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Many States Increase Minimum Wage for 2026

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A. J. Johnson
In 2026, 21 states will have new minimum wage rates. The federal minimum wage remains unchanged at $7.25 and applies in 20 states, mainly in the South. It was last raised on July 24, 2009. Affordable housing managers responsible for…

Tenant Self-Certification in Affordable Housing Programs

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A. J. Johnson
Tenant self-certification is a critical component of income verification in various affordable housing programs across the United States. After initial move-in, when third-party documentation may be difficult to obtain or when changes in household composition or income occur, many federal…

Policy Guidance: Maintenance Entry When Only Minors Are Present

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A. J. Johnson
Overview Maintenance employees working in resident units must behave with the highest level of professionalism and caution. One of the most sensitive—and potentially risky—situations arises when a technician arrives for a maintenance request and finds that the only people at…

Courts Provide Conflicting VAWA Decisions

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A. J. Johnson
VAWA Notices in Eviction Cases: Conflicting Court Interpretations and Best Practices for Owners & Managers Recent court decisions reveal conflicting interpretations of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) related to eviction and termination notices. Although the statute itself is clear,…

HUD Abandons Fair Housing Enforcement

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A. J. Johnson
HUD Retreats from Fair Housing Enforcement: Why Compliance Still Matters The federal Fair Housing Act requires the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enforce laws prohibiting discrimination in housing. However, by late 2025, it has become increasingly…

Historic Housing Expansion in Reconciliation Act

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A. J. Johnson
Since being signed into law on July 4, I have read the “One Big Beautiful Bill” twice, in an effort to determine its impact on housing – especially affordable housing. What follows is my take on the impact of the…

USDA Proposes Mandatory Market Studies for Section 538 Projects

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A. J. Johnson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service (RHS) is tightening requirements for project feasibility under its Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP). In a newly proposed rule, RHS will require all applicants seeking loan guarantees for new…

Effects of Potential Staffing Cuts on HUD Programs

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A. J. Johnson
As the Trump administration moves forward with plans to reduce the federal workforce dramatically, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), according to recent reporting by the Associated Press, could face potential cuts that could eliminate half of its…

Impact of Trump Administration’s Regulatory Restructuring on HUD and IRS

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A. J. Johnson
The Trump administration’s recent executive order on federal regulations, “Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Deregulatory Initiative,” signals significant changes for federal agencies. The order has particularly notable implications for the Department of Housing and…

Understanding the HOTMA Educational Assistance Rules

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A. J. Johnson
Under the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA), specific rules govern how educational assistance is treated as income for Section 8 residents. HOTMA Educational Assistance Rule Overview HOTMA clarified and simplified the treatment of educational assistance in determining a household’s…

Dealing with Federal Immigration Agents at Apartment Communities

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A. J. Johnson
Not surprisingly, we are starting to receive inquiries from property managers about how they should respond if federal immigration officials enter a property searching for individuals without legal immigration documents. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids at apartment communities are…

Rent Rules Under Final HOME Rule

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A. J. Johnson
The final HOME rule changes the HOME Program rent determination rules. One change permits the use of a PHA utility allowance for HOME units. The second and more significant change allows owners to collect more than the HOME rent for…

Understanding Security Deposits and Fees in HOME Rental Projects

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A. J. Johnson
The Final Rule for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), effective February 5, 2025, establishes specific rules regarding security deposits and fees that property owners and managers must follow. These regulations are designed to protect tenants while maintaining fair housing…

HUD Publishes Final Rule Updating HOME Regulations

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A. J. Johnson
HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program (also known as the HOME program or HOME) provides formula grants to states and local government units to support various activities to produce and maintain affordable rental and homeownership housing. The program also offers tenant-based…

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Guidance

The Professional Property Manager's Guide to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit

An easy to understand and in-depth guide written by a nationally recognized leader in affordable housing compliance, A. J. Johnson.


The Professional Property Manager's Guide to the Violence Against Women Act

Designed to provide professionals in the affordable housing industry with an easy to understand reference manual for issues related to VAWA.

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