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MortgagePoint » Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 64 November 2024 J O U R N A L to CDFIs is an important means by which the FHLBanks support financing of low-income housing and community development. FHFA is working with various stakeholder groups to help CDFIs—a key source of assistance for underserved communities—overcome potential difficulty accessing FHLBank membership, products, and services. HUD COMMITS TO HELP AMERICANS PROTECT THEIR HOMES AGAINST EXTREME HEAT A s tens of millions of Americans continue to be impacted by extreme weather events across the United States, President Biden and Vice President Harris are implementing the most ambitious climate agenda in American history and stepping up efforts to help communities become more resilient to the effects of climate change as the effects of extreme weather occurrences worsen. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) an- nounced significant steps to safeguard all communities against environmental and health dangers that could have long-term health repercussions as well as to protect more U.S. homes from the damaging effects of excessive heat. In order to assist communities, HUD has released the Excessive Heat "Play- book," which offers best practices for enhancing community resilience, less- ening the effects of excessive heat, and reducing cooling expenses for tenants of public housing. HUD recently created an updated Environmental Justice web- site that connects communities to HUD initiatives on climate-resilient housing, community planning and development, lead and other dangerous toxins, and key HUD programs that promote equi- table housing. "Far too many Americans are being impacted by the harmful effects of extreme heat," HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman said. "The best prac- tices we are sharing today [advance] the Biden-Harris administration's national heat strategy and will move us closer towards safer housing, particularly for seniors." New Tool Demonstrates How to Prepare and Handle Extreme Heat With an emphasis on assessing cur- rent community strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities; updating policies and protocols to address current and future conditions; lowering cooling costs; and emphasizing the critical importance of resilience amid climate change, given the rise in severe extreme heat events, the Extreme Heat "Playbook" is an actionable guide for planning and implementing measures. In addition to identifying HUD and federal agency funding sources and offering guidance to grantees on how to prepare for and handle extreme heat events, the booklet offers 16 specific ideas and examples to confront skyrocketing temperatures. The "Playbook" is in line with the recently released Excessive Heat Call to Action, the White House Climate Resilience Framework, and the National Heat Strategy, which was created by the Biden-Harris administration to coordi- nate a "whole-of-government" response to excessive heat from 2024 through 2030. Building on the success of HUD's Extreme Heat Quick Guide, which was published in April of last year, it pro- vides communities with the knowledge and skills they need to protect their citi- zens' safety, health, and resilience from the effects of extreme heat, especially those who are most susceptible. GAO ISSUES STUDY ON U.S. HOMELESSNESS T he U.S. Government Account- ability Office (GAO) has issued "Homelessness: Actions to Help Better Address Older Adults' Housing and Health Needs" a report examining the needs of older adults experiencing homelessness and the barriers faced in addressing those needs. According to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), approximately 138,000 older adults (aged 55 and older) experienced homelessness on a single night in 2023. As found in the study, these adults often have needs that can be particularly challenging to address, according to 45 homelessness service providers and other stakeholders that GAO spoke with when compiling the report. Some stakeholders also said older adults belonging to certain racial, ethnic, or other groups can encounter additional barriers when accessing homelessness assistance programs. For example, they said members of some