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December 2023 Southeast Regional Newsletter

December 2023: Volume 10, Issue 1
 

PREPARING FOR THE YEAR AHEAD


HQ NEWS

HUD NAMES JEN LARSON DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MULTIFAMILY ASSET MANAGEMENT AND PORTFOLIO OVERSIGHT

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On September 11, 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Jen Larson as the Director of the Multifamily Office of Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight (OAMPO). Prior to her new position, Jen's most recent role was Housing Senior Advisor in HUD's Office of Recapitalization working primarily on the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP). 

Jen fell in love with the affordable housing field over 20 years ago with her first job out of college as assistant manager at a HUD Section 236 property. After several years working for nonprofits as a property manager, asset manager and developer, she feels fortunate to have learned the business of affordable housing from multiple perspectives, and has seen firsthand the difference that quality affordable housing makes in the lives of families. She earned her master's degree in public policy at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs before joining HUD's Multifamily Asset Management team in the Minneapolis field office in 2010. 

Jen moved to the Washington DC area with her husband and three children in 2014 to pursue opportunities at HUD HQ, serving as Director of the Multifamily Asset and Counterparty Oversight Division in OAMPO where she oversaw portfolio risk and expanded her knowledge of HUD Multifamily issues. In 2019 she transferred to USDA Rural Development to become the Director of Multifamily Asset Management there, becoming an expert in Section 515 and other RD programs. She returned to HUD in February 2023 to work for the Office of Recapitalization on GRRP implementation, and is excited to bring her extensive Multifamily experience as well as her continued passion for affordable housing to this new role. 


HUD AWARDS OVER $24 MILLION TO 57 GRANTEES TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

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Award recipients gathered on August 30 and 31st in Denver, Colorado, at the Fair Housing Leadership Conference: Building an Equitable Future. HUD hosted the conference in honor of the 55th anniversary of the passage of the Federal Fair Housing Act, convening its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) partners for the first national FHEO in-person conference since 2018.

WASHINGTON – On August 31, 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the allocation of $24,195,749.33 from its $56 million FY 2023 budget to support 57 fair housing organizations across the nation through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). These funds are being directed to second and third year multi-year grantees of the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) to continue their ongoing fair housing enforcement endeavors on a national scale. Furthermore, HUD has extended financial support to the Disability Law Center under the PEI initiative and JC Vision and Associates under the Fair Housing Organization Initiative/Continued Development Component (FHOI/CDC) program, utilizing unspent funds from the FY 2022 budget.

“Unfortunately, far too many families face bias when it comes to renting and buying homes,”  said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “HUD is pleased to provide our state and local partners with resources like The Fair Housing Initiatives Program that give organizations the funding they need to combat housing discrimination and help build fair and inclusive communities.”

Each year, HUD makes funding available to support organizations that enforce the nation's fair housing laws and policies, as well as educate the public, housing providers, and local governments about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.

HUD is awarding grants in the following categories:

Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) – This initiative funds non-profit fair housing organizations to conduct testing and enforcement activities to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices.

Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) – This program provides funding that builds the capacity and effectiveness of non-profit fair housing organizations by providing funds to handle fair housing enforcement and education initiatives more effectively. FHOI also strengthens the fair housing movement nationally by encouraging the creation and growth of organizations that focus on the rights and needs of underserved groups, particularly persons with disabilities.

For the full press release and list of awardees, click here.


HUD UPDATES FAIR MARKET RENTS AND MAKES $113 MILLION AVAILABLE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING VOUCHERS

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WASHINGTON – On August 31, 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced two actions that together will enable more families to rent a healthy, stable home at an affordable cost: publishing Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 and releasing an additional $113 million in Housing Choice Vouchers to public housing agencies to help 9,500 families to meet these growing costs.

"Housing choice vouchers are some of the strongest tools we have to help families find stable and affordable housing," said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. "This year, HUD found that rents rose once again, accentuating the strain on costs for American families. These updated Fair Market Rents and our funding will ensure households can utilize vouchers in a competitive rental market."

First, the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) published Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for FY 2024, which helps to determine the maximum amount a Housing Choice Voucher will cover. Nationally, FMRs will increase by an average of approximately 12 percent, which will increase the number of units that families using housing vouchers can access.

Click here to view the FY24 FMRs. FAQs on the FY24 FMRs are available here.

