MFA 2018 Draft Qualified Allocation Plan

Mortgage Finance Authority has proposed a mandatory policy for any property who receives Low Income Housing Tax Credits to go smoke-free. This means that people who apply for tax credits would be required to implement a smoke-free policy and get certified! Mortgage Finance Authority has proposed a mandatory policy for any property who receives Low Income Housing Tax Credits to go smoke-free. This means that people who apply for tax credits would be required to implement a smoke-free policy and get certified! 

Since this is a proposed rule, they are opening up a comment period from September 16 to October 5th. It would a pleasure to have your support with comments stating why this is an important policy to have in place. Below is the policy and link to the website. If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Peña. 

The 21-day period in which to provide public comment begins September 16, 2017 and continues through 5 p.m. on October 6, 2017. Written comments on the Draft QAP may be delivered by e-mail, mail, courier service or by hand to MFA to the following address:

MFA

Attn: Susan H. Biernacki 344 Fourth St., SW

Albuquerque, NM  87102

sbiernacki@housingnm.org

Please feel free to share within your networks. The more support the better! Let’s keep New Mexico healthy and free from secondhand smoke exposure. Link: http://housingnm.org/developers/low-income-housing-tax-credits-lihtc 

Proposed policy 21 Non-Smoking Properties Both 9 percent LIHTC and 4 percent LIHTC Projects are required to participate in the American Lung Association in New Mexico Smoke-Free at Home program. More information on the Certification programs may be found at smokefreeathomenm.org/cost-savings/. Projects are eligible for scoring points as follows provided the Certification described below is obtained: 

(i) Projects agreeing to participate and obtain the Smoke-Free at Home NM Platinum Certification (new construction Projects which do not allow any smoking at any time on any part of the property) (6 points);

(ii) Projects agreeing to participate and obtain the Smoke-Free at Home NM Gold Certification (applies to new construction, rehabilitation and/or adaptive reuse Projects and no smoking is permitted at any time on any part of the property) (6 points);

(iii) Projects agreeing to participate and obtain the Smoke-Free at Home NM Silver Certification (applies to new construction, rehabilitation and/or adaptive reuse Projects and does not allow smoking inside any of the units and common areas, nor within 25 feet of all entry ways and windows of the building. (4 points)

The Project must have appropriate space for the provision of smoking cessation classes.