COVID-19

Check our Question/Answers page

Housing Matters has a good repository of previous webinars just below their listing of upcoming events – check it out HERE

UPCOMING WEBINARS/TRAINING

Wed. May 27

12:00 PM ET – presented by CLASP & OXFAM & others, – Who Cares During the COVID-19 Pandemic – info/register HERE
2:00–3:00 p.m. ET – presented by FireSpring – Marketing Trends Nonprofits Need to Know (and Embrace) – info/register HERE
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT – presented by CLASP – How the History of Racism Is Negatively Affecting Our Response to the Overdose Epidemic in All Communities – info/registration HERE

Thu. May 28

1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT – presented by the National Development Council – Review of the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application – info/registration HERE
2:00 PM ET – presented by CLASP, The Aspen Institute, and JP Morgan Chase – Summer Youth Employment in the Age of COVID-19 – info/registration HERE
2:00 PM ET – presented by Bank of America – The Changing Workforce: Employing the Formerly Incarcerated – More Info/Register HERE
3 p.m. ET – presented by Fed. Reserve Bank – Philadelphia – Reinventing Our Communities: Planning for Equity in Recovery – Lessons We’re Learning from COVID-19 – More Info/Register HERE

Fri. May 29

1:00 PM (ET) – presented by ARC and DOL – WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES (WORC)-Technical details of the Application More info/Register HERE
1:00 PM ET – presented by New America Better Life Lab – Crisis Conversations — Live – more info/register HERE
2:30-4 pm EVERY FRIDAY – HUD office hours on COVID-19 planning and response for homeless assistance providers – More Info/ Register HERE

Mon. JUNE 1

2:30 pm EVERY MONDAY – presented by NLIHC – National Call on Coronavirus and Homelessness/Housing – More Info/Register HERE

Tue. JUNE 2

2:00 – 3:00 PM ET – presented by the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group with The Rural Innovation Group and United Philanthropy Forum – Ratcheting Up Rural Response, Recovery and Resilience: Five Good Ideas for Philanthropy Right Now
3:00 -4:00 PM ET – Optional 2^nd hour to join a Breakout to explore the Idea that most interests you! – info/register HERE

From CFPB

CFPB, FHFA and HUD launched a new website on May 12 that explains CARES Act protections for renters and homeowners, suggests resources for additional help and provides information on how to avoid COVID-19 related scams.

5/8 – Brittney’s Memo on PPP Updates from Jim’s Member CCall
4/3 – Memo/Updates from Jim’s Member Connection Call
3/27 – Memo/Updates from Jim’s Member Connection Call

Messaging/Fundraising

4/16/20 – Fahe Member Panel – Messaging during the Pandemic

Thank you to our Panelists!

Elizabeth Grisham – Clinch-Powell RC&D (Marketing)
Stace Karge – Crossville Housing Authority (Public Service Announcments)
Kiara Gabbard – Frontier Housing (Messaging)

MESSAGING! – 84 Agency Webinar from Jim – “I found this really valuable. Its about how to communicate in a crisis. Communication to funders, investors, borrowers and the public need to be considered. A shift in social media to reflect a slight alteration of message so that the work is seen as bigger as well as responsive to the event going on around us. How do we set up messaging for the next phase of work…”

SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF INITIATIVE! Intuit has launched a partnership with GoFundMe. Intuit encourages local small businesses to set up a GoFundMe page and set a fundraising goal. That goal could essentially be to cover all payroll or business expenses for the next 4 weeks or 8 weeks, etc. Here’s that link: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/smallbusinesshelp/

From Fahe Community Lending: In an effort to support Fahe members who encounter financial hardship due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, Fahe will offer an emergency loan to those who can show cause for the loans as related directly to the crisis. Click HERE for more information.

Hot Topic! Self-Care in the crisis…

Recordings of Previous Webinars

4/9 – CARES Act Presentation from US Chamber of Commerce
National Alliance to End Homelessness Webinars

4/9 – IRS Household Payments – Following up on the IRS household payments, from Natalie Harris of Coalition for the Homeless-Louisville: Info from the IRS (likely to change). Basically, those who have filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return by April 15, 2020 with banking info for direct deposit or those who receive federal benefits with a card, should receive their payment by the end of April. Those who filed with an address by that date will likely see checks in May. But getting checks to everyone will take much longer and the IRS is even saying up to a year to get all the checks out. One thing you can and should do right away is help any one who did file in 2018 or 2019 but filed with an address and changed addresses since their last tax return because it will otherwise go to the wrong address. Here is the official form to update your address. As we all know now, the 2019 filing deadline was extended to June, so if anyone did not file in 2018 and is waiting til then to file for 2019, they will get checks much later. The IRS is working on an on-line form that they will post for those who did not file either year and need to complete this to get their funds. In the meantime, they do have a survey you can complete on their site that lets you know if you need to fill that out when it is posted and we will be watching and let you all know as soon as the on-line form is up for those who do need to complete it.

