DCTA Program Resources

State CDBG Information and Resources

Overview of and resources related to the State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which offers grants to non-entitlement areas (cities with a population less than 50,000 and counties with a population less than 200,000) for housing, community services, and job retention

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CDFA Federal Financing Webinar Series

July 31 | August 14 | August 28 | September 11 - 1:00 PM EDT

This webinar series will convene finance experts, federal agencies, and local practitioners to discuss the variety of federal programs available to finance economic development. In light of new funding provided to federal agencies in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and anticipated additional stimulus funding coming throughout the summer, the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) will be featuring timely and in-depth conversations with federal financing leaders.

Designing Senior Housing for Safe Interaction in the Age of COVID-19

August 11, 2020, 12:00 - 1:00 PM EDT

The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies will present a virtual roundtable on design strategies for the creation of safe and dignifying shared housing spaces for older adults in light of COVID-19.

Novogradac Online LIHTC Property Compliance Workshop

August 11-12, 2020, 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM EDT

Participants will gain with the most up-to-date low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) compliance knowledge and industry trends critical to owners and property managers. Standard registration rate: $525.00. 

How Counties are Investing CARES Act Dollars in Social Safety Net Services

August 19, 2020, 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT

Participants will hear from county leaders about how their Coronavirus Relief Funds plans are working towards supporting individuals most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

NLIHC National Call: Coronavirus, Housing, and Homelessness

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition holds a weekly national call entitled “Coronavirus, Housing, and Homelessness” that featured updates from national, state, and local advocates and service providers working to assist people experiencing homelessness, low-income households, and members of marginalized communities, all of whom are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recordings and slides from all past sessions are posted on the NLIHC website.

Several sessions are highlighted below:

• On July 13, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director, Mark Calabria, and HUD Assistant Secretary of Public and Indian Housing, Hunter Kurtz, discussed efforts by FHFA and HUD to address the needs of renters.
• On June 29, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) spoke about the “Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Act,” discussed the need for both short-term emergency solutions and long-term structural change, and urged advocates to pressure members of Congress by sharing stories about what our communities are experiencing.
• On May 26, Dr. Megan Sandel and Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer joined speakers from Utah Housing Coalition, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Tenderloin Housing Clinic and more to share updates and resources needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic for people experiencing homelessness and low-income renters.
• On May 18, Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark, NJ joined speakers from National Coalition for a Civil Right to Council, Arizona Department of Housing, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Montana Housing, and others to share updates and resources needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic for people experiencing homelessness and low-income renters.

CDFA-ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series: Access to Capital and Community Facilities

On July 8, the fourth and final installment of the CDFA Alliance for Rural Impact (ARI) Rural Finance Webinar Series discussed community facilities resources and other accessible capital for rural community development.

Deferring Program Fees: COVID-19 Considerations

On July 8, this webinar unpacked why, when, and how some homeownership programs with lasting affordability are seeking ways to support their homeowners in this challenging time. Hosted by Grounded Solutions Network, the webinar discussed reasons why some programs are deferring or waiving monthly ground lease and other program fees, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rural Resilience: Hurricanes, Wildfire, and COVID-19

On June 24, the Rural Assembly and Daily Yonder held a webinar to share how disaster preparedness and response continues in communities dealing with wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme weather, all while also feeling the impacts of a pandemic. A video and transcript of the webinar are available.

Maximizing Value on Every Public Dollar During and After COVID-19

On June 24, the National Association of Counties (NACo) held a webinar focused on how counties can use liquidity analyses and data to maximize the value on current tax dollars and any CARES Act funding received and review ways to look under every stone for taxpayer benefit.

Childcare and COVID-19: Federal Resources and Best Practices for County Governments

On June 17, NACo held a webinar focused on the impacts of COVID-19 on access to safe and affordable childcare, and what counties are doing to maintain the current supply of childcare and sustain childcare businesses upon reopening. Federal resources for childcare services during COVID-19 and what counties can do to maximize these services and ensure safe, healthy learning environments for young children were outlined. A copy of the presentation slide show is available.