Housing Choice Vouchers are a key element of the Biden-Harris Administration's strategy to reduce homelessness and provide American families with tangible resources to address rising living costs.  Since entering office, the Biden-Harris Administration has awarded more than 100,000 new housing vouchers to help more families afford a healthy, stable place to rent.

For the full press release, click here


PRESS RELEASES

(CLICK HERE FOR ALL CURRENT PRESS RELEASES - 2023)


HUD ANNOUNCES $40 MILLION TO HIRE NEW AND MAINTAIN EXISTING SERVICE COORDINATORS FOR RESIDENTS OF PUBLIC AND INDIAN HOUSING

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HUD ANNOUNCES $212 MILLION FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES


HUD AWARDS $160.1 MILLION IN GRANTS TO CREATE AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME SENIORS

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HUD AWARDS $10.5 MILLION TO HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS FOR HOUSING RESEARCH CENTERS


HUD EARNS SMART ENERGY DECISIONS' 2023 DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AWARD

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HUD ANNOUNCES FUNDING TO SUPPORT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN MULTIFAMILY ASSISTED HOUSING PROPERTIES AS PART OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S INVESTING IN AMERICA AGENDA


REGION IV NEWS


ATLANTA REGIONAL OFFICE RECOGNIZES BREAST
CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

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Regional Director, Mark Dominick joins members of the Atlanta Regional Office Staff in photo opportunity recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness.


JACKSONVILLE HUD STAFF ATTEND ASSET MANAGEMENT CLINIC

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On October 24-26, 2023, Jacksonville Satellite Asset Management Divisional staff from Miami, San Juan and Jacksonville gathered to participate in an in-person training. While just a refresher for seasoned staff, the training served as a great opportunity to introduce topics to the many new staff and allow for input and engagement from all.

Asset Management Division Director, Laurelei McKnight delivered the opening remarks. The Office of General Counsel, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Jacksonville Asset Management Division leadership team, and several satellite office staff members presented on topics covering the various aspects of multifamily housing. Field Office Director Alesia Scott-Ford stopped by to share motivational words regarding the benefits of in-person employee engagement and learning opportunities. Additionally, Regional Counsel, Antonette Sewell attended on opening day along with the legal staff, led by Jacksonville Chief Counsel Ingrid Osborn.

Close to 25 Asset Management topics were reviewed during the three-day training, included risk rating, controlling documents, contract renewals, AFHMPs, TPAs, HAP Assignments, Controlled Correspondence and more. The collaborative training allowed for input and engagement from all attendees, as individuals shared personal experiences and provided helpful insight. Some presentations included trivia questions as knowledge checks and prizes were awarded. On the final day of the training, attendees participated in a fun activity as well as group and individual photo opportunities with the American and HUD flags that can be used as profile photos in Microsoft Teams.

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ATLANTA HUD STAFF VISITS SOUTHFACE ENERGY INSTITUTE

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Pictured (L-R) are Amelia Godfrey of Southface, Karla Avery, Natalicia “Natty” Garcia, Larry Ferguson, Edwin Jones, Dante Washington and Jerrod “Jai” Jackson.

On August 29, 2023, staff members from several divisions of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Atlanta Regional Office toured Southface Energy Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. Southface promotes sustainable homes, workplaces and communities through education, research, advocacy, and technical assistance. They provide leadership in energy efficiency.

The attendees which included - Karla Avery, COR III; Jerrod Jackson, COR; and Natalicia Garcia, COR (Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) from the Office of Field Support and Operations; Edwin Jones, Account Executive from Asset Management; Dante Washington, from the Regional Director's Office; and Larry Ferguson, Sr. Construction Analyst from Production; took a 90-minute tour of the facilities led by Amelia Godfrey, Program Manager, EarthCraft program and Nathan Bessette, Director, Technical Services.

A variety of topics were discussed, from insulation types, weatherization of buildings, to duct work, water heater options, composting sewer systems, drought tolerant landscaping, rainwater collection systems, and solar heat gain reduction by use of awnings.

The EarthCraft Multifamily program was created in 2004 and addresses the energy and water efficiency needs of the multifamily market. The Southeast Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Training (SWET) Center opened in 2010. Since 2010, Southface has provided approximately 750 trainings, reaching more than 8,000 attendees.

Southface served as convener and champion of the transformation of a brownfield, which was formerly the site of the historic Atlantic Steel Mill. With Southface's understanding of LEED criteria and expertise in implementation, it coordinated the campus effort amongst many partners. The result of the LEED Multibuilding-Campus pilot is Atlantic Station, a 138-acre mixed used community.