DO YOU SERVE THE HOMELESS? Here is a resource shared by one of our partners, from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council on Needed Actions from Public Health and Emergency Response Systems

The COVID-19 Online Learning Series
The National Alliance to End Homelessness and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council have developed the COVID-19 Online Learning Series. This online course curriculum is designed to provide training and materials to aid in community responses to COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness, and can support broader CoC homeless response. The courses are available free of charge for the first 2,500 users, courtesy of the Kaiser Permanente National Community Benefit Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation. Once 2,500 spaces have been filled, these courses will remain available at a fee. Access the courses >>>

4/7 – Update from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – The Bureau has issued a policy statement outlining the responsibility of credit reporting companies and furnishers during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can access the credit reporting press release announcement and copies of the Bureau statements HERE Additionally, the Bureau has issued a joint agency policy statement and its own compliance guidance FAQs to facilitate mortgage servicers’ ability to place consumers in short-term payment forbearance programs such as the one required by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The compliance statement and FAQs also address flexibility concerning loss mitigation notices, early intervention communications, annual escrow statements, continuity of contacts, pay off statements, and electronic communications with borrowers. You can access the mortgage servicing press release announcement and copies of the Bureau statements HERE

Small Business Administration (SBA) info:

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently published guidelines concerning Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness. We’re here to help you understand eligibility requirements and get the process started. On our PPP Loan Forgiveness webpage, you’ll find the SBA’s loan forgiveness application, a checklist to help you prepare eligibility documentation, and a review of the ways PPP loans can be used and forgiven.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – Press Release
PPP Overview – US Treasury Dept.
PPP Borrower Information Fact Sheet
PPP FAQs for Small Business – US Senate Cmte on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
PPP Guidance from US Chamber of Commerce
IMPORTANT: Treasury and SBA have released guidelines and an application for the Payroll Protection Program (forgivable loan). https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/top-priorities/cares-act/assistance-for-small-businesses

4/7 : Eligibility of Faith-Based Organizations to Participate in Paycheck Protection and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Programs Jovita Carranza, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), announced that the SBA issued guidance clarifying that all faith-based organizations impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) are eligible to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, without restrictions based on their religious identity or activities, to the extent they meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. “Following the passage of the emergency economic relief assistance, the Administration and Congress acted to ensure that small businesses and non-profits alike have access to critical funds to keep their workers paid and employed,” said Carranza. “Faith-based organizations have always provided critical social services for people in need, and SBA will make clear that these organizations may access this emergency capital.” The Paycheck Protection Program’s maximum loan amount is $10 million with a fixed 1% interest rate and maturity of two years. SBA will forgive the portion of loan proceeds used for payroll costs and other designated operating expenses for up to eight weeks provided at least 75% of loan proceeds are used for payroll costs. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides qualifying small businesses and non-profits with working capital up to $2 million with low interest rates and terms extending up to 30 years.

3/27 – Video for Non-Profits and Churches RE: CARES ACT, specifically the Paycheck Protection Program as passed on Friday 3/27. From the Vanderbloemen folks and shared by Tony Gibbons of Blount Co. HFH… VIDEO and SLIDES

Call Recording Information on SBA Disaster Loans is changing moment to moment. We believe the interest rate will be lowered to 1.75% and the loans can be forgiven if the business uses the money to fund payroll and keep people employed. As we learn more, we will share it. Josh and Chad are both watching this.

3/25 – Presentation to KY Chamber of Commerce – SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan

From Sara Morgan, Fahe COO: The SBA has approved Disaster declarations for all of our member states. This allows businesses to apply for funding through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Information on the program and the online application can be found at SBA.gov. Additionally, OMB has released this linked guidance regarding various regulated functions during this time. This guidance indicates how regulations are being implemented with various federal systems, programs and notifications.

Fahe Advocacy

3/27 – From Fahe Advocacy: Your Advocacy Department has been tracking and weighing in on the recent stimulus bills on your behalf, as well as working to include the particular challenges of working in our Appalachian communities in the national discourse surrounding the pandemic. To help advance our Appalachian perspective in the national discourse, we have put together a policy document that contains our recommendations to craft a national response to this pandemic that protects our communities and works for everyday Americans here and everywhere else in the country.

You can read a short, bulleted version of our recommendations HERE if you are short on time (because of course you are!), and the full document with particulars by clicking HERE. The landscape we are all operating in is full of uncertainty and constantly changing, and that includes in Washington, D.C. We will keep you updated as the legislative and regulatory landscape here changes. All we ask of you is that you also contact us if there is anything we can be doing for you as you digest the new programs, seek to have your voice heard, or otherwise navigate these uncertain times.