CDFA-ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series: Building the Road to Recovery

On June 10, the CDFA-ARI held their third installment in the Rural Finance Webinar Series. The webinar discussed the development finance tools that can support rural economies as they rebuild. A link to the recorded webinar, as well as the first two webinars held April 15 and May 6, can be requested by simply registering for the free webinar series.

The Health of Our Democracy: Voting During a Pandemic

On June 9, The Aspen Institute hosted a conversation on how states and local jurisdictions can execute a voting process that is secure, trusted, and safe.

Rural Health and COVID-19

On May 12, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) collaborated to host a webinar that provided an overview of the rural health focused efforts by HHS and USDA and highlighted specific tools and resources to help combat COVID-19. This page provides the recording, audio transcript, and presentation slides.

OLHCHH and Partners: Healthy Homes COVID-19 Webinars

On May 4 - 6, 2020, HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) and the National Healthy Homes Partnership at the University of Missouri presented three webinars on COVID-19 mitigation and disinfecting strategies for multifamily and public housing developments. These webinars and related handouts were presented in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control Waterborne Disease Branch (CDC WDB) and Washington State Department of Health.

• COVID-19 and Housing (Spanish)
• COVID-19 and Multifamily
• COVID-19 and Public Housing

Eviction Prevention Toolkit Webinar

In this Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) webinar, Barbara Geries from Champlain Housing Trust and Harold Nassau from The Consortium for Housing Asset Management (CHAM) discuss the value of operating an Eviction Prevention Program (EPP), provide basic information about program structuring, and give examples of existing programs.

Accessory Dwelling Units Webinar

In this LISC webinar, two Rubinger Fellows speak about how they’re leveraging Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in their unique markets. Affordable housing is becoming increasingly hard to find throughout many growing cities around the country. ADUs offer an alternative to customary housing units, taking the form of basement apartments, living units above the garage, new detached units, or 'tiny houses' built in the backyard of an existing home.

Analysis of the Fiscal Impact of COVID-19 on County Finances

This National Association of Counties (NACo) page reports major county revenue sources that support critical local services are at risk, and counties are facing significant new expenditures in responding to COVID-19.

Building Better Fundamentals for Rural Progress: Good Data, Fairer Media Practices, and Stronger Local Organizations

An outline of three reports, developed by Housing Assistance Council and the Aspen Institute, break down the challenges that obscure the nation’s understanding of and attention to rural issues and progress, and how to work toward improvement

Cascading Impact of COVID-19 on Microbusinesses

This report from Prosperity Now looks at why businesses owned by people of color, women, and immigrants were highly susceptible to an economic downturn prior to the pandemic. It also details how microbusinesses (businesses with zero to nine employees), which are historically the most vulnerable to financial shocks, have been severely impacted by the virtual stoppage of economic activity in the sectors of the economy where they are most represented – including the food service industry, retail, and accommodation services.

Counties Turn to Apps, Alert Systems in Pandemic

NACo documented how county officials across the country are turning to technology to spread vital information and keep their residents informed. “With the ability to use apps — the sky’s the limit,” said Rich Collins, director of Emergency Services for Sarasota County, Florida, where officials launched a notification system and are using mobile applications to spread information during the COVID-19 outbreak.

COVID-19 Economic Crisis: By State

Carsey School Director Michael Ettlinger and Policy Analyst Jordan Hensley recently sat down for an interview with Carsey Research Assistant Professor Jessica Carson to discuss the latest data and updates of their weekly report.

COVID-19 Equity in Recovery

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank has released a series of briefs to identify those most at economic risk from COVID-19 and set a policy framework for a more equitable recovery. 

• Which Neighborhoods and Households Will Be Most Impacted by COVID-19?
• Which Workers Will Be Most Impacted by COVID-19?
• What Small Businesses Will Be Impacted by COVID-19?

COVID-19 Inequality and American Well-Being

The results of a survey, conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, reveal marked declines in American well-being, with significant demographic and geographic disparities, and little precaution against risk. The survey results led the author to conclude that place-based relief policies make less sense than targeting relief to hardest-hit individuals.

