares as misspent federal housing subsidies as hammers to promote quota desegregation.

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Back To Square One For NJ Housing

In a unanimous decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court rules that the judiciary must seize affordable housing activities from the state and enforce affordable housing rules.

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HUD Horror Featured In Amityville

HUD finishes another week of the Secretary Julian Castro tenure enmeshed in yet another scandal -- this time the department’s refusal to provide funding for housing of homeless military veterans in North Amityville, NY.

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HUD Backpedals In Westchester Affair

What HUD had hoped to be its model for a nationwide suburban desegregation campaign has crumpled somewhat following the department’s decision to restore Community Development Block Grants to the affluent county’s communities.

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Airbnb In New York Regulatory Dustup

Travelers increasingly rely on Airbnb for short-term rentals, particularly where such rentals are at a premium. But the firm, which originated as Air Bed ‘N Breakfast, is under increasing criticism from apartment tenants who claim they’re being forced out to make room for short-term

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NYC Co-opts HUD Diversity Plan

Taking a cue from HUD’s new and yet-to-be implemented plan to integrate suburbs, New York City officials will use its affordable housing program to build housing for poor families in middle-class neighborhoods and homes for moderate-income families in high-poverty areas.

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Westchester Settlement Unraveling

A 2009 fair housing settlement between HUD and Westchester County, NY is beginning to unravel, following several warnings from the settlement monitor to comply with the pact’s terms or face losing federal development subsidies. After holding back for several months, HUD threatens to divert $7.4 million of the county’s Community Development

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FEMA Extends Disaster Assistance Deadline

Victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York have an extra 30 days to register for federal disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other state, federal, and voluntary organizations that serve as partners. The new deadline is March 29.

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Massachusetts Affordable Housing Push

Massachusetts will invest $67 million in affordable housing for 23 different developments spread across more than 20 communities. The funding includes $9 million in federal low-income tax credits, $7.7 million in state low-income tax credits, and nearly $50 million in state and federal housing program subsidies.

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MA Public Housing Plan Slammed

Reaction to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick’s (D) public housing authority consolidation plan HAL reported in the Jan. 11, 2013 issue has been swift and largely negative. The across-the housing spectrum criticism indicates that the Patrick plan will be quashed in a legislature closely attuned to the wishes of local politics in the state and local officials

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