Affordable Housing Connections
December 2019 Newsletter
Welcome, Rachele Wilson!
Action Required: Annual Owner Certification Due Tuesday February 18
With our usual deadline February 15th, 2020 falling on a Saturday and the following Monday, February 17th 2020 being a federal holiday (President's Day), AHC has extended all LIHTC and HOME Owner Reports deadline to Tuesday, February 18th 2020.
If you have any questions about this new deadline reach out to us at ahc@ahcinc.net.
AHC's 9th Annual Training
Many star individuals and organizations were recognized for participation in AHC's TCCS training course. AHC enthusiastically shared earned accreditation and certification by highlighting those in and out of the room with a huge Thank You for supporting training within the housing industry. AHC was pleased to announce a partnership with Hamline University’s Graduate School of Business to offer a Certificate Program in Affordable Housing Leadership. The purpose of the certificate program is to provide the history of affordable housing policy, explore current policies, and examine programs and ideas to confront the affordable housing crisis.
Stay tuned throughout the year for more details!!
New Way to Verify - TCF Now has Automated Platform
verification will be available via our secure, web-based data exchange www.bankvod.com/qov. You must enroll to use BankVOD. You will not be charged a fee for this service. BankVOD is TCF's approved service provider for all third party verification requests. The benefits of using the BankVOD service include:
• Secure platform with the highest "Bank Level" security standards
• Fully Automated platform allows for same day processing of Bank Verifications
• Ability to have single or multiple accounts from the same location
Enrollment is EASY:
1. Go to www.bankvod.com/gov
2. Select "Enroll Now" and complete the online enrollment form.
Once your governmental agency is enrolled in BankVOD, login to your account and select "Order Verification". Any request submitted to this interface that is not from a medical or public assistance agency will not be processed. You will be asked to provide your EIN to confirm 501c status.
Responses from BankVOD will include the same customer and account information you currently receive.
If you have any questions about BankVOD, please email our vendor directly at cs@bankvod.com and make sure to include your contact information.
Attention: HOME assisted projects in Saint Louis, Dakota and Hennepin County
New report format for HOME assisted projects in Dakota County, Hennepin County and St Louis County Consortium:
Very soon HOME projects located in Dakota, Hennepin and St. Louis Counties will receive a new format for completing your PY2019 HOME Report due February 18, 2020. For PY2019, you will complete a HOME CHART instead of a HOME Report. The HOME CHART is very similar to the HOME Report, but the HOME CHART has more tabs to collect additional information. It also has more functionality in that it incorporates a Tenant Income Certification (TIC) that, if used, can assist you with completing the HOME Data tab.
If you are new to HOME reporting, and even if you’re not, we strongly encourage you to register for one of our upcoming CHART training sessions being offered this upcoming December 17, 18 and 19th. During the training AHC will walk you through each tab of the HOME CHART and show you how to properly report your compliance with HOME for PY2019. Please check AHC’s website in the coming weeks for registration information.
HUD to Investigate Websites Selling Assistance Animal Certifcates
US Secretary Ben Carson recently called for an investigation into certain websites selling assistance animal documentation. Carson asked the Charman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commissio to investigate various websites for compliance with federal laws that protect consumers from unfair and deceptive acts or practices.
HUD is asking housing providers to seek actual documentation, such as a note from a healthcare professional when the disability is not obvious or already known. Acceptance of Assistance Animal Certificates is not suggested; Consumers may be mislead into thinking certain websites are selling federally affiliated documents.
For further information, please click here.