ATLANTA STAFF VOLUNTEERS WITH HABITAT FOR
UMANITY OF NW METRO ATLANTA

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Front row (Left to Right): Jaa Teal, Leslie Finch, (Tanisha *homeowner), Dante Washington, Myra Green, Chantel Jiles. Second row: Stephanie Flowers, Alexandra Kleinberg, Edwin Jones, April Mabry, Stephanie Glispie, Brandi Creighton.

On September 23, 2023, fourteen staff members from the Atlanta Regional Office volunteered with Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta, community volunteers, aspiring homeowners, and the recipient of a newly built home in Douglasville, Georgia.

During the full-day opportunity, the staff were provided with training on equipment usage and assisted with the installation of façade; painting both the exterior and interior, organizing materials, and cleaning. This event served a dual purpose of supporting Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta and aligning with HUD's mission of creating affordable housing.

HUD employees are encouraged to participate in volunteer opportunities like this one which helped make the dream of homeownership a reality for the recipient of the newly built home. On October 21, 2023, April Mabry, Account Executive, and Georgianna Baker, Program Analyst, along with Southeast Region Director, Mark Dominick, attended the home dedication ceremony.

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ATLANTA STAFF PARTICIPATES IN END OF FISCAL YEAR CELEBRATION

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Brandi Creighton, Bonitta Smith, Jeremy Locklear, Valerie Williams, Bianca Clark, George Brown, Georgianna Baker, Chantel Jiles, Greg Adams, Omeisha Mitchell, Leslie Finch, Tameka Gibson, Stephanie Glispie, Charlene Harper, Lizann Destin, Chekia Lanier, Tiffany Jordan, Josette Wright, Laurie Scott, Myra Greene, Darlene Dixon, & Miriam Barbosa.

On September 30, 2023, HUD employees of the Atlanta Regional Office participated in a fiscal year end celebration at a local community park. The event was a way to recognize and celebrate the hard work, challenges, and successes that marked FY23. Employees from all divisions, along with their family and friends attended. Such events play a significant role in fostering positive relationships and enhancing the overall work culture.

ATLEOY3

The event was organized by Brandi Creighton and the Southeast Region Employee Engagement Committee (EEC). In addition to a variety of teambuilding and competitive games such as tug-of-war and musical chairs, the Asset Management Division Directors and Branch Chiefs (Tameka Gibson, Bonitta Smith and George Brown pictured below) served a BBQ lunch.

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 Overall, this event signified the commitment of both management and employees to connect on a more personal level. With the same spirit and enthusiasm, the Southeast region looks forward to FY24, which will be marked by even greater success and collaboration.


HUD STAFF ATTEND BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE IN NATIONAL HARBOR, MARYLAND

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Asia Veal, Senior Funding Specialist; Leslie Finch, Program Analyst; of the Southeast region HUD participate in Blacks In Government staff photo opportunity.

On August 28-31, 2023, several staff members of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Southeast Multifamily team, along with other HUD regions and federal employees from around the nation, attended the Blacks In Government (BIG) 2023 Annual National Training Institute (NTI). The conference was held at the Gaylord National in National Harbor, Maryland and featured workshops, special enhancement programs, and unlimited networking opportunities. BIG workshops included innovative approaches, cutting-edge content, and engagement of training attendees from varying government levels (local, federal, and state).


MULTIFAMILY GRANT SPECIALISTS MEET IN DC FOR SERVICE COORDINATOR CONFERENCE AND TRAINING EVENT

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Front Row: Natonia Davis, Debra Coker, Jasmine Baker, Katina Washington, Xena Dinh, Erica Shaw, Belinda Koros, Brett Morash, and Andrew Santos. Back Row: I-Sha Reeves, Jeremy Bergling, Lisa Phillips, Amy Veilleux, and Libby Fernandez.

On August 28 through September 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD)Southeast region's Grant Specialists, Erica Shaw and Natonia Davis, joined the HQ Multifamily grants leadership team and other HUD Grant Specialists from across the nation to attend the 2023 Annual American Association of Service Coordinators conference at Gaylord National in National Harbor, Maryland. After the conference ended, the staff then participated in the Multifamily Grant Specialist Training at HUD Headquarters.

The training covered a range of grant processing topics from the Funding Cycle to Grant Closeouts. They learned about new tools being developed and received feedback on recommendations for improvements to Service Coordinator grant processing. The group was also able to tour the Affordable Housing Exhibits at the National Building Museum to learn about new and creative ways affordable housing is being accomplished across the country.  


