White House Responds to Calls to Protect Tenants Amid Rising Rents 

The Biden Administration announced on January 25 a plan to use executive powers to protect tenants from rising rents. The strategy directs federal agencies to gather information on unfair housing practices. It provides a high-level, principles-based “Renter Bill of Rights” that is non-binding. The plan also involves the Administration formally asking housing providers — including nonprofit and for-profit organizations and units of state and local government — to voluntarily strengthen tenant protections locally. While the approach is modest, considering the scope of the challenges presented by rapidly rising rents, the strategy represents what the Administration thinks it can legally and practically accomplish without Congressional action. Read the Washington Post article.

EPA Announces $100 Million Environmental Justice Grant Program for Community Organizations 

New money made available through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act will provide grants to community-based organizations to implement projects that advance environmental justice in underserved and overburdened communities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement detailed two grant programs. One will provide $30 million directly to community-based organizations, with $5 million set aside for smaller organizations. The other will provide $70 million to state and local governments for use in coordination with community based organizations.

NACEDA Executive Director Frank Woodruff noted, “These new programs offer a truly transformative opportunity to bring the traditional environmental and community development fields into tighter alignment. Community development organizations are definitely eligible to apply and should look closely at both of these EPA grant opportunities. The resources are intended to be flexible to community needs and will support community engagement and planning processes that the Federal Government doesn’t typically support.”

The application deadline is April 10, 2023. EPA is offering webinars in January. Webinar registration, recordings, and other resources are available on the program’s website.

NACEDA Supports the CED Program on the Hill and at Home

CED Celebration speakers gathered around awardees Lynda Perez, Director of HHS’s
Office of Community Services (OCS), and Bob Rapoza of Rapoza Associates.

NACEDA is working to lay the groundwork for increased funding, further expansion, and greater accessibility of the Community Economic Development (CED) Program. It is the only federal program that targets resources exclusively to community development corporations (CDCs). Grants of up to $800,000 can be used to expand business, finance facilities, and create jobs in low-income communities. NACEDA hosted a celebration of the CED Program and released a report in November. Attended by program advocates, beneficiaries, and OCS staff, the celebration generated new conversations around potential expansion of the CED program.

On January 19, NACEDA hosted a webinar for nearly 100 leaders of CDCs from states that have not received CED funding in recent years or who may be eligible for Energy Communities grants. The webinar included speakers from OCS and the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders. Participants learned about the CED application process and recently-announced planning grants. NACEDA will continue to advocate for this unique program and will drive to increase accessibility for a broader range of CDCs. Sign up to receive alerts and advocacy information.