COVID-19 Reported Cases in Rural America

This Housing Assistance Council website reports on COVID-19 cases in rural areas across America. The site includes maps and charts looking at changes over time, comparing non-metro to metro cases, and examining rural per capita COVID-19 rates. This website is based on data collected by the New York Times.

Crisis Hits Minority Firms Hard

This article, from the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, provides an overview of the vulnerability of firms owned by minorities prior to the crisis and shares insights from organizations that work with minority firms on how these firms are being affected during the crisis.

Experiences with the COVID-19 Outbreak Can Vary for Americans of Different Ages

Older Americans see the pandemic as a major health risk and younger adults mainly see a financial threat. The Pew Research Center looks at how experiences with the outbreak differ across the age spectrum.

Exploring a Skills-Based Approach to Occupational Mobility

This report, from the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Cleveland, explores how the demand for labor is expected to shift in the post-pandemic economy, and how transferable skills could both pave the way for lower-wage workers to move up to higher-paying positions and help meet the talent needs of employers.

HHS Protect Public Data Hub

Providing access to data on the healthcare system from a wide range of sources to support data-driven COVID-19 response, Health and Human Services (HHS) provides a Coronavirus data hub that brings together information from federal, state, and local governments and the healthcare industry. The hub shares hospital capacity data at the national and state level, including inpatient beds occupied, inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and ICU beds occupied.

How Digital Training Can Help States and Cities Build Their Public Health Workforce

A report by The Aspen Institute that outlines how numerous states and cities are attempting to quickly build a corps of community health workers by utilizing digital training programs

Impact of COVID-19 on Low- to Moderate-Income Communities

The Federal Reserve released a new report spotlighting the challenges low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities are facing across the nation.

In Historic First, Protests Spread to More than 3,000 Towns

The Daily Yonder reports on the rise in protests to end racism and police violence against people of color in rural communities.

Integrating Equity in the Time of COVID-19

As communities across the country plan for the influx of money to flow into the homelessness response system, equity should be an important consideration throughout the planning and implementation of that funding. In order to identify and respond to gaps in current services and support, communities should consult and listen to those most impacted by the issues. This memo by Homebase provides guidance on some key considerations when integrating equity into service delivery and design and includes references to existing resources and helpful information.

Measuring COVID-19's Impact on America’s County Workforce

NACo analyzed the economic and fiscal strain the pandemic has had on the nation’s counties, including the impact COVID-19 has had on county workers across the nation.

Multifamily Lookup Tools

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced on May 4, 2020 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have created online multifamily property lookup tools to help renters find out if they are protected from evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tools allow renters to determine if the property they live in is financed by one of the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) and thus included in the eviction moratorium under the CARES Act.

Natural Disaster Planning Takes on Urgency During Pandemic

This article from NACo reports on natural disaster planning and how it takes on urgency during the pandemic. Hurricanes and wildfires often force residents into emergency congregate housing which is exactly the kind of situation counties are trying to avoid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Next Stimulus Needs to Help Us, Small Cities and Counties Say

The Daily Yonder reports that 95 percent of the nation’s counties got left out of the March stimulus package. Cities and counties are organizing to make sure they fare better with the next proposal.

Pandemic-Related Economic Struggles Could Ultimately Increase Investment in Opportunity Zones

Novogradac reports that Opportunity Zone investing is expected to increase in a post-pandemic economic recovery phase that can start as early as this summer. The report outlines the potential opportunities and the sectors of business that are best positioned to benefit.

Real-World Responses in Real Time: Helping Rural Schools Navigate Rising Mental Health Needs due to COVID-19

This resource by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) National Center for Rural School Mental Health compiles a set of resources for families, schools, teachers, and youth on a wide range of pandemic-related challenges.

Rural Home Prices Rise as People Consider Leaving Cities During Pandemic

This data from Realtor.com shows that homes in urban zip codes had a 19 percent increase in views compared to last year, while homes in suburban zip codes had a much larger 30 percent jump, and homes in rural zip codes saw a 34 percent increase in views.

Six Ways to Prevent Post-COVID Vacancy

An article in Shelterforce reports that while it may still be months until the community impacts of COVID-19 come into focus, there are ways to act now to minimize commercial and residential property deterioration and subsequent vacancy.

Spotlight: A Conversation with Oji Alexander, Executive Director of Home by Hand

Home by Hand Executive Director Oji Alexander shared with the National Housing Conference about how the organization and the people it serves are affected by COVID-19. Find out more about how this agile nonprofit quickly pivoted to serve the needs of its community in the wake of the pandemic.

Tracking COVID-19 Expenses

This tool from Cartegraph helps counties track COVID-19 data, expenses, and time to ease the process for applying for FEMA reimbursements.

Unequal Distribution of COVID-19 Risk among Rural Residents by Race and Ethnicity

The Journal of Rural Health has published a study on the COVID-19 risk in rural communities by race and ethnicity. The paper highlights the different issues that influence the health outcomes of people of color and Indigenous people living in rural areas during COVID-19.

Using Technology to Optimize Leasing in an Age of Social Distancing

This report in Multifamily Executive tracks the trend, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, to adopt virtual leasing tools.

Where States Get Their Money Will Shape Pandemic’s Fiscal Fallout

The pandemic is ravaging state budgets across the country, but the size of each state's shortfall will depend on where its tax revenue comes from. New analysis from Pew offers a glimpse of the challenges ahead.

Lowe’s | LISC Partnership

In response to the overwhelming need to help support small businesses across the country, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is announcing it is increasing its minority small business grants from $25 million to $30 million while donating an additional $25 million to its small business grant program with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), doubling the amount already committed. The additional funds will focus on rural communities, which have been hard hit by the pandemic. The total $55 million commitment makes Lowe’s the largest donor to LISC’s Small Business Relief & Recovery Program and COVID Rapid Relief & Resiliency Fund.

Deadline: August 3, 2020

USCM | CommunityWINS Grant Program

Administered by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and funded by Wells Fargo, the CommunityWINS (Working/Investing in Neighborhood Stabilization) grant supports local nonprofits in promoting long-term economic prosperity for municipalities by advancing housing affordability solutions. The awards recognize outstanding mayoral-based initiatives that can assist their city in reducing the cost burden of housing and increase access to safe, affordable places to live.

Deadline: October 9, 2020

Laura Jane Musser Fund | The Intercultural Harmony Initiative

Through the Intercultural Harmony Initiative, the Laura Jane Musser Fund supports projects that promote mutual understanding and cooperation between groups of community members of different cultural backgrounds. Project planning grants up to $5,000 or implementation grants up to $25,000 will be considered. New programs or projects in their first three years are eligible. The geographic areas for these initiatives are Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wyoming, and limited counties in New York and Texas. Eligible counties in New York include: Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. Eligible counties in Texas are located in the Rio Grande River Valley (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties), Deep East Texas (Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, and Tyler counties), and the Brazos Valley (Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington counties). Applications are accepted online.

Deadline: September 15 – October 15, 2020

SBA | Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application

The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Small Business Administration (SBA) released the much anticipated Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application. PPP loan borrowers will submit this application to their lenders to request forgiveness of part or all of their PPP loan. While the SBA noted in its press release that it would be issuing additional regulations and guidance to assist borrowers in completing the application and provide guidance to lenders on their responsibilities in the forgiveness process, the contents of the application itself sheds some light on how forgiveness will work.

Deadline: October 31, 2020

EDA | Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs including CARES Act Funding

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants are awarded to entities to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, planning, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects. The grants are available to state or local government entities; Indian Tribes; institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations.

Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund |COVID-19 Response Grants

The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund is offering immediate support to communities in Connecticut responding to current events related to COVID-19. Support could include crisis response that addresses the physical, social, and emotional well-being and safety of those most affected by racism and poverty.

Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.