SOUTHEAST REGION MULTIFAMILY HOUSING LOANS ENDORSED IN FY 2024 YEAR-TO-DATE


LSTATS

RESOURCES AND UPDATES


Multifamily Notices and Memorandums


SECTION 202 AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT

HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing announced the award of $160.1 million in grant funding to non-profit organizations across the country to support the development of new or redeveloped affordable multifamily rental housing and ongoing project rental assistance for low- income seniors through its FY 2022 Section 202 Capital Advance NOFO. In addition to the $160.1 million that has been awarded, sponsors will leverage other funds to cover the difference between residents' contributions towards rents and costs of operating the 202 homes within the project/property.  

These awarded grant funds will help construct and operate 1,262 new deeply rent-assisted homes for low- and very low-income seniors who will pay rent based on their income and help accommodate independent “aging-in-place,” in safe housing with supportive services for residents, including access to healthcare.?Several of the grantees will be creating mixed-income communities, building 526 additional affordable and market-rate homes as part of these funded projects, for a total of 1,788 homes.

For the full press release, click here.


CNA E-TOOL RELEASE 3.2

We are excited to announce the upcoming release of the Capital Needs Assessment (CNA) e-Tool Release 3.2 (“v3.2”) coming in November 2023. This release will include several new features and significant enhancements that will directly support HUD's new Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) transactions. The release also includes additional enhancements for all users. New features will include direct energy consumption comparisons between multiple Alternatives and the collection of climate-related information on the property. We will also enhance the data entry and display of Components to be more comprehensible and intuitive. For the full list of v3.2 improvements, please see our Release Note published on CNA e-Tool Home Page. You can also find Job Aids for the new features on the Home Page. Additional information on the upcoming release will be available soon.


DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PUBLISHES FINAL RULE UPDATING DAVIS-BEACON AND RELATED ACTS REGULATION

On August 23, 2023, the Department of Labor (DOL) published the final rule that updates regulations issued under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. This is the first comprehensive regulatory review in nearly 40 years. Revisions to these regulations will promote compliance, provide appropriate and updated guidance, and enhance their usefulness in the modern economy.

Please note the following:

  • The final rule is effective on October 23, 2023.
  • Provisions of this final rule regarding wage determination methodology and related part 1 provisions prescribing the content of wage determinations may be applied only to wage determination revisions completed by the Department on or after October 23, 2023. Except with regard to § 1.6(c)(2)(iii), the provisions of this final rule are applicable only to contracts entered into after October 23, 2023.
  • Many of the amendments to part 5 of the regulations are regulatory changes that codify the Department of Labor's current practices and interpretations of existing regulations. As a result, such changes do not, in practical terms, impose new obligations on contractors or contracting agencies.
  • For contracts that lock-in on or after the final rule effective date, October 23, 2023, Contractors should consider the changes in the final rule when analyzing internal controls, developing their bids, and negotiating contract pricing.
  • Contract clauses and related matters section of the rule covers the required contract clauses inserted into contracts.

Multifamily Implementation

The Office of Multifamily Production is in the process of modifying the Form HUD-92554M, Supplement to Construction Contract, to incorporate the construction clauses, subject to OMB Paperwork Reduction Act approval.

See the DOL Final Rule for additional information.


NEW HOTMA IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE

The Office of Multifamily Housing (MFH), in partnership with HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH), published Housing Notice 2023-10, Implementation Guidance: Sections 102 and 104 of the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). You can read the guidance here.

Please note the following:  

  • The Notice contains implementation guidance for everything but the Section 104 asset limitation. HUD will update the notice at a later date to include such guidance. In the meantime, HUD affirms that the asset limitation applies to the Section 202/8 program.     
  • MFH Owners must update their Tenant Selection Plans and EIV policies & procedures by March 31, 2024. The List of Discretionary Policies to Implement HOTMA identify areas in which owners have policy discretion; Owners must state in the Tenant Selection Plan how they will exercise such discretion.  
  • Please refer to Section 6.2 of the Notice to see the dates and tasks Owners must be aware of in order to meet HOTMA compliance. 

SECTION 811 CAPITAL ADVANCE AND SECTION 811 PROJECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT NOTICES OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing Programs today made available $212 million in funding opportunities to expand the supply of affordable housing and supportive services for very-low and extremely-low-income persons with disabilities. The funding is available for two components of the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program, which helps develop, subsidize, and provide supportive services for rental housing to meet the needs of this vulnerable population. 