HR RESOURCES

4/16/20 – Resource from SERCAP – Tips for Working from Home

3/27 – From Norma, HR Resource: As a response to COVID19, the Department of Labor has expanded FMLA under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. I wanted to share this information with you to make sure you and your families are informed. Please see HERE

3/24 – From Fahe’s HR Folks (by Paycor) Webinar slides – Working from Home: How to Survive & Thrive

On Wednesday, March 18, President Trump signed H.R. 6201, the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” into law. It becomes effective on April 2^nd, which is a short period for taking compliance steps and budgeting for the changes. Among the provisions of the coronavirus relief bill are items relating to paid sick time and family leave, which we [McBrayer LLC] have summarized HERE, as they will have an enormous impact on employers. on Federal Legislation

Info/Summaries/Updates – Federal Legislation

3/30 – Special COVID-19 Update from Tidwell Group:
We are continuing to monitor the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on our clients and analyzing daily information coming from Federal, State, and Local governments. In order to keep our clients informed of the constantly changing tax environment, we are providing a summary of the federal and legislative and regulatory updates.

4/9 – from Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

ARC Expands COVID-19 Resources Web Page – During this challenging time for our communities, our Region, and our country, the Appalachian Regional Commission has launched a web page dedicated to providing resources to help communities, grantees, and partners navigate COVID-19. The page, arc.gov/coronavirus, includes national, regional, and state resources, webinars, and other information. ARC’s goal is to be a resource hub for the Appalachian Region during the COVID-19 crisis. COVID-19 Cases in Appalachia map, displays the current number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Appalachia, and throughout the United States. Explore County-level Coronavirus Impact Planning searchable database: presents a demographic data snapshot of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in relation to hospital bed counts, population and businesses, and categories of people at risk for COVID-19 in infographic form for each one of the nation’s counties. By clicking on each statistical icon, users can learn more about the supporting data. COVID-19 related data is updated daily.

3/25 – from Rapoza Associates: COVID-19 Stimulus Phase III Summary

Early this morning, Senate negotiators and the White House reached a deal on a $2 trillion “phase three” stimulus bill, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (S. 3548). The Senate hopes to pass the bill today and send it to the House, which is also expected to pass the proposal either Thursday or Friday. Rapoza Associates prepared a summary of the legislation with a particular focus on community development. Download our summary
More detailed summary of Division A of the bill covering healthcare and economic stabilization (from Senate staff)
More detailed summary of Division B of the bill providing additional appropriations to agencies, among other provisions (from Senate staff)
In the coming weeks, Congress will turn to a 4th stimulus proposal. The 4th phase may provide a better path for community development programs. We will keep you updated as that legislation comes together.

From the National Council of State Housing Agencies – NCSHA Urges IRS, Treasury to Establish Emergency Measures Related to Housing Credit Administration During COVID-19 Pandemic. Use link above to access the article and letter. For more information, contact Jennifer Schwartz

USDA Announcements

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2020 – USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rural Development will keep our customers, partners, and stakeholders continuously updated as more actions are taken to better serve rural America. Read the full announcement to learn more about the opportunities USDA Rural Development is implementing to provide immediate relief to our customers, partners, and stakeholders.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today unveiled a one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide (PDF, 349 KB) is a first-of-its-kind resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.

HUD Information:

HUD has issued two memoranda to provide guidance and the necessary statutory suspensions and regulatory waivers that apply to HOME Participating Jurisdictions (PJs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

CDBG info the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136) into law. Section 4024 of that legislation imposes a temporary moratorium on evictions. HUD has issued Q&As to provide guidance on how the temporary moratorium applies to certain dwelling units assisted by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) loans (including Section 108 guaranteed loans), Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) loans, and CDBG-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) loans.This moratorium went into effect immediately upon the enactment of the CARES Act on March 27, 2020 and lasts for 120 days (through July 24, 2020). Read the CDBG Program Eviction Moratorium Q&As. View the CDBG COVID-19 Resources page for additional resources and guidance.

CPD Memo: Availability of Waivers and Suspensions of the HOME Program Requirements in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic This memorandum provides guidance and the necessary statutory suspensions and regulatory waivers to enable HOME PJs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to use HOME funds to address immediate housing needs and to help prevent spread of the virus.

CPD Memo: Suspensions and Waivers to Facilitate Use of HOME-Assisted TBRA for Emergency and Short-term Assistance in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic This memorandum provides guidance and the necessary statutory suspensions and regulatory waivers to enable HOME PJs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to use HOME tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) funds to facilitate urgent housing assistance to the communities and families experiencing financial hardship.

Links to Other Sources

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
Fannie Mae Covid-19 Response
Mayo Clinic News – COVID-19
KY Nonprofit Network COVID-19 Resource Page
From MCM – a great repository of info: COVID-19 Resource Page
From the Urban Institute: Social policy developments related to the COVID-19 epidemic.

State Specific information can be found using the links below:

KY Caucus
TN/AL Caucus
VA Caucus
WV/MD Caucus
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