 

See the press release for additional detail.


NEW TRAINING AVAILABLE ON RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT
UPDATES IN THE 2023 RAD SUPPLEMENTAL

The Office of Recapitalization's Resident Engagement and Protections team produces educational materials and provides technical assistance (TA) to residents, PHAs, and owners around resident rights. This helps to ensure that the robust resident protections built into the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) are implemented effectively by program participants. A new recorded training on updates to the HUD requirements focused on RAD resident engagement is now available on the RAD resident site (where updated fact sheets and educational videos can be found as well). This overview explains changes such as the requirement for additional resident meetings and required documents to be submitted in accordance with the new 2023 RAD Supplemental Notice (published July 27, 2023). The Supplemental Notice can be found here.  The changes to resident engagement requirements go into effect on September 20, 2023, and the link to the training can be found here.


COSTS NOT ATTRIBUTABLE MORTGAGEE LETTER

On September 13, 2023, HUD published a Mortgagee Letter announcing the Revised Method for Calculation of Cost Not Attributable (CNA) to Dwelling Units, for Multifamily Housing Loan Applications. More specifically, the simplified method will be used to calculate an amount based on limitations per family units mortgage in Criterion 4 of form HUD-92264-A, Supplemental to Project Analysis. The function of the HUD 92264A is to calculate the several possible mortgage amounts for a proposed HUD FHA insured loan, thus indicating which of these sums yields the lowest mortgage amount, which lowest sum is therefore the maximum permitted amount of the loan. The form accommodates the multiple criteria that lenders and HUD underwriters must apply in order to determine the permitted insurable loan. 

To read the full mortgagee letter, click here


STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS


JACKSONVILLE STAFF MEMBER PARTICIPATES IN PRESIDENT'S MANAGEMENT COUNCIL INTERAGENCY ROTATION PROGRAM

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Latonya (Tonya) Wade joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration/ Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) team in April via the President's Management Council (PMC) Interagency Rotation Program (PMC-IRP) on a 6-month rotational assignment. The PMC-IRP provides 6-month rotational assignments that enable emerging Federal leaders to expand their leadership competencies, broaden their organizational experiences, and foster networks they can leverage in the future. Her rotation came to an end, and she resumed her duties as a Resolution Specialist in September. She assisted the Leadership and Organizational Development team in their advancement of the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (EVS) program- more specifically for co-facilitating EVS collaboration session, collaborating with CDER Design to track and communicate weekly EVS response rates, preparing communications to boost EVS participation and help CDER surpass its goal.  She also coordinated the launch of our their “EVS in Action” campaign. Her efforts led to the start of ongoing communications to highlight all the great work taking place within their offices to increase employee engagement.


PATHWAYS INITIATIVE INTERN CONVERTS TO FULL-TIME HUD POSITION

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Ruby Taylor is a new Management Analyst in the Atlanta office. She first joined HUD in February 2022 as a Student Trainee while attending Georgia Tech. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in International Affairs in May, she accepted a full-time position at HUD.  

After graduation, she capped off her college career with a summer trip to Japan to immerse in the culture and to see extended family for the first time in 9 years. The trip included visits to famous sites like Miyajima and Hiroshima as well as riding the bullet train across western and southern Japan. This summer experience was exciting and has provided a boost of energy that she hopes to channel into her work at HUD.

Her internship was facilitated through the Pathways initiative. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job in the civil service. 

To learn more about the program, click here.


donald

Donald Winston is a new Underwriting Branch Chief in the Atlanta office. Prior to joining HUD, he served in Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield as a Patriot Missile Crewmember. He moved to Atlanta from Denver, Colorado in 1998 and worked for the Department of Defense and VA as a Single-Family Underwriter. He joined HUD in 2003 as a Realty Specialist in the Multifamily Property Disposition Center and later moved to Production in 2013 where he served the last several years as a Senior Underwriter.  In his free time, he enjoys reading financial books, traveling, detailing his cars, and going to sporting events.  


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Alex Rodriguez has been promoted to Senior Account Executive in the Jacksonville office. He is originally from the island of Puerto Rico.  He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.  He holds a bachelor's degree in music arts. Prior to joining HUD, he worked for Nextel as a Communications Engineer in New York, and the IRS before relocating to Monroe, Georgia. In his free time, he enjoys playing a variety of musical instruments,  teaching music, playing volleyball, biking, fishing, and bowling.


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Lisa Binder is a new Account Executive in the Jacksonville office. She is originally from the midwest and is a military veteran. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching movies, live music, trying different food trucks and washing her car.


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Shayla Lewis is a new Account Executive in the Atlanta office. Prior to joining HUD, she worked for the Social Security Administration as a Claim Specialist for Retirement, Survivors, Disability, Insurance and Supplemental Insurance Income (SSI). She is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. She holds a master's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in health care management. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and shopping.


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Carolyn Williams is a new Resolution Specialist in the Atlanta office. She joined HUD in March 2020 as an Account Executive after retiring from the City of New York. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time in her herb and vegetable garden, and international travel. 


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Anesa White-Ramirez is a new Student Intern in the Jacksonville office/ Prior to joining HUD, she was employed with HCA Healthcare in their HR department specializing in EVS (Environmental Services) and Transport.  She holds a bachelor's degree in Applied Behavioral Science and Public Administration and plans to study Criminal Justice as well. In her free time, she enjoys history, books, art, baking and football. Her favorite teams are the Pittsburg Steelers and Auburn Tigers.


lisa

Lisa Weikert is a new Housing Program Assistant in the Jacksonville office. She is originally from Massachusetts, but grew up in Colorado. She is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, live music by local bands, karaoke, hockey, spending time with her dog, family, and friends. She is a fan of Taylor Swift and the Colorado Avalanche hockey team.


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Victor Figueroa is a new Troubled Asset Specialist in the Jacksonville office. He is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prior to joining HUD, he has served in multiple roles, including Executive Director, with the Housing Authority of the City of Camden. He also held the role of President and CEO of Watson Street Management and Development Corporation, trustee of the Camden County Workforce Development Board as well as a board member for the Nueva Esperanza Housing and Economic Development Corporation. In his free time, he enjoys service work and helping the people in his community.


maria

Maria Kovacs, DBA, is a new Account Executive in the Jacksonville office. Prior to joining HUD, she was a member of the Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG). She holds several degrees, including a bachelor's degree in Homeland Security, a master's degree in Emergency Management and both a master's and a doctorate's degree in Business Administration. She has mentored fellow doctoral students and is also part of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS).  In her free time, she enjoys exercising and is a fan of Walt Disney.


shawnace

Shawnace Walker is a new Account Executive in the Jacksonville office. She previously worked in HUD's San Francisco office and prior to joining HUD, she worked in finance and customer service. She is a self-proclaimed “military brat” who has traveled most of her life, with Germany being her favorite place to visit. In her free time, she enjoys watching her favorite teams: the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Lakers. 


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Ed Davis is a new Appraiser in the Atlanta office. He returns to this role following a four-year tenure with the HUD Office of Inspector General. He joined HUD in 2008 and worked in various roles in the HUD Midwest and Southeast Multifamily regions, including Underwriting Branch Chief, Senior Underwriter, Appraiser, and Construction Analyst. Prior to HUD, he worked in the Real estate industry as an appraiser, developer, and real estate agent.


laura

Laura Owen is a new Senior Project Manager reporting to the Regional Director in the Atlanta office. She is originally from Memphis, Tennessee. Prior to this position, she held multiple roles throughout her HUD career in both Single Family and Multifamily Housing. After the Multifamily transformation, she moved to Asset Management as an Account Executive & her most recent role as Senior Account Executive, where she maintained a portfolio including troubled and potentially troubled assets and assisted with developing the regional Bootcamp training for all new employees. She has also worked several details/special projects in Headquarters including reviewer for 202 Capital Advance NOFO/811 NOFA, and technical expert on Capital Advance total development costs.  In her free time, she enjoys hosting parties for family and friends, traveling, playing board games, and watching her favorite football team, The University of Alabama.


marian

Marian Martino is a new Account Executive in the Jacksonville office. She is originally from St. George, South Carolina. Prior to joining the Southeast region, she worked as an Account Executive in the Detroit Satellite Office. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Marketing from Claflin University and a master's degree in Information Systems Management from Strayer University. In her free time, she enjoys art, learning about holistic health and wellness, working in her vegetable and herb garden, and spending time with her two dogs, Panda and Black.


A Note from the Editor

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We hope this issue of the Multifamily Housing Southeast Regional News was beneficial to you. It is our intention to provide you with the latest HUD news and updates. Have ideas or feedback? Email the Editor in Chief at Erica.L.Shaw@hud.